The best MLS services | FAQ | Alternatives
Whether you're selling a shotgun home in Madison or a cabin in the Northwoods, paying 6% in realtor fees is a lot.
That’s why some sellers use a flat-fee MLS company to list their home on the MLS — the main place where realtors find homes to show their clients — in exchange for a small one-time fee.
What’s the catch?
- Less support: You manage your own sale — without a full-service agent to handle pricing, photography, paperwork, and negotiations.
- You still pay a buyer’s agent fee: 88% of buyers work with an agent — who still needs to get paid. In Wisconsin, you’re on the hook for 2.40%-2.80% of the final sale price.
If you want to save on fees but aren’t ready for a “Do-It-Yourself” experience, Clever can match you with full-service agents who work for a low flat fee or 1%. Find a low fee agent near you.
If you’re still interested in finding flat-fee MLS listing options in Wisconsin, read on! We’ve reviewed the best (and worst!) services in the The Badger State.
The 5 best Wisconsin flat-fee MLS companies*
Madcity Homes | Sconsin Sells | Wisconsin Flat Fee Homes | Flat Fee Realty | Houzeo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price range | $500 | $299-599 | $500 | $249 | $275-375 |
Money-back guarantee | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Unlimited listing updates | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | 💰 |
Downloadable forms | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
For sale sign | 💰 | 💰 | ✅ | ❌ | 💰 |
Lockbox | 💰 | 💰 | ✅ | ❌ | 💰 |
* 💰 indicates extra fee or premium purchase required | |||||
Madcity Homes
Madcity HomesBest For
Sellers looking for an all-in-one listing package
Price Range
$500
Pros:
- The listing package comes with professional photographs of your property.
- You'll get a list of recent comparable sales and listings in your area to help you price your property.
Cons:
- The website isn't clear about the number of photos you can add to your listing.
- This service is currently only available in Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Gree, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock, and Sauk counties.
Sconsin Sells
Sconsin SellsBest For
Sellers who expect their homes to sell quickly
Price Range
$299-599
Pros:
- The base package allows up to 25 photos. A lot of companies include 10 or fewer photos for a basic listing.
- You'll get a lot of help from the broker with things like pricing, coordinating showings, and general guidance if you go with the Gold Listing package ($599).
Cons:
- The basic listing is only a three month term. This could be fine in hotter markets but many homes could take longer to sell.
- You have to pay extra to add open houses to your listing with the basic package.
Wisconsin Flat Fee Homes
Wisconsin Flat Fee HomesBest For
Inexperienced sellers looking for extra broker guidance
Price Range
$550
Pros:
- The broker will sit down with you to talk through comparable properties and discuss the best price for your listing.
- The package includes marketing materials like a yard sign, lock box, property brochure, and showing scheduling.
- A professional photographer will come take photos of your property that you can use for your listing.
Cons:
- This flat-fee MLS company currently only serves Sheboygan, Fond Du Lac, Manitowoc, Calumet, Outagamie, and Winnebago counties plus the Appleton metro area.
Flat Fee Realty
Flat Fee RealtyBest For
Budget-conscious sellers who need a simple, affordable listing
Price Range
$249
Pros:
- Your listing comes with all the state seller's disclosures that you'll need.
- You can pay a little more to post up to 25 photos on the MLS instead of the standard six.
Cons:
- Flat Fee Realty doesn't offer any pricing or contract assistance.
- The company won't be your listing broker. Instead, they'll refer you to a New Jersey-based broker who will list your property. If you have problems or questions, you'll end up talking to two companies instead of just one.
Houzeo
HouzeoBest For
Sellers looking for a lot of a-la-carte options
Price Range
$275-375
Pros:
- You can fill out, sign, and submit all your seller's paperwork on the Houzeo app.
- When you enter your address, Houzeo auto-fills publicly available data about your property.
- Houzeo lets you buy additional services like contract reviews, agent showings, and professional showings a la carte.
Cons:
- You have to pay extra for pricing assistance — several local competitors offer this for free.
- You're limited to 10 free changes for price, status, and description in their two most popular packages. Most competitors offer unlimited free changes.
Flat-Fee MLS Companies in Wisconsin by City
In Wisconsin, you'll also find some smaller flat-fee MLS companies that specialize in particular cities. These uber-local companies are more likely to offer flexible service packages and to bring more area expertise than the big guys.
Every Wisconsin flat-fee MLS service is different. Always make sure to read the fine print when evaluating offerings to make sure you're getting a fair deal.
