If you're selling your home for sale by owner (FSBO) in Washington, 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 Evergreen State is approximately 3%. Based on the median sale price for Washington homes, as of November 2019, that translates to about $13,050.
In contrast, typical rates for flat-fee MLS companies in Washington are in the $95 to $500+ 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 Washington 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 Washington.
Top Washington Flat-Fee MLS Companies in 2020
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
FlatList.com
FlatList.comPrice Range
$299
Number of Photos
25
Listing Term
6-12 months
- FlatList.com is a flat-fee MLS service operated by Flat List RE, a licensed real estate brokerage in Arizona, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington
- Unlimited, free listing changes
- Listing goes live in 1 business day
- Buyer and agent inquiries forwarded to you via email
- You set the buyer’s agent commission (FlatList.com recommends 2-3%)
- Free cancelation anytime
- $299
- 6-month listing on MLS (Arizona and Hawaii), 1-year listing (Oregon and Washington)
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 25 Photos
- State forms and disclosures
- For Sale sign
- Flyer creator
Packages vary slightly state-to-state. Check website for details.
Pros
- Free changes, cancel anytime with no fee
- Pay no commission if you find a buyer
Cons
- No home valuation or CMA
As of January 15, 2020:
- A+ rating with Better Business Bureau with a 1-out-of-5-star customer rating (1 review)
MLS4Owners
MLS4OwnersPrice Range
$95-$500+
Number of Photos
8-25
Listing Term
3-12 months
- MLS4Owners is a licensed, Washington real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee MLS listing services
- You set buyer’s agent commission (MLS4Owners recommends 2.5% to 3%)
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- No cancellation fee
- MLS market reports included in base package
- Facilitator service
- A-la-carte services include additional photos, signs, flyer boxes, lockboxes, and more
- $95 - MLS Entry package
- 3-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 8 Photos
- Facilitator service
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- MLS market reports
- Personal property webpage
- Custom flyers
- Open house advertisements
- Photo slideshow
- No cancellation fee
- $295 - Gold package
- Same as MLS Entry package, plus:
- 6-month listing on MLS
- 16 Photos
- State disclosures and purchase agreements
- Open house scheduling
- $495 - Classic package
- Same as Gold package, plus:
- 12-month listing on MLS
- 25 Photos
- Custom yard sign
- Real estate contracts
- Unlimited listing changes
- Listing activity reports
- Virtual tour
- $500 + 0.5% at closing - Classic Plus package
- Same as Classic package, plus:
- Broker facilitation and review of listing, purchase agreements, offers, counteroffers, and escrow
A-la-carte services include additional photos, signs, flyer boxes, lockboxes, and more
Pros
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- No cancellation fee
- MLS market reports included in base package
- Facilitator service
Cons
- State disclosures and forms not included in base package
- Additional fees for photo captions, photo replacements, document retrieval, broker review reports, and more
As of January 23, 2020:
- 4.8-out-of-5-star rating on Google (5 reviews)
- 3.5-out-of-5-star rating on Yelp (3 reviews)
- 4.8-out-of-5-star rating on Zillow (2 reviews)
- A+ rating on University Place, Washington Better Business Bureau
National Flat-Fee MLS Services & Brokers Operating in Washington
Flat Fee Realty
Flat Fee RealtyPrice Range
$299
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 Washington 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 $79
- State disclosures and forms available
- Unlimited listing changes
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Refund available within 30 days of purchase
- $299 - 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 $79
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 Pasco area
As of January 22, 2020:
- 4.5-out-of-5-star rating on Facebook (4 reviews)
Houzeo
HouzeoPrice Range
$195-$395
Number of Photos
6-24
Listing Term
3-6 months
- Houzeo is a flat-fee MLS referral service that connects you with Nevada 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
- $195 - Bronze
- 3-month listing on MLS
- 6 Photos
- $25 for each listing change
- Syndicated to Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and more
- $295 - 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 listing’s 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)
Alternatives to Flat-Fee MLS in Washington
The Washington real estate market is increasing rapidly. According to Zillow, the median home value rose 4.9% over the past year and is expected to see an increase of 4.8% 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