7 Best Flat Fee MLS Utah Listing Services (2023)

7 best flat fee MLS companies in Utah | What to consider before using a flat fee MLS service | Other ways to save on realtor commissions

When selling a house for sale by owner (FSBO) in Utah, posting on the multiple listing service (MLS) greatly increases the number of buyers who will see your listing. Agents use the MLS to find properties for their clients, and listings are automatically syndicated to real estate sites like Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com.

While a traditional listing agent charges 2.5–3% to sell a home, a flat fee MLS service will list your house on the local MLS for just a few hundred dollars.

However, you'll need to consider the trade-offs before paying for this type of service.

Who should use a flat fee MLS listing service?

A flat fee MLS listing can work particularly well if you have the time and experience to sell a house on your own. 

If you decide to sell FSBO, you have plenty of flat fee MLS listing services to choose from in Utah.

However, if you haven't sold FSBO before, keep the following in mind:

• You'll essentially be your own agent. You'll handle pricing, showings, negotiations, paperwork, and qualifying buyers on your own. While some flat fee MLS companies offer limited broker assistance, it'll cost you a premium, and the level of service usually falls short of what a listing agent typically provides.

• You'll probably still need to pay a buyer's agent fee, since most buyers use an agent and other sellers won't make them pay for their agent out of pocket.

• The biggest potential downside of a flat fee MLS listing is that your home may sell for less than it would with an agent, despite all the time and effort you put in. Homes sold without a realtor sell for about 6% less on average, canceling any commission savings. That may explain why the majority of sellers who try the FSBO route end up listing with an agent.

If you want a less risky way to save money, you may want to consider hiring a reputable discount broker. You'll still save on real estate commissions, but you'll have a dedicated agent by your side.

» SAVE: Get a top local agent, pay half the commission

7 best Utah flat fee MLS companies

Do you need an MLS listing?

If you decide to sell without a realtor, the only way you can get on the multiple listing service is with a flat fee MLS company. The MLS is where most real estate agents find properties for their clients, and posting on the MLS is how your listing gets on home-buying websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin. If you're not on the MLS, buyers will have a much harder time finding your property.

What to consider before hiring a flat fee MLS service

You’ll save on listing fees

Savings are a driver for many people who use a flat fee MLS company. You can pay a few hundred dollars to get your house listed instead of paying an agent a commission. On a $350,000 home, the typical 3% seller's agent commission would be $10,500.

You'll still have to pay a buyer's agent to negotiate against you

A flat fee MLS listing helps you avoid paying a traditional listing agent's fee, but you'll still need to cover the buyer's agent commission. Almost all buyers work with an agent, and since buyers already have to pay cash for a down payment, agent commissions typically come from the seller's proceeds.

Unfortunately, buyer's agents often have the upper hand in FSBO sales, simply because they have more experience with these negotiations. The typical FSBO seller pays more in concessions and sells for about $120,000 less than the median sale price of homes sold through an agent.

You’ll have more control over the sale

If you're more of a DIYer, you'll appreciate the control that using a flat fee MLS realtor company gives you over marketing, showings, and negotiations. Some people also find that the lack of an agent can make the negotiations between buyer and seller more personal.

You may miss out on leads

Flat fee MLS listings don't always get as many leads as they should. Buyer's agents may caution their clients against pursuing these types of listings because they worry FSBO sellers will be hard to work with or need extra help from the buyer's agent, which could cause a conflict of interest. 

Additionally, MLS rules require a licensed agent to post a listing. So your contact information will only appear in the Agent Remarks section on the MLS — not directly on sites like Zillow and Redfin.

Most of the time, you'll depend on your flat fee broker to forward you inquiries and showing requests. If your flat fee MLS listing agent manages a lot of listings, they may not forward leads promptly, as this Houzeo customer found out.

You can choose the services you need

Most flat fee MLS companies have different packages so you can choose the level of support you need to sell your home.

If you're not in a hurry to sell, you may not need much more than an MLS listing and a way for buyers to get in touch.

If you're on a tighter timeline or don't have much experience with selling real estate, you can choose a plan that features broker assistance with pricing, paperwork, and negotiations. While these plans cost more, they're typically still cheaper than a traditional real estate agent commission.