Flat-fee MLS companies in Madison
We found the flat-fee MLS companies in Madison to be more limited in their offerings, as a whole. Many of the services that we reviewed just didn't have a lot of add-ons. You can expect to pay around $300 for a basic listing and up to $500 or more for a more comprehensive package.
» EXPLORE: The Best Madison Flat-Fee MLS Companies
Flat-fee MLS companies in Appleton
Flat-fee MLS companies in Appleton offer a lot of different options for listing packages. You can find listing packages between $250 and $500 with a lot of options for add-on services like professional photography.
The Best Appleton Flat-Fee MLS Companies
Flat-fee MLS companies in Milwaukee
We found a lot of variety in Milwaukee flat-fee MLS companies, with some offering basic listings for $250 and others offering more comprehensive services for up to $550.
The Best Milwaukee Flat-Fee MLS Companies
Flat-fee MLS companies to avoid
Some companies claim to offer flat-rate MLS services but charge "hidden" fees at closing. These predatory practices could cost you thousands of dollars when you expect to pay only a few hundred.
Always make sure to read the fine print for any service. Look out for "closing fees" or "closing costs" that you'll owe the broker in addition to an up-front flat fee.
We've even seen some companies that claim to offer a "free" MLS listing only to charge you a percentage of the sale price.
Paying a percentage of the sale price kills any benefits of using a flat-fee MLS company. At that cost, you'll be better off using a flat-fee broker like Clever for more service and transparent pricing.
Frequently asked questions
How much do flat-fee MLS services cost in Wisconsin?
Typically, you should expect to pay about $300-500 for a flat-fee MLS listing in Wisconsin. However, we've seen basic plans for as low as $250 and more comprehensive services that charge as much as $550.
Some flat-fee MLS companies offer services such as photography, paperwork help, and signage a la carte. However, watch out. These add-on services can add up! At that point, you might be better off using a full-service agent who charges a flat or discounted fee to handle everything for you.
» FIND: Full-service agents who don't charge an arm and a leg
Do I still need to pay the buyer's agent commission?
Although you'll save some money by not having to pay commission to a listing agent (typically 3.01%-3.41% of the sale price), we strongly recommend offering a commission to the buyer's agent. This will incentivize agents to bring their clients to your home.
How much to offer a buyer's agent is up to you, but most selling agent commissions in Wisconsin range from 2.40%-2.80%.
» READ: Average Real Estate Commission in Wisconsin
How do I sell by owner in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin real estate laws require sellers to disclose all important information about their property, including:
- Building and safety information
- Utilities
- Environmental information (like erosion, noise pollution, and whether it's in a flood plain)
- Sewer and wastewater treatment
You'll make these disclosures by filling out the Real Estate Condition Report. Potential buyers will review this document to make sure the property is free of deal-breaking flaws. You can either get this form from your listing broker or download itdirectly from the Wisconsin state legislature.
» READ: How to Sell a House for Sale by Owner in Wisconsin
What are the alternatives to using a flat-fee MLS service in Wisconsin?
Discount and flat-fee real estate agents
Discount real estate brokers will list your property for as little as 1% — keeping in mind that you usually still have to pay a 2.6–3% buyer’s agent fee.
We’ve reviewed three national and regional discount brokers that operate in Wisconsin.
Clever offers the lowest rates, with an added advantage: Clever lets you compare multiple agents from major brands like Keller Williams, Century 21, and RE/MAX. However, if you’re selling a particularly pricey home, the flat fees charged by Homie and Trelora could offer significant savings.
Your Clever Agent will handle everything for you, from helping you accurately price your home to high-quality photography to negotiating with prospective buyers and filling out the paperwork. You'll pay only a little more than you'd pay a flat-fee MLS service but save hours of effort by not having to do it all yourself.
Clever is a referral service that can match you with a pre-vetted full-service agent for a flat fee of only $3,000 (or 1% if your home is priced above $350,000), plus the typical buyer's agent commission.
Your full-service agent will handle everything for you, from helping you accurately price your home to high-quality photography to negotiating with prospective buyers and filling out the paperwork. You'll pay only a little more than you'd pay a flat-fee MLS service but save hours of effort by not having to do it all yourself.
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Selling without an MLS listing
It's always possible to try selling your house by owner without listing on the MLS. But this makes sense only if you already have a potential buyer lined up.
That's because not listing on your local MLS means not getting the most effective exposure for your property. MLS listings are posted to every major real estate website. Plus, real estate agents access MLS listings to find properties for their clients.
If you don't secure an MLS listing, you'll be limited to sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace and relying on a yard sign.