Are you thinking of selling a house in Florida this year, or maybe planning to buy a home? Do you feel you need to know where to start? And if you’re about to choose a real estate agent for this process, then you may think of another option—which is flat fee MLS. Whether you’re selling a beachfront condo in Miami or a split-level in the Tallahassee suburbs, you’ll be paying a considerable amount as commission to a real estate agent. Instead of listing your house with a traditional full-service real estate agent and paying them a 6% commission, it’s best to opt for a flat fee MLS in Florida, which allows you to list your house on the local MLS for a low, flat fee.
What Is Flat Fee Listing?
You may have heard about listing on the MLS for a flat fee in Florida. MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service. It is an online database of real estate listings that is only accessible by real estate agents, real estate appraisers, and other licensed real estate professionals. It is a major source of data for third-party websites too. Different MLS cover different areas. The MLS is an important tool for selling your property as it gives exposure to your property. Real estate agents use the MLS almost exclusively to search for properties that meet their buyer’s criteria. By utilizing a flat fee MLS listing in Florida, you can ensure your property is put directly in front of those agents and their buyers.
Advantages of MLS Listing
Paying a commission of 6% to a real estate agent can put a dent in your savings on the sale of your property. That’s why some sellers use a Flat Fee MLS Florida 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. Usually, it’s 2–3% of the sales.
There are several advantages to choosing an MLS listing. Besides savings, you also get to be in control of the sale of your home as you decide the price of your home as well as participate in negotiations—with the help of an agent. The MLS will also automatically post your property’s description and its details on other popular real estate websites. Although selling a house in Florida through MLS listing ensures that you achieve success, a few things should be kept in mind while doing it: good-quality pictures, right pricing, as well as not compromising on the flat fee company you choose.
Best Flat Fee MLS Listing Services in Florida
The Florida real estate market is one of the housing markets in the United States that are expected to do well in 2022. Here, we’re going to look at what you need to know about selling a house in Florida. When you sell your home in Florida, you’ll likely pay 5–6% of the sale price in agent commissions. As this is often the largest home selling expense, some homeowners don’t hire a real estate agent. Instead, they pay a Flat Fee MLS company to list their house on the local multiple listing service (MLS). Typically, you should expect to pay about $200-400 for a flat fee MLS listing in Florida.
For a smooth transaction, a reliable, local, flat-fee MLS company must handle your listing. There are dozens of options in Florida, like Beycome, Richr, and Houzeo. Many offer different packages so sellers can purchase additional services. In Florida, you’ll also find some smaller flat-fee MLS companies that specialize in particular cities.
When many sellers receive multiple offers, it becomes difficult for them to decide on an offer. Houzeo.com, one of the best for sale by owner websites, has an option called Offers Platform that allows home sellers to review and compare offers. The feature makes all the key options available to a home seller in the real estate market. This makes it easier for a seller to decide if he should accept an offer, counter one or more offers, or call for the highest and best offers.
In short, with a flat fee MLS listing, you wouldn’t require a full-service agent to take care of the sale of the property.