You'll likely encounter extra fees

Flat fee MLS companies are somewhat notorious for hidden fees, such as an extra percentage of the sale price charged at closing. Companies may also advertise a budget MLS listing, but then charge a premium for basics like listing changes, lock boxes, additional photos, and the ability to receive buyer inquiries and showing requests directly.

7 best Utah flat fee MLS companies: Full breakdown

Ari Realty: Best for full agent support at a steep discount

Pros

• There are no up-front fees, and you can cancel anytime without penalty.
• A designated transaction coordinator will assist you through the sale process.

Cons

• There's no cheaper option for sellers who only want a simple listing.
• There's no option for uploading a video or virtual tour.

Ari Realty fees and services

Ari Realty offers a hassle-free FSBO experience with no up-front cost. The service is geared toward sellers who are looking for a full-service experience. The company has one package that provides professional photos, a lockbox, a real estate sign, showing assistance, and an e-signature. Your listing will be handled directly by a local broker, and you can cancel anytime.

Ari Realty offers services to some areas of Utah, including Davis County, Salt Lake County, Utah County, and Weber County. Many reviewers commented on the good communication and quick response times. If you're looking for a full-service experience, Ari Realty offers good value. But if you'd rather have a simple, affordable flat fee listing, other choices will save you more money.

Intermountain Properties: Best for simple, affordable listings

Pros

• Your name and contact info are added to the listing, so buyers will always contact you directly.
• You can change your listing details anytime for free.

Cons

• None of the packages offer support with marketing or photography.

Intermountain Properties fees and services

Intermountain Properties offers an affordable flat fee solution for Utah home sellers. It offers two packages, which are competitively priced. Both packages offer unlimited listing changes, but we recommend considering the Premium package for the additional photos, longer term, and yard sign.

Available across Utah, Intermountain Properties provides a good value for sellers looking for a simple, effective flat fee MLS listing. If you need more support, it offers an optional full-service add-on for an additional $700 at closing. This gets you a licensed agent who will oversee all aspects of the negotiation.

Intermountain Properties' reviews are positive, with an average score of 4.9 out of 5 across 69 reviews. Past sellers mentioned good customer support from the agents. Also, if you're environmentally conscious, you'll like that Intermountain Properties is an eco-friendly company with 90% paperless operations.

ISoldMyHouse.com: Best for online resources

Pros

• Both packages are good value for what you get.
• The company generally has positive customer reviews.
• The free online resources can help you learn how to sell on your own.

Cons

• The basic package only comes with 10 photos.
• Some customers complain that customer service operates almost entirely online.
• Neither package comes with many free extras.

ISoldMyHouse.com fees and services

ISoldMyHouse.com is a nationwide brokerage with generally favorable online reviews. It offers two plans in Utah with similar services.

The entry-level package is Get LISTED! Essentially a no-frills deal, you'll get a six-month listing and lead forwarding. While fairly cheap, the major drawback of this plan is that it only includes 10 photos. Since photos are an important part of drawing in interested buyers, that limit may be too restrictive for you.

The Get SOLD! package includes 25 photos (or whatever the maximum is that the local MLS allows) plus a 12-month listing. While it's a bit more expensive than Get LISTED!, overall it provides better value for money.

Also, while ISoldMyHouse.com generally has good reviews, some past clients complain that its customer service operates almost entirely online. If you prefer talking to a representative over the phone, you may want to look elsewhere.

Utah Broker: Best for a range of options, from basic to full-service

Pros

• You can modify, pause, and restart your listing for free anytime.
• Every package comes with 50 photos.
• You can purchase extras like a lockbox, sign frame, and professional photos.

Cons

• The company has a confusing, outdated website with manual forms.
• There are limited customer reviews.

Utah Broker fees and services

Flat Rate Homes is a brokerage that offers a flat rate full-service MLS listing. Available across Utah, its $1,950 package includes a dedicated local agent to handle all showings, paperwork, offers, negotiations, and title and escrow. Flat Rate Homes has some nice marketing offerings. It offers YouTube videos, social media marketing, and a personal property website with your listing.

