
Read Clever reviews | Seller savings | Buying with Clever | Who should use Clever? | Info for agents
What is Clever Real Estate?
Clever Real Estate is a nationwide service that matches you with top-rated, local real estate agents and helps you save thousands on commission fees.
Clever matches you with multiple agents from major brokerages, like Keller Williams and RE/MAX, so you can compare your options and choose the right fit. Using Clever is free, and there are no up-front costs or hidden fees. If you're a seller, you'll pay your agent only if and when your home sells. Buyers donât pay any fees.
When you sell with Clever, you get full service and support for a low 1.5% listing fee â half the usual rate. When you buy with Clever, you also get full service and support. Plus, in most states, you can get cash back after closing to help pay for your move.
⥠Looking for a real estate agent near you? Take this short quiz to get matched with agents in your area who work for just a 1.5% listing fee.
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4.9 (1,995 reviews) | |
1.5% (min. $3,000) | |
$7,000* | |
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** | |
Locations | Nationwide |
*Compared to a 3% listing fee **On eligible purchases in 41 of 50 U.S. states |
Who should use Clever?
If you're looking for the best agent to sell your home, Clever Real Estate is a great choice. Clever matches sellers with top-producing local agents from major brokerages like Keller Williams, Compass, and RE/MAX. It helps you compare options and choose the best fit.
Clever is also a good option for sellers who are looking to save money on real estate commissions. When you find your agent through Clever, you'll pay a low 1.5% listing fee, about half the usual rate! Learn how much you can save selling with Clever.
Clever also matches home buyers with top-rated, local agents who have extensive experience in their area and price range. Because sellers are typically responsible for paying the buyer's agent fee, home buyers will receive full service and support from an agent at no cost. Get matched with top buyer's agents near you.
Is Clever Real Estate legitimate?
Yes, Clever is a well-established, nationwide discount real estate company and licensed brokerage in Missouri. Clever Real Estate reviews from customers are very positive, with an average customer rating of 4.9/5 based on 1,995 total reviews. Clever has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
đ Clever fast facts | |
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BBB rating | A+ |
Year founded | 2017 |
Agent network size | 19,000 |
Since launching in 2017, Clever has partnered with more than 19,000 real estate agents across the country and helped home sellers and buyers net more than $60 million in total commission savings.
How does Clever Real Estate work?
Cleverâs agent matching service is fast and easy to use. Hereâs how it works:
- Sign up by filling out a simple form on Cleverâs website.
- Provide some basic info about your sale or purchase (e.g., timeline, estimated price, what youâre looking for in an agent) to help inform your agent matches.
- A fully licensed Clever Concierge reaches out via phone, usually within a few minutes. They'll learn more about your needs and preferences and answer any questions you might have (note: you can opt to skip the phone call if you prefer).
- Cleverâs team uses your information, along with data-backed insights from its matching algorithm, to handpick the best local agents to suit your situation and needs.
- You can opt to receive your agent matches via text message, email, or both. You can also view and contact them in your Clever dashboard.
- Once your agent matches arrive, you can set up interviews with your agents to compare your options and choose the best fit. You can also request additional matches or simply walk away.
- If youâre selling, once you choose your agent, you sign a listing agreement and hit the ground running. Your agent will provide the same full-service experience for half the typical rate!
- If youâre buying, once you choose your agent, theyâll provide full service and support throughout your entire purchase. And if you qualify, you can get cash back after closing!
đ€ Cleverâs Concierge Team Every member of Cleverâs Concierge Team is a fully licensed real estate agent. That means your Clever Concierge is a secondary resource for expert guidance and advice throughout your entire sale or purchase. And thatâs in addition to helping match you with the perfect agent and ensuring you get a world-class selling or buying experience. |
How good are Clever Partner Agents?
Clever partners with highly rated agents from top regional brokerages and major brands, such as Keller Williams, Compass, and Berkshire Hathaway.
To join Cleverâs network, agents and brokers must meet the following minimum criteria:
- An active real estate license
- 5+ years of real estate experience
- Great reviews from past sellers and buyers
- A proven track record of success in their local market
- Excellent communication and responsiveness
Once an agent joins the network, Cleverâs team continually monitors performance and customer satisfaction. If an agent doesnât consistently deliver world-class service and results, Clever stops sending them customers.
» MORE: Why do agents work with companies like Clever?
Selling a house with Clever
Cleverâs Partner Agents have agreed to lower their typical rates, but youâll still get the same full-service experience they provide their full-commission clients.
