If you're selling your home for sale by owner (FSBO) in Pennsylvania, 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 the The Keystone State is approximately 3%. Based on the median sale price for Pennsylvania homes, as of November 2019, that translates to about $6,420.
In contrast, typical rates for flat-fee MLS companies in Pennsylvania are in the $69 to $1,399+ range. 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 Pennsylvania 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 the state of Pennsylvania.
Top Pennsylvania Flat-Fee MLS Companies in 2020
Simple Choice Realty
Simple Choice RealtyPrice Range
$399-$1,399
Number of Photos
50
Listing Term
6 months
- Simple Choice Realty is a licensed real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee MLS services, operating throughout most of Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania
- Listings typically go live on MLS within one business day
- Cancel anytime with no fee
- Required state disclosures included
- Free listing changes
- Requires buyer’s agent commission of at least 2% (but no commission if you find an unrepresented buyer)
- Additional agent assistance included in premium packages
$399 - MLS Listing Only
| $699 - Contract Review
|
Additional, a-la-carte options include: 12-month listing on MLS, customized sign, combination lockboxes, adding of your contact info on Zillow, Realtor.com Weekly Report, expedited listing (entered on the MLS same business day), listing on multiple MLSs
Pros
- Work directly with the broker, not a referral service
- Free MLS listing changes
- No buyer’s agent commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
- Additional assistance from a licensed agent (in premium packages)
Cons
- Minimum 2% buyer’s agent commission required
- Does not cover all of Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania
As of August 11, 2020, Simple Choice Realty has an average rating of 5/5 based on 29 reviews on Zillow, as well as an A rating on Angie's List.
- Zillow: 5/5 (29 reviews)
- Angie's List: A
XFlatFeeMLS
XFlatFeeMLSPrice Range
$69-189+
Number of Photos
6
Listing Term
1 month up to until house sells
- XFlatFeeMLS is a flat-fee MLS service operated by XRealty.NET LLC, a licensed real estate brokerage in Washington D.C., Maryland, Florida, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Virginia
- You set the buyer’s agent commission
- Listings are processed in 24 hours or your listing is free
- Free status updates (Under contract, sold, etc.)
- Wide variety of a-la-carte services
- Money-back guarantee if you decide to sell with a full-service realtor XFlatFeeMLS refers you to
$69
| $99
|
Also offers a-la-carte services like: additional photos, unlimited text changes and open house announcements, listing on a secondary MLS, call forwarding service, centralized showing service, photography, contract prep and review, electronic lockbox rental, and more
Pros
- Work directly with the broker, not a referral service
- Buyer inquiries are forwarded directly to you — no dual agency
- Money-back guarantee if you decide to list with a full-service realtor XFlatFeeMLS refers you to
- Listings are processed within 24 hours or your listing is free
Cons
- Free status updates do not include changes to the text of the listing or photos
- Only 6 photos included in all packages
- No pricing or home valuation assistance
As of August 8, 2020, XRealty does not have any third party customer reviews, though agent Norman Domingo has a 3.2/5 rating on Zillow.com. Additionally, it has an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau.
National Flat-Fee MLS Services & Brokers Operating in Pennsylvania
Flat Fee Group
Flat Fee GroupPrice Range
$399-1,999
Number of Photos
25-50
Listing Term
12 months up to until sold
- Flat Fee Group is a national network of independent brokers that offer flat-fee MLS services in Pennsylvania
- Pay no buyer’s agent commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
- Buyer and agent inquiries forwarded to you
- Contracts, disclosures, and addendums included
$399 - Premium
| $699 - Contract Review
|
Pros
- Work directly with the broker, not a referral service
- Buyer inquiries forwarded directly to you
- Pay no commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
Cons
- No home valuation included (except Full Service package)
As of August 10, 2020, Christopher Carr, the Pennsylvania Flat Fee Group broker, has a 5-out-of-5-star rating on Zillow (24 reviews).
Flat Fee Realty
Flat Fee RealtyPrice Range
$199
Number of Photos
6
Listing Term
6 months
- Flat Fee Realty is a nationwide flat-fee MLS referral service, licensed in Connecticut, that connects you with Pennsylvania brokers and agents who will list your home on the MLS for a pre-negotiated rate
- You set buyer’s agent commission
- MLS photo upgrade available for $50
- State disclosures and forms available
- Unlimited listing changes
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Refund available within 30 days of purchase
$199 - MLS Listing package
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 6 Photos
- Free state disclosures
- Unlimited listing changes
- No cancellation fee
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
MLS photo upgrade available for $50
Pros
- Unlimited listing changes
- No cancellation fee
- Free state disclosures
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Refund available within 30 days of purchase
Cons
- No built-in home valuation or market analysis
- Limited coverage in rural areas
As of August 11, 2020, no third-party reviews exist for Flat Fee Realty. We will update when this information becomes available.
Houzeo
HouzeoPrice Range
$250-399
Number of Photos
6 to max allowed
Listing Term
3-6 months
- Houzeo is a flat-fee MLS referral service that connects you with Pennsylvania 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
$250 - 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.
Alternatives to Flat-Fee MLS in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania real estate market is increasing rapidly. According to Zillow, the median home value rose 4% over the past year and is expected to see an increase of 4% in 2020. 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