If you're selling your home for sale by owner (FSBO) in Boston, hiring a flat-fee MLS service can help you increase your listing's visibility without breaking the bank.
The average commission rate for full-service listing agents in Beantown is approximately 3%. Based on the median sale price for Boston homes, as of January 2020, that translates to about $15,150.
In contrast, typical rates for flat-fee MLS companies in Boston are in between $0 and $697. Nationwide, the most basic plans can be as low as $50 to $99, while more comprehensive services range upwards of $1,000 to $3,000.
It's important to remember that every Boston flat-fee MLS service is different. When evaluating offerings, be sure to read the fine print: look at things like the length of the listing term (and how much it costs to extend); whether there's a fee to make changes to your listing; how many photos are allowed; the policy on buyer's agent commission; and more.
>> LEARN more about flat-fee MLS services and how to evaluate them.
To help you make the right choice, Clever has picked some of the top flat-fee MLS services across Boston.
Top Boston Flat-Fee MLS Companies in 2020
Entry Only New England
Entry Only New EnglandPrice Range
$297-697
Number of Photos
10-42
Listing Term
12 months
- Entry Only New England is a flat-fee MLS service operated by Stuart St. James, a licensed real estate brokerage in Massachusetts
- Listing typically go live by the next business day
- Buyer and agent inquiries are forwarded directly to you
- You set the buyer’s agent commission — Entry Only New England offers a buyer’s agent commission report on what competitive percentage is to help you decide (Standard and Advanced packages)
- Pay no commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
- Unlimited, free listing changes and open house announcements
- Free cancelation anytime
$297 - Basic
| $497 - Standard
|
Pros
- Free changes, cancel anytime with no fee
- Buyer inquiries forwarded directly to you
- Pay no commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
Cons
- No built-in home valuation or pricing assistance
- No a-la-carte or additional services to get more help if needed
As of August 5, 2020, Entry Only New England has an average rating of 4.9/5 based on 102 ratings across Google and Yelp.
Landfall Properties, LLC
Landfall PropertiesPrice Range
Free to $499+
Number of Photos
40
Listing Term
2 months up to until sold
- Landfall Properties in a licensed broker in CT, MA, ME, NH, and VT that specializes in flat-fee MLS listing services
- Free, unlimited changes
- Listings go live in 24 hours
- Set buyer’s agent commission of 2% (pay nothing if you find the buyer)
- Buyer and agent inquiries forwarded directly to you
- Cancel anytime
Free - Level One
| 1% at closing- Level Three
|
Pros
- Free MLS listing package (+2% buyer’s agent commission)
- Work directly with the broker, not a referral service
- Free, unlimited changes, including listing/delisting/relisting (Level Two and Three packages)
- Home buyer rebate if you also buy with Landfall Properties
Cons
- No built-in comparative market analysis (CMA) (except with Level Three package)
- Set buyer’s agent commission of 2% (unless you find a buyer)
As of August 12, 2020, Landfall Properties’ principal broker, Paul Marino, has an average rating of 5/5 based on 29 reviews on Zillow.
Simply Sell Realty
Simply Sell RealtyPrice Range
$85-285
Number of Photos
40-42
Listing Term
12 months
- Simply Sell Realty is a licensed, New Hampshire and Massachusetts real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee MLS listing services
- Set your own buyer’s agent commission (request average rate at checkout)
- Listing is live within 24 hours of purchase
- Built-in home valuation on website
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Unlimited free changes
- No cancellation fee
$85 - 1 Year Flat Fee MLS Package
- 12-month listing on the MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia and more.
- Max photos allowed (40 in NH, 42 in MA)
- Set your own buyer's agent commission
- Leads forwarded directly to seller
- Contracts and releases available
- Free edits or cancellations
- Unlimited open house postings through the website
$285 - Home Visit MLS Package
- Everything in the 1 Year Package, plus:
- Up to 40 professionally taken photos
- Room measurements taken
- Paperwork completed on-site
A-la-carte services include comparable market analyses (CMA), additional MLS listings, hosted open houses, appointment services, professional photography, and for sale signs.
Offers a full-service listing for a 3.5% commission for those near Tyngsboro, Massachusetts or Nashua, New Hampshire.
Pros
- Max photos and virtual tour included in base package
- Built-in home valuation on website
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Unlimited free changes
- No cancellation fee
- Unlimited open house postings
Cons
- No free CMA is provided
- Does not list on the Berkshire or Barnstable County MLS in MA
As of August 11, 2020, Simply Sell Realty LLC has an average rating of 5/5 based on 17 reviews across Google and Facebook.
National Flat-Fee MLS Services & Brokers Operating in Boston
Houzeo
HouzeoPrice Range
$199-399
Number of Photos
6 to max allowed
Listing Term
3-6 months
- Houzeo is a flat-fee MLS referral service that connects you with Massachusetts brokers and agents who will list your home on your local MLS for a pre-negotiated rate
- Draft your listing, upload photos, set your price, and sign MLS contracts via Houzeo’s online dashboard
- Autofills listing details using publicly available info about your home to expedite the listing process
- Home valuation not included in service
- Does not require that you offer buyer’s agent commission
- Listing is typically live within 24 hours of submission
$199 - Bronze
| $399 - Gold
|
Pros
- Free cancellation anytime (no refunds)
- Freedom to specify any buyer’s agent commission
- Listings typically go live within 24 hours
Cons
- Limited coverage in rural areas
- “Free changes” only apply to listing’s price, status, and property description; $10 for additional changes
As of August 10, 2020, Houzeo has an average rating of 4.8/5 based on 21 reviews on Google.
MLS My Home
MLS My HomePrice Range
$99+
Number of Photos
Up to 25
Listing Term
6 months
- MLS My Home is a nationwide flat-fee MLS referral service that connects you with local brokers and agents who will list your home on the MLS for a pre-negotiated rate
- Listings posted on the MLS within 24-48 hours
- Buyer and agent inquiries forwarded to you
- Set your own buyer’s agent commission (within a required range in some locations, e.g. 2-3%)
- Pay no buyer’s agent commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
- Cancel anytime
- $99
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com and other major real estate sites
- 6 photos (can upgrade to 25 for additional fee)
- Property webpage with own URL
Available packages, services, and pricing depend on location. Check the website for details about your local options.
Pros
- Cancel anytime
- No commission if you find the buyer
- Buyer inquiries forwarded directly to you
Cons
- Limited options and many states
- No built-in home valuation
- May not offer complete coverage in your state
As of January 21, 2020:
- 2.5-out-of-5-star rating on Trustpilot (207 reviews)
- 1-out-of-5-star rating on Yelp (17 reviews)
- 3.9-out-of-5-star rating on Facebook (99 reviews)
- F rating with Better Business Bureau with a 2-out-of-5-star customer rating (20 reviews)
Note: MLS My Home will refer you to an independent, local broker who’s level of service and customer reviews may vary from MLS My Home’s, so be sure to research the broker before signing a listing agreement.
Alternatives to Flat-Fee MLS in Boston
The Boston real estate market is stable. According to Zillow, the median home value rose 0.3% over the past year and is expected to increase by 3.6% in the next year. To realize your home's full value (or ideally more), it's important to weigh all of your options for selling before making a final decision.
- Flat-Fee Real Estate Agents
- Discount Real Estate Agents
- Low-Commission Real Estate Agents
- 1% Commission Real Estate Agents
- Sell to an iBuyer