What does full service include? | |
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Comparative market analysis (CMA) | Help with offers and counteroffers |
Pricing strategy | Home inspection and negotiation support |
Advice for home staging | Help with paperwork and closing |
Professional photography | Title transfer assistance |
Comprehensive marketing | Ongoing expert guidance |
Showings and open houses | And more! |
đ° How much can I save by selling with Clever?
Clever sellers save about 50% on listing fees â or about $7,000 on average. Clever offers some of the lowest listing fees and biggest average commission savings for a full-service real estate brand in the U.S.[1] » SAVE: List with a top agent for just 1.5% |
All Clever Partner Agents have agreed to provide 100% full service and support for a low 1.5% listing fee. Thatâs up to half the typical 2.5â3% rate most agents charge for the same level of service.
You should expect to offer a buyerâs agent commission as well to incentivize agents to show your home. Typical buyerâs agent commission rates vary by location and home type, and buyerâs agent commission is negotiable â but 2â3% is a common range nationwide.
In other words, when you sell with Clever, you can expect a total commission fee between 3.5â4.5% â which is 20â35% less than the current average realtor commission rate of 5.4%.
On a $500,000 home sale, finding your agent through Clever could save you approximately $7,500!
Traditional agent | Clever | |
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Listing fee | $15,000* | $7,5000 |
Buyerâs agent fee** | $15,000 | $15,000 |
Total commission | $30,000 | $22,500 |
Total savings | $0 | $7,500 |
*Assumes a 3% listing fee **Assumes a 3% buyerâs agent fee |
đą A few quick (but important) notes about Clever's fees
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Buying a house with Clever
When you buy with Clever, youâll get matched with a local, full-service buyerâs agent from a major brand or regional brokerage.
In addition to all of the services youâd expect from a traditional buyerâs agent â like showings and help with offers, negotiations, paperwork, and closing â youâll also get:
- Real-time MLS alerts: Instant notifications when a home matching your criteria is listed on the MLS.
- On-demand showings: Tour any MLS listed home whenever youâd like. You can see a property in as little as one hour.
- Clever Cash Backâą: If youâre buying in a qualifying state, we give you money back to help cover your move.
Where is Clever Cash Back available?
Clever Cash Back is available in 41 out of 50 U.S. states. Buyers in the following states aren't eligible for Clever Cash Back:
- Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Tennessee
Clever Cash Back purchase price criteria
When you: | Clever Cash Back |
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Buy with Clever | $250 |
Buy and sell with Clever | $500 |
đ Advantages of cash back over commission rebates
Some discount real estate brands, like UpNest, advertise âcommission rebatesâ â also known as âhome buyer rebatesâ â which come directly out of the agentâs commission fee. Unfortunately, theyâre subject to numerous terms and restrictions.
Cash back rewards, like Clever Cash Back, usually come out of the agent matching serviceâs referral fee, which means less red tape and complications for you.
â
Cash back | âïž Buyer rebates |
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Legal only in certain states | Legal only in certain states |
Doesn't require lender approval | Usually requires lender approval |
Can be spent however you want | Issued as credits and can be used only in certain ways (e.g., to cover closing costs) |
Guaranteed in full on eligible purchases | Never guaranteed in full |
» MORE: Learn how home buyer rebates and cash back programs work
How does Clever make money?
When a Clever Partner Agent closes a deal for a Clever customer, Clever takes a portion of that agentâs commission on the sale. This is called a referral fee, and it's how all agent matching services make money.
As a consumer, you benefit from this arrangement because it allows Clever to offer its agent matching service for free.
Agents benefit because itâs a low-risk, low-cost way for them to boost their real estate transaction volume, reputation, and revenue stream.
Why do real estate agents work with Clever?
One of the biggest expenses for real estate agents is finding new customers, since many sellers don't know how to find a good real estate agent. Clever provides a steady stream of introductions to serious and motivated potential clients, which helps agents spend more time closing deals instead of looking for clients.
In effect, the higher volume of transactions â and zero up-front costs (agents pay Clever a referral fee only if and when a deal closes) â means agents can charge less and earn more. Those savings are passed along to sellers and buyers in the form of a reduced commission rate or cash back after closing.
The increased volume of business also helps agents build their brand in their local real estate market. This boost to their stats, visibility, and reputation ultimately helps them get more traditional, full-commission referrals and listings.
