If you're selling your home for sale by owner (FSBO) in Fort Worth, 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 Cowtown is approximately 3%. Based on the median sale price for Fort Worth homes, as of January 2020, that translates to about $7,350.
In contrast, typical rates for flat-fee MLS companies in Fort Worth are in between $275 and $1,195. 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 Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth.
Top Fort Worth Flat-Fee MLS Companies in 2020
List Smart Texas
List Smart TexasPrice Range
$499-$849
Number of Photos
Up to 36
Listing Term
6 months
- List Smart Texas is a flat-fee MLS service operated by Linda Waller, a licensed real estate brokerage servicing North Texas
- Comparative market analysis (CMA) available upon request
- Buyer and agent inquiries forwarded directly to you
- Listing typically go live by the next business day
- You choose the buyer’s agent commission and pay no commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
- Free cancelation anytime
- 100% Money Back Guarantee if you decide to sell your home with an agent they refer you to
- Because of Texas’s minimum service requirements for brokers, List Smart Texas will present all offers to you and answer your questions regarding offers, counteroffers, notices, and contingencies
- $499 - Basic
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- Up to 36 photos
- Yard sign with your phone number
- CMA (upon request)
- State required form (downloadable)
- $599 - Deluxe
- Same as Basic package, plus:
- Supra lockbox (requires a $100 refundable deposit)
- Centralize Showing Service (CSS) for showing scheduling and feedback
- $849 - Premium
- Same as Deluxe package, plus:
- Professional photos
A-la-carte services include CSS and yard sign. List Smart Texas also offers a negotiation and closing assistance packages. See website for details
Pros
- Free cancelation anytime and 100% money-back guarantee
- Work directly with the broker, not a referral service
- CMA available upon request
Cons
- Only 6-month listings length available
N/A — as of January 21, 2020, no third-party review information was available for List Smart Texas. We will update when this information becomes available.
Congress Realty
Congress RealtyPrice Range
$299
Number of Photos
4
Listing Term
6 months
- Congress Realty is a licensed brokerage in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington that specializes in flat-fee MLS listing services
- Free comparative market analysis (upon request)
- You set buyer’s commission (Congress Realty recommends 3%)
- Listings typically go live in 1 business day
- Free, unlimited changes
- Your phone number displayed on the MLS listing
- $299
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 4 photos
- Downloadable contracts, addendums, and disclosure forms
- ShowingTime showing scheduling and feedback service
A-la-carte services include: more photos, open house advertisements, listing renewals, professional photography, yard signs, lockbox, and more.
Pros
- Pay no buyer’s agent commission if you find the buyer
- Free, unlimited changes
- Wide variety of a-la-carte services
- Home buyer rebates if you buy with Congress Realty (in states where available)
Cons
- May not cover every part of your state
- Fewer photos than other comparable flat-fee MLS services
As of January 14, 2020:
- 4.5-out-of-5-star rating on Yelp (9 reviews)
- 4.9-out-of-5-star rating on Zillow (17 reviews)
- A+ rating with Better Business Bureau
Creekview Realty
Creekview RealtyPrice Range
$495-$1,195
Number of Photos
Unlimited
Listing Term
6 months
- Creekview realty is a licensed real estate brokerage that specializes in MLS listings and other for sale by owner (FSBO) services across Texas
- Also offers full-service, flat-fee representation
- Listings can be posted on the same day if they are properly submitted before 11am (weekdays only)
- Cancel any time without penalty (no refunds)
- $495 - Plan A
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- Maximum number of photos allowed by MLS
- Creekview Realty yard sign and lockbox
- CSS scheduling service
- Legal forms (downloads)
- $1,195 - Plan B
- Same as Plan A, plus:
- Full representation (dedicated agent to advise and represent you in negotiations and necessary paperwork)
- A-la-carte services:
- Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) - $100
- Electronic Lockbox - $100 deposit
- Professional Photographer - $175
- Flyer Box - $25
Pros
- Legal forms included with package
- No fee to change listing description or pictures
- Free yard sign with basic package
Cons
- Entry-level package pricier than similar flat-fee MLS listing services
- No built-in home valuation
- The only option for listing term is 6 months
As of January 10, 2020:
- 4.8-out-of-5-star rating on Google (68 reviews)
- 4.5-out-of-5-star rating on Yelp (47 reviews)
- 4.8-out-of-5-star rating on Facebook (18 reviews)
- 4.8-out-of-5-star rating on BirdEye (90 reviews)
- A rating on Better Business Bureau with 5-out-of-5-star rating (6 reviews)
National Flat-Fee MLS Services & Brokers Operating in Fort Worth
Houzeo
HouzeoPrice Range
$275-$395
Number of Photos
6-24
Listing Term
3 to 6 months
- Houzeo is a flat-fee MLS referral service that connects you with Texas 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
- $275 - Bronze
- 3-month listing on MLS
- 6 Photos
- $25 for each listing change
- Syndicated to Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and more
- $325 - Silver
- 6-month listing on MLS
- 24 Photos
- Syndicated to Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and more
- 10 free listing changes
- Open Houses included in 10 free changes
- Select and communicate with Escrow Agent
- $395 - Gold
- Same as Silver plan, plus:
- Federal and state disclosures forms
- eFile Federal & State Disclosures
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 listings price, status, and property description
- $10 for additional changes
- $30-50 for changes to photos and additional open houses
As of January 1, 2020:
- 4.7-out-of-5-star rating on Google (15 reviews)
Flat Fee Group
Flat Fee GroupPrice Range
$399-$999 (varies by state)
Number of Photos
Up to max allowed by MLS
Listing Term
3 months up to until sold
- Flat Fee Group is a network of independent brokers that offer flat-fee services in their respective state(s)
- Pay no buyer’s agent commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
- Buyer and agent inquiries forwarded to you (in most states)
- Contracts, disclosures, and addendums included (in most states)
- $399 - Showcase
- 6-month listing on MLS in most cases
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- Up to 25 photos
- General marketing tools (e.g. flyers, yard sign)
- $549 - Premium
- Same as Showcase package, plus:
- Contract, offer, and document review
- $999 - Platinum
- Same as Premium package, plus:
- Negotiation assistance
Packages, services, and pricing vary by state. Check the website for details about options in your area.
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
- As of January 21, 2020, does not have an independent broker in Alaska, Montana, West Virginia, and Wyoming
- Experience and service quality may vary depending on your state’s broker
N/A — as of January 22, 2020, no third-party review information was available for Flat Fee Group. However, as a network of independent brokers, you can check the website, find your state’s broker and research their individual reviews.
Alternatives to Flat-Fee MLS in Fort Worth
The Fort Worth real estate market is stable. According to Zillow, the median home value rose 3.7% over the past year and is expected to increase by 3.7% 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