Flat Rate Homes offers a "Sold in 3 Months Guarantee." If your home has been active on the MLS for 90 days and hasn't gone under contract, the company will refund your $1,950 fee. The catch is that your home must be located in Davis County, Utah County, or Salt Lake County to qualify.

Flat Rate Homes has good reviews that mention responsive customer service. It's one of the pricier flat fee options in Utah, but it could be a good fit for someone who wants a full-service experience for less than the cost of a traditional agent.

Flat Fee Group: Best for customizable packages

Pros

• The company offers a competitively priced base plan.
• You can upgrade to 25 photos for a reasonable price.
• Your listing’s status and price changes are free.

Cons

• The listing broker has very few online reviews.

Flat Fee Group’s fees and services

Flat Fee Group is a national company that partners with a local broker, Lynn Fillmore of Utah Broker, to offer flat fee MLS listings in Utah. It offers several packages, from basic, limited service to full service. It's available throughout most of Utah, but you should contact the company to confirm you're in a qualifying location.

Flat Fee Group's service packages cover a wide price range, starting at $100 and going up to $2,000. If you're a savvy FSBO seller, you might be comfortable using a limited-service plan where you're the main contact for buyers and agents.

If you want more support, the full-service options might be a better fit. For the best value, we recommend the Silver package for limited service and the Gold package for full service.

Reviews for Lynn Fillmore are limited and somewhat mixed. Sellers tend to appreciate the customer service that accompanies the full-service options, especially compared to the cost of a traditional listing agent. But a few reviews complain about the lack of value with the limited-service plans.

Houzeo: Best for managing listings online

Pros

• It's easy to manage your listing and home showings online.
• Most of Houzeo’s online reviews are positive.

Cons

• Listing changes are expensive for the entry-level package.
• All packages are pricey for what they offer.
• Some customers complain that the mobile app is buggy and frequently crashes.
• Reviews note that customer service is often difficult to reach and slow to fix errors.
• Some customers complain about serious mistakes and hidden fees.

Houzeo fees and services

Houzeo is a nationwide company that offers four different pricing plans. Most are poor value for money, with the cheapest Bronze plan providing only a three-month listing and just six photos. Both of the premium plans will set you back a costly $999. Only the Silver plan, at $399, is comparable to what other companies offer, although the 6-month listing term is still on the low side.

While Houzeo mostly has good reviews online, there are some serious complaints. Some customers said they felt pressured to provide positive reviews, while others complained that their listings contained errors — such as being posted to the wrong MLS or displaying the wrong list price. Difficulty contacting customer service was also a common theme of negative Houzeo reviews.

The one positive we can say about Houzeo is that its online platform makes it easy to create your listing and manage showings. However, for most sellers, that benefit doesn't outweigh the risks.

How to get an MLS listing without a realtor in Utah

Top alternatives to a flat fee MLS service in Utah

Sell with a discount broker

The best discount realtors offer the same real estate services as a traditional full-service agent, but for a fraction of the cost. While traditional realtors charge 3%, discount realtors charge as little as 1–1.5%.

Some discount brokers even offer flat rates, typically starting at about $5,000.

More discount realtors are becoming available, but not all offer the same level of service, savings, and value. That's why we recommend talking to realtors from a few brokerages before making a decision.

If you want to compare your options in Utah, Semya-Moya may be a good place to start.

When you request an agent through Clever, you'll receive multiple agent matches from top local brokerages, like RE/MAX and Keller Williams. You can compare agents and choose the best one for you.

Clever's agent network includes 19,000 top-performing realtors across the country — who all offer discounted rates through Clever's network. When you sell your home, you'll pay a listing fee of just 1.5% (about half the typical rate).

Try selling for sale by owner without an MLS listing

It's technically possible to sell your house without listing it on the MLS. But this method isn't likely to work all that well unless you already have a buyer lined up.

Without an MLS listing, fewer buyers will know your house is for sale. The MLS is the main way real estate agents find properties for their clients. It also guarantees that your listing gets on popular home-buying websites, including Zillow.

If you forgo an MLS listing, you must rely on less effective sites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Or you can hope that a buyer sees the for sale sign in your yard.

» LEARN: FSBO vs. Realtor Facts and Statistics

FAQ about flat fee MLS listings in Utah