đĄ How can I be sure Iâll really get full service? Cleverâs Concierge Team continually monitors its Partner Agentsâ performance. If they see or hear about a Partner Agent skimping on service or support, that agent is removed from Cleverâs network. Additionally, agents live and die by their reputations. One bad online review from a mistreated customer could impede their ability to attract new business for years. |
Clever Real Estate reviews from real customers
Clever Real Estate reviews online are overwhelmingly positive. Clever has an average customer rating of 4.9/5 across 2,000+ reviews on independent review site Trustpilot.
Below are a few excerpts from recent Clever Real Estate reviews from real customers. You can view all of Clever's reviews on Trustpilot.
Saved $10,000

âUsing Clever made everything simpleâ

âThey do precisely what they claimâ

Try Cleverâs free agent-matching service today.
Compare Clever to alternatives
Clever and its mystery shoppers spent more than 1,500 hours researching real estate agent matching services and discount brokerages to deliver the best reviews in the industry. Our reviews are continuously updated to ensure you have the latest information to inform your decisions.
Read on to see how Clever compares to the competition.
Company | Built-in savings? | Avg. rating |
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Clever | â
| 4.9 |
â
| 3.7 | |
â
| 4.9 | |
â | 4.6 | |
â | 4.5 |
Due to its nationwide coverage, top-rated agents, and best-in-class rates, Clever is a great choice for most home sellers looking to save on realtor fees without sacrificing service. It's also a great choice for most buyers looking for a top-rated agent and some cash back.
That said, itâs always worth evaluating several options before making a final decision to get the best fit and value.
» MORE: Which real estate company has the lowest commission?
Redfin vs. Clever
Redfin is a well-known discount brokerage that advertises 1.5% listing fees for sellers, though minimum fees apply. It also offers commission rebates for buyers in select markets.
Redfin agents are salaried, in-house employees who handle roughly three times more customers than the typical realtor, which may limit their ability to provide hands-on service and support. With Clever, youâll work directly with a top-rated local agent from a conventional brokerage like Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Century 21.
» MORE: Read the full Redfin review
Ideal Agent vs. Clever
Like Clever, Ideal Agent is a free, nationwide service that matches you with top-rated local agents and negotiates commission discounts on your behalf. But there are some important differences.
Ideal Agent pre-negotiates 2% listing fees with its partner agents â while sellers who work with Clever pay just 1.5% in listing fees.
Ideal Agent also matches you with only one agent. With Clever, youâll get multiple agent matches to compare so you can choose the best fit.
Additionally, Ideal Agent offers no cost benefits for buyers. Clever offers cash back for eligible buyers.
» MORE: Read the full Ideal Agent review
UpNest vs. Clever
UpNest is an online real estate platform where local agents submit proposals and compete for your business. The idea is that the artificial competition drives savings, meaning discounted rates for sellers and rebates for buyers. But these savings arenât guaranteed and tend to be relatively limited.
We enlisted the help of mystery shoppers to try out UpNestâs service. Our shoppers found that the price quotes in most proposals were generally comparable to market rates. The lowest listing fee was 2% vs. the typical 2.5â3% rate. In other words, UpNestâs best case scenario didn't match Cleverâs 1.5% listing fee.
» MORE: Read the full UpNest review
HomeLight vs. Clever
HomeLight is a well-known agent matching service in the U.S., and, like Clever, it matches you with top-rated local agents for free.
Both services are fast and easy to use, give you multiple agent matches so you can compare options, and work with full-service agents from major brands and top regional brokerages. In fact, Clever and HomeLight work with many of the same agents.
Thereâs one major difference: HomeLight offers zero built-in cost savings.
When you find your agent through HomeLight, youâll pay the full listing commission â likely whatever the competitive rate is in your area (usually between 2.5â3%). In short, Clever can help you work with those same top-rated agents for half the price!
» MORE: Read the full HomeLight review
Next steps: Talk to a real estate expert
If youâre looking to buy or sell a house and weighing your options, Clever can help!
Our fully licensed Concierge Team is standing by to answer your questions. They offer free, objective advice about how to sell or buy your next home, given your specific goals and situation.
Give us a call at 1-833-2-CLEVER, or contact us via the form below.
Additional resources
Itâs also worth exploring other home selling approaches before choosing to list with a discount brokerage. These resources can help you understand all of your options so you can make a more informed decision.
- Discount real estate brokers
- Low commission real estate agents
- Flat fee real estate agents
- Selling for sale by owner (FSBO)
- Flat fee MLS services
- We Buy Houses for Cash companies
- iBuyer companies
How to become a Clever Partner Agent
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