The five best flat fee MLS Colorado companies | Hidden costs | Other ways to save on your sale | FAQs
Whether you're selling a trendy studio in Denver or a spacious ranch-style home in Grand Junction, 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 multiple listing service (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.
- Lower sales price: For sale by owner (FSBO) homes usually sell for significantly less than homes sold by agents — 6% less on average.
- You still pay a buyer’s agent fee: 88% of buyers work with an agent — who still needs to get paid. In Colorado, you’re on the hook for 2.50% to 3.00% 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 realtors who work for a low flat fee of 1.5%.
Clever is the best alternative to the full DIY approach if you're in Colorado! You'll save thousands on listing fees, while still getting the support you need to sell your home fast AND for top dollar.
» SAVE: List with a full-service agent for just 1.5%
If you’re still interested in finding flat fee MLS listing options in Colorado, read on! We’ve reviewed the best (and worst) services in The Centennial State.
The 5 best flat fee MLS listing Colorado companies*
Home Savings Realty
Home Savings RealtyBest For
Price Range
Pros:
- The broker is involved in all parts of the selling process as long as your listing is active.
- Your listing package includes professional photos of your home.
Cons:
- The listing terms are short compared to other Colorado flat-fee MLS companies.
HybridMLSListings
HybridMLSListingsBest For
Price Range
Pros:
- You can add as many photos as the MLS allows with all listing packages.
- The broker will handle all your offer negotiations for you.
Cons:
- The basic package doesn't include any pricing assistance.
Flat Fee Group
Flat Fee GroupBest For
Price Range
Pros:
- The broker will review your contracts and title documents, offering you advice throughout the process.
- You'll work with a local broker backed by the reputation of a national company.
Cons:
- You have to sign up for the premium package to receive any pricing assistance.
Flat Fee Realty
Flat Fee RealtyBest For
Price Range
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 Colorado-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
Price Range
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.
Hidden costs of flat fee MLS companies
Some companies claim to offer flat-rate MLS services but charge hidden fees at closing. We've even seen some companies that claim to offer a free MLS listing only to charge you a percentage of the sale price at closing.
These predatory practices could cost you thousands of dollars when you expect to pay only a few hundred.
Always read the fine print for any service. Look out for "closing fees" or "admin fees" that you'll owe the broker in addition to an upfront flat fee.
Further, some flat fee MLS companies offer à la carte services like photography, paperwork help, and signage. These services can reduce some of your DIY work, but watch out. These add-ons can add up!
At a certain point, you may be better off finding a full-service agent who charges a clear and upfront discounted rate.
Want to find a top local agent without overpaying on realtor fees? Clever negotiates 1.5% listing fees with top-rated realtors from trusted brokerages like Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Berkshire Hathaway.
Get guaranteed full service for a fraction of the 3% rate agents typically charge. Schedule a free, no obligation consultation with a top local agent today!
What are the alternatives to using a flat fee MLS service in Colorado?
Discount and flat fee real estate agents
Discount real estate brokers will list your property for as little as 1% — but keep in mind that you usually still have to pay a 2.6–3% buyer’s agent fee.
We’ve reviewed nine national and regional discount brokers that operate in Colorado.
Discount broker | Review |
---|---|
Clever |
|
Assist-2-Sell |
|
Door Real Estate |
|
Help-U-Sell |
|
Homie |
|
Trelora |
|
Redefy |
|
Redfin |
|
REX Real Estate |
In Colorado, Clever offers low rates, with an added advantage: Clever lets you compare multiple agents from major brands like Keller Williams, Century 21, and RE/MAX.
Clever matches home sellers like you with pre-vetted, full-service agents for only a 1.5% listing fee. That's half the rate agents typically charge, letting you keep thousands more in your pocket when your home sells.
Your Clever agent will handle everything for you, helping you accurately price your home, get high-quality photography, negotiate with prospective buyers, and complete paperwork.
You'll pay only a little more than you'd pay a flat fee MLS service, but you'll save hours of effort by not having to do everything yourself!
Want to find a top local agent without overpaying on realtor fees? Clever negotiates 1.5% listing fees with top-rated realtors from trusted brokerages like Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Berkshire Hathaway.
Get guaranteed full service for a fraction of the 3% rate agents typically charge. Schedule a free, no obligation consultation with a top local agent today!
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.
iBuyers
iBuyers are companies that buy homes for cash outright at what they claim are market prices. When you sell to an iBuyer, you could have a preliminary offer in as little as 24 hours.
The major downside of selling to an iBuyer is that these companies make money by charging steep service fees — typically 5–14% of the purchase price. So they're a good alternative only for sellers more concerned with convenience and speed than costs.
There are currently three iBuyers operating in certain Colorado markets. Click below to learn more.
iBuyer | Colorado markets | Fees | Review |
---|---|---|---|
Orchard |
Denver |
6% |
|
Opendoor |
Denver |
5% |
|
Zillow Offers |
Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins |
7–7.5% |
Frequently asked questions about flat fee MLS listing Colorado companies
How much do flat fee MLS services cost in Colorado?
Typically, you should expect to pay about $300-500 plus 0.5% of the purchase price at closing for a Colorado flat fee MLS listing in Colorado. However, we've seen basic plans for as low as $200 and more comprehensive services that charge as much as $800.
Do I still need to pay the buyer's agent commission?
We strongly recommend offering a commission to the buyer's agent. This will incentivize agents to bring their clients to your home. With a flat fee Colorado MLS broker, you'll still save money by not paying commission to a listing agent (typically 2.00% to 4.00% of the sale price).
How much to offer a buyer's agent is up to you, but their commission in Colorado typically ranges from 2.50% to 3.00%.
How do I sell by owner in Colorado?
Colorado 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 provide this information in the Colorado Seller's Residential Property Disclosure, which you'll get from your listing broker.
What is the best flat fee MLS listing service in Colorado?
Home Savings Realty is our top pick for Colorado flat fee MLS listing services. Unlike most flat fee services, it offers home sellers professional photos and support from a listing broker. HybridMLSListings is another decent choice for real estate agent support. If you're looking for a no-frills Colorado flat fee listing, Flat Fee Group or Flat Fee Realty may be better options. Check out our full flat fee MLS listing Colorado rankings!
How do I get access to the MLS in Colorado?
Working with a flat fee listing service is one way to access your local multiple listing service (MLS). A flat fee listing company lists your property on the MLS for a flat rate and may provide a handful of other limited services. However, these companies don't provide the same level of support as full-service brokers, so you'll largely be acting as your own real estate agent. Aside from using a flat fee MLS brokerage, the only other way to get onto the Colorado MLS is to hire a realtor. Find out more about flat fee MLS companies in Colorado!
What is a flat fee MLS company?
A flat fee MLS company posts properties to the local MLS on behalf of home sellers in exchange for a flat fee. The MLS is the main directory used by buyer agents and online real estate websites like Zillow, so getting on the MLS is important if you want to sell your house. Only companies and individuals with an active real estate license can post to the local MLS. While flat fee listing services are cheaper than traditional realtors, they also offer far fewer services. Learn more about flat fee MLS companies (and the best alternatives).