Help-U-Sell Review 2021

What is Help-U-Sell? | Is HUS legit? | How it works | Pricing | HUS vs. realtor | Alternatives | Selling | Buying | Rebates | Reviews | Locations

Help-U-Sell is a discount real estate franchise with 79 locations in 19 U.S. states.

Its main website advertises low commission fees for home sellers. But because each office is independently owned and operated, actual rates (and savings) will vary by location.

Additionally, Help-U-Sell's general business model creates some potential risks for customers — particularly in regards to agent selection and customer service.

» MORE: Save on commission without sacrificing service

Help-U-Sell, at a glance
Price	$2,950-7,950*
Avg seller savings	Varies by location
Customer rating	N/A (ratings vary by location)
Locations	79 locations in 19 states
*Actual fees depend on home's value and cost structure may vary by location

What is Help-U-Sell?

Help-U-Sell is a discount real estate brokerage with 79 offices across the following U.S. states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, MI, MN, MO, NV, NC, OK, OR, PA, TX, UT, VA, and WA.

»MORE: Find discount brokers near you

Unlike many other discount brokers, Help-U-Sell is a franchise. Each local office is independently operated — the same model used by many traditional brokerages, like Keller Williams, Century 21, RE/MAX, and more.

Pricing and service quality will vary by location

Help-U-Sell's primary offering is discounted fees for home sellers. But exactly how much you could save depends on where you're selling.

That's also true of the customer experience. While Help-U-Sell advertises "full-service" support — meaning their agents should offer the same basic range of services as a traditional realtor — each local owner-operator ultimately decides what specific assistance they'll provide to clients.

In other words, selling with a Help-U-Sell office in, say, Las Vegas will likely be very different from one in Philadelphia in terms of:

• Price
• Service offerings and quality
• Overall customer experience

Choose the best agent — not just a brand

Remember to do your due diligence before you hire ANY real estate agent.

If you're considering listing with Help-U-Sell, we recommend comparing them against at least 2-3 other discount services and/or local agents. 

Shopping around will help ensure you get the BEST rates, service quality, and overall value for your money.

» SAVE: Compare top local agents, save thousands on commission

Who should use Help-U-Sell?

» COMPARE: Help-U-Sell vs. top alternatives

» MORE: Somewhere else? Find discount brokers near you

Is Help-U-Sell legitimate?

Yes, Help-U-Sell is a legitimate business with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Each individual Help-U-Sell franchise is a fully licensed brokerage in the state it operates in. And every Help-U-Sell Agent must maintain an active real estate license, as well as membership in the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

But there are two things you should know:

• Help-U-Sell's corporate advertising presents a misleading picture of the fees local offices charge
• The company's geographic footprint is shrinking, which suggests its business model isn't working

Help-U-Sell's advertising is misleading

The only way to find out exactly how much you'll pay to list with Help-U-Sell is by calling the local office in your area.

Help-U-Sell's website is plastered with repeated claims that the company charges home sellers a flat dollar-based fee, NOT a percentage amount, to sell your home.

However, in my conversations with three Help-U-Sell Agents located in different areas of the U.S., I found that not to be the case. All three agents charge a percentage-based commission — i.e., 1.5% of the home's final sale price. 

» MORE: Which real estate company has the lowest commission?

The company appears to be shrinking

Help-U-Sell has experienced a steep decline over the past decade.

At its peak in 2006, the company had around 1,000 franchise locations, making it the largest discount broker in the U.S. However, Help-U-Sell filed for bankruptcy in 2008. It's been hemorrhaging local offices ever since.^[1][2]

As of this writing, Help-U-Sell has just 79 offices in 19 states, an approximate 92% decline over the past 15 years.

Additionally, most of the remaining offices only have a few properties listed for sale — at least according to Help-U-Sell's corporate website. And 16 have zero active listings.

The rapid decline in Help-U-Sell locations — and the lack of listings at many offices — suggests the company's business model isn't working.

If you're considering listing with Help-U-Sell, this is a potential red flag. Struggling businesses rarely provide best-in-class service. And they aren't well positioned to help you achieve an ideal outcome with your home sale.

How Help-U-Sell works

According to Help-U-Sell, it can offer discounted rates because its offices are "small and efficient," staffed by a "team of specialists that function as a unit in the marketing and selling of your home."

Translation?

It's likely that Help-U-Sell Agents must juggle a higher volume of customers than traditional realtors.

How much does Help-U-Sell cost?

Help-U-Sell allows each office to set its own pricing. And as previously mentioned, this is where Help-U-Sell's marketing information is confusing.

In researching Help-U-Sell, we've seen a wide range of $2,950-7,950 for the flat-fee model. We also spoke with offices that charged percentage-based commissions varying from 1-2.25%.

» SAVE: Sell your home with a top local realtor for just $3k or 1%

It's tricky to learn what Help-U-Sell will charge to list your home

The best way to find out exactly how much Help-U-Sell will charge for selling your home is by calling an office directly.

Your actual listing fee will depend on your location. Offices DON'T adhere to the same pricing model. And many don't explain their fee structures clearly on their websites.

Don't forget about buyer's agent commission

Keep in mind that, as with most home sales, you will likely still need to pay your buyer's agent's commission. While average commission rates vary by location, sellers typically offer 2.5-3% to the buyer's agent to incentivize them to show it to buyers.

That said, there are two scenarios in which you could pay less — or potentially avoid the buyer's agent fee altogether.

However, both of these scenarios are uncommon. Approximately 90% of buyers work with a realtor. And unless they're also listing their home with a Help-U-Sell Agent, it's unlikely that an average buyer is going to hire an agent with a company called Help-U-Sell.

» LEARN: How does realtor commission work?

How good are Help-U-Sell Agents?

All Help-U-Sell Agents are fully licensed realtors. They provide the same general range of services as agents at a traditional real estate brokerage — but charge lower rates.

However, there are a few crucial factors that could affect your experience.

You may get less hands-on service and support

Help-U-Sell's business model requires its agents to handle a higher volume of customers to compensate for its discounted rates.

This means your agent may not be able to offer you as much hands-on service and support as a realtor from a traditional brokerage.

This increases the risk that you'll have a less-than-stellar experience, especially if your selling situation is complicated.

Services and support will differ between locations

Although Help-U-Sell is a national brand, each office is independently owned and operated. This means your experience with Help-U-Sell could be vastly different depending on where you're selling.

Remember:

You’re hiring an individual agent, not a brand!

Make sure to interview multiple realtors from different companies to find the best fit for your situation. 

Compare key factors like price, relevant experience, approach, and personality. Selling a house is a high-stakes endeavor. It pays to shop around!

How does Help-U-Sell compare to top alternatives?

Help-U-Sell offers savings — but they may not be the best

While Help-U-Sell's discounted rates are generally much cheaper than a traditional realtor, savings vary quite a bit between locations.

Some offices charge a flat fee, while others charge a commission based on a percentage of the home's sale price.

In many places, sellers may be able to find lower prices with another discount service.

Other discount brokers offer genuine flat-fee pricing

Although the Help-U-Sell corporate website says home sellers will pay a "low set fee" based on local market factors, each local owner-operator sets their own rates.

Many locations have tiered pricing models; they charge a variable fee based on your listing price. Others don't offer a flat fee model at all — they charge a percentage of your home's sale price.

However, other discount brokers offer actual flat fee pricing. Houwzer, for example, charges a $5,000 listing fee, no matter how much your home ends up selling for.

Help-U-Sell's dated tech could put you at a disadvantage

Help-U-Sell tells prospective franchise operators that they will have access to in-house technology that will give them a leg up on the competition.

However, spend a few minutes browsing its website — or watch a few of Help-U-Sell's YouTube videos — and it's clear that this is NOT a tech-forward company.

This dated tech could put you at a competitive disadvantage — and it may explain why Help-U-Sell is struggling to maintain its geographic footprint as more tech-savvy competitors enter the real estate industry.

Selling with Help-U-Sell

As a seller, you can expect Help-U-Sell to provide most of the same services provided by any other brokerage, including:

• Lockbox
• Yard sign
• Professional photos and/or video
• Open house support from a Help-U-Sell Agent (who might not be your own)
• Listing on MLS
• Paperwork assistance
• Negotiation assistance
• Closing assistance

Don't sign a listing agreement without reading the fine print

Help-U-Sell doesn't make clear the typical length of its contracts and whether there are penalties for early cancellation.

The most explicit information we received came from an agent we reached who suggested that we ask for a 90-day contract, but that we could also ask for a 60-day agreement as well.

This agent informed me that if we were not happy with Help-U-Sell's services with "good reason," the office would be "flexible" to try to work with us "without any cancellation fee."

Always read the fine print before signing any agreement with any agent. Make sure you won't be penalized if you change your mind before the contract expires.

» LEARN: Read this BEFORE you sign a listing agreement

Buying with Help-U-Sell

You wouldn't know based on the name, but Help-U-Sell works with home buyers, too.

Help-U-Sell Agents provide the same general range of services for buyers as traditional agents. They'll take you to tour properties and help with negotiations and paperwork. Note: Agents will show you any home, not just Help-U-Sell homes.

However, most Help-U-Sell Agents handle a higher volume of customers than traditional agents, which may limit their ability to provide personalized service and support throughout the process.

Some Help-U-Sell offices offer rebates to *qualifying* buyers

To attract buyers, some Help-U-Sell offices offer commission rebates — also known as home buyer rebates — to qualifying buyers. If you qualify for a commission rebate, your Help-U-Sell Agent will kick you back a portion of their fee when you close on your home.

However, each Help-U-Sell franchisee sets their rates and service offerings, so make sure your local office offers home buyer rebates — and that you'll qualify — before you start the purchase process.

Be prepared for potential service tradeoffs

Whether your local Help-U-Sell office offers a rebate or not — and some don't — you'll face the same potential service-quality tradeoffs as sellers.

Help-U-Sell Agents juggle more clients than traditional realtors, and they'll likely offload some aspects of your purchase to a back-office team.

Remember:

Buyers don't have to cover their agent's fee out of pocket — it comes out of the seller's proceeds from the sale. So, aside from the possibility of a commission rebate, there isn't a ton of upside to buying with Help-U-Sell, unless you really hit it off with an individual Help-U-Sell Agent.

If getting a rebate is a top priority, we recommend that you shop around. Many discount brokers and agent-matching services offer them too — often with fewer service-level tradeoffs.

Help-U-Sell customer reviews

Because each Help-U-Sell location is independently owned and operated, customer reviews and ratings vary considerably by location.

For example, the Help-U-Sell office in Woodhaven, MI, has an average rating of 3.9 on Google, whereas the office in Greensboro, NC, has a 4.9.

We recommend researching reviews for your local office using tools like Google, Facebook, and Yelp. These resources will give you the most accurate picture of customer experiences and outcomes.

So what are people saying about working with their local Help-U-Sell offices?

What customers like about Help-U-Sell

The most common themes among positive Help-U-Sell reviews are:

• Excellent service for a discount price
• Individual owner-operators and agents who go above and beyond for their clients.

I 'would not hesitate' to use my Help-U-Sell Agent again

Here's an example of a positive review on Yelp from a repeat seller who had a near-perfect experience with a Help-U-Sell office in Folsom, CA.

She commended her agent for providing "good, knowledgeable service" throughout both of her sales. She also said the back-office team helped the logistical aspects of her sale move smoothly.

'One of the best realtors' I've ever met

Google reviewer P. Lozano praised the quality the Help-U-Sell office in Waynesboro, VA. They said their agent was "one of the best realtors" they've ever dealt with.

What customers DON'T like about Help-U-Sell

The most common themes among negative Help-U-Sell are:

• Business practices customers felt were deceptive
• Agents who communicate poorly or behave unprofessionally
• Outdated tech and websites that aren't user-friendly

Working with Help-U-Sell was an 'absolute nightmare'

Here's an example of a negative review on Yelp from a customer who had a less-than-stellar time working with a Help-U-Sell Agent in Honolulu, HI.

He felt that his agent wasn't always completely honest. And he said the experience turned out to be an "absolute nightmare."

My Help-U-Sell Agent wasn't fully in my corner

This Zillow user had a poor experience with their Help-U-Sell Agent in Owatonna, MN.

They specifically called out that they felt like the agent was withholding information about their sale and wasn't fully in their corner.

The common theme among ALL these reviews is that the customer's experience depended primarily on the quality of the agents at their local office.

Conclusion: Is Help-U-Sell right for you?

Help-U-Sell has been in business since 1976, and in that time they've helped many people buy and sell homes successfully. Whether it's the right choice for you really comes down to:

• Your personal preferences (and tolerance for risk)
• The quality and pricing of your local Help-U-Sell office
• How it compares to other discount services available in your area

We recommend interviewing multiple agents from different companies before you make a decision. Remember that you have no obligation to move forward or sign a contract with any realtor when you interview them.

You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain by shopping around and comparing rates, experience, and personalities to find the perfect fit!

Help-U-Sell contact info and locations

Corporate office contact information

Help-U-Sell franchise locations

Note: As of 1/4/2021, Help-U-Sell Real Estate's office finder tool says that the company has 79 offices in select markets across 19 states.

Alabama

Arizona

California

Colorado

Florida

Hawaii

Idaho

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Nevada

North Carolina

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington