Flat Fee Group Reviews: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

Should I use Flat Fee Group? | Competitors | Pricing | Costs by state | Savings | Customer reviews | Alternatives | FAQs

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Flat Fee Group is an organization of brokers located throughout the United States who offer flat fee services for home sellers looking to sell without an agent.

Flat Fee Group is available in most states, with one broker handling each state — although some brokers cover multiple states.

Costs vary depending on that state's broker and the services offered. All brokers offer a listing on the multiple listing service (MLS) in addition to services that cost upwards of several thousand dollars or a percentage of the sales price.

Because each state is different, you'll want to compare the cost and services of these brokers to Flat Fee Group's competition. Some brokers may not offer the services you need or are too expensive if you only want to get your for sale by owner (FSBO) house listed on the MLS.

While most brokers offer full service support options, there's no option to choose between agents — and if a single broker is covering an entire state (or two states), it's a better idea to research and compare other discount brokers in your immediate area.

» MORE: The BEST low-commission discount brokers

Flat Fee Group, at a glance
💰 Cost	Varies by broker
⭐ Customer rating	Varies by broker
📍 Locations	Available in every state except Montana and New Mexico

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Should I use Flat Fee Group to sell my home?

Flat Fee Group is a limited liability company that serves as an organization of brokers. As far as we can tell, there is no headquarters or head broker. All brokers operate independently, and there's no uniformity in price or services offered.

The biggest positive for Flat Fee Group is that it's transparent about its brokers. Flat Fee Group encourages sellers to vet their state's broker beforehand to see if they're a good fit, whereas the competition obscures their listing brokers and doesn't allow sellers to see them before paying.

If you're just looking to get your FSBO listed on the multiple listing service (MLS), Flat Fee Group may not be your best option. Some brokers have listing fees that are significantly higher than other flat fee MLS companies.

Additionally, brokers offer limited or full-service options. But many of them charge upfront, non-refundable fees which means you lose money if you decide to go with another agent or back to selling your home on your own.

Flat Fee Group is not available in Montana or New Mexico. In Alaska, West Virginia and Wyoming, there's no broker available but services are still offered. We reached out to Flat Fee Group about those non-brokered states but received no response.

» MORE: The BEST Flat Fee MLS companies near you

How does Flat Fee Group compare to its competitors?

Fsbo.com: Best Redfin option

FSBO.com offers a $99.95 package that will get you a FSBO listing on FSBO.com and Redfin.

FSBO.com's MLS option is a $399.95 package with 20 photos in most states (some have more photos, some less) with a 6-month listing term. States may also have a la carte add-ons, like lockboxes and yard signs, although pricing isn't uniform.

FSBO.com is a good, no-frills way to get on the MLS, although it may be more expensive than Fizber, ISoldMyHouse.com, or Flat Fee Group depending on the state.

» MORE: Read our in-depth FSBO.com review

ISoldMyHouse.com: Most straightforward

ISoldMyHouse.com offers a $299 MLS package that gets you 6–10 MLS photos and a $399 package that gets you the maximum photos allowed on your state's MLS. It also offers two simple optional add-ons: lockboxes for $50 each (2 for $90) and yard signs for $75 each (2 for $140).

ISoldMyHouse.com doesn't offer extra options like a comparative market analysis or contract negotiation support like many brokers at Flat Fee Group. But if you just want a quick and easy way to get your FSBO on the MLS, ISoldMyHouse is a solid choice.

» MORE: Check out our ISoldMyHouse.com review

Fizber: Most widely available

You can list your FSBO home for free on Fizber.com, which allows for unlimited photos and makes a nice way to market your home on social media.

To get your FSBO home listed on the MLS, Fizber offers $295 and $395 packages, with the $395 package allowing for maximum photos on the MLS. Fizber is available in every state.

Fizber may be a better deal than Flat Fee Group in some states. But you need to ask customer service, as state-specific terms and deals to lower the price aren't listed on the site.

Fizber also offers a $95 option which will only get your FSBO on Redfin, but we recommend FSBO.com for that option.

» MORE: Read our full review of Fizber

How much does it cost to sell my house with Flat Fee Group?

Generally, you can expect to pay between $199 and $399 for a basic flat fee MLS listing on Flat Fee Group. But every broker on Flat Fee Group has their own specific pricing and services offered, and not all are great deals.

For example, in Florida, the basic MLS option costs $177 but only comes with 6 photos for a 6-month MLS term. On the flat fee MLS sites Homecoin and Beycome, you could pay $95 or $99 and get maximum photos allowed for 12 months. Some brokers charge too much for what you get.

Another example: Tennessee's broker charges $499 for an MLS listing with just 10 photos, but it comes with contracts and disclosures. If you just wanted the MLS listing, Fizber, FSBO.com, and ISoldMyHouse.com offer cheaper services and include more photos.

Flat Fee Group also has good deals. We haven't seen any flat fee MLS service offer a cheaper price than Flat Fee Group's broker in Washington, who charges just $75 to get listed on the MLS with 8 photos for 4 months.

Almost all of Flat Fee Group's brokers have a Basic or Silver plan, which will only get your FSBO listing on the MLS. For additional services, you'll need to pay extra.

What do Flat Fee Group's upgraded services cost?

Upgraded services vary, and typically cost between $400 and $1,000.

Upgraded services may include:

• Extra MLS photos and longer listing terms
• Yard signs
• Lockboxes
• Fliers
• Comparative market analysis (CMA)
• Contract reviews
• Negotiation assistance

Note that brokers who offer higher-end services like negotiation assistance and CMAs often charge a fee, which can be anywhere from 0.5% to 3% of the sales price. Some charge a nonrefundable, upfront fee — for example, in Minnesota, the broker charges $595 upfront and then $2,900 for full service assistance. At that point, you're not selling FSBO.

Some brokers offer a la carte services. The Illinois broker charges a basic MLS listing fee of $295 plus an extra $150 for a yard sign with installation, and $200 for an electronic lockbox ($100 of which is nonrefundable). Compare that to Texas, where that broker's basic $399 MLS option also gets you a yard sign and a lockbox.

» MORE: Find the best flat fee real estate agents and brokers

Breakdown of Flat Fee Group costs by state

It's important to remember these brokers operate statewide and can be located in a completely different area from your house. It doesn't make sense to purchase agent-assistance options from a broker that isn't nearby and doesn't know your area.

If you think you need expert help selling your house, Semya-Moya will match you with top local agents who know your area. Plus, there are no nonrefundable fees — in fact, there are no upfront fees at all! If you decide Clever isn't for you, you can walk away without losing a cent.

Interested? Plug in your ZIP code below to learn more.

Flat Fee Group refunds

Refunds and cancellation policies are handled on a per-broker basis.

Your state's broker may have some information about refunds and cancellations. To find your local policy click on your state on the Flat Fee Group homepage. Then, click the "FAQS" link in the upper right hand corner and look for the relevant question.

Not all brokers have included this information. You'll want to contact them directly, before you buy their services.

How much can I save with Flat Fee Group?

Savings with Flat Fee Group depend on what kind of services you want and what state you're located in. In some states, savings aren't worth it.

In Utah, for example, it costs $500 just to get listed on the MLS with 15 photos (you can get more for less on other sites) and then up to $2,000 for virtual assistance with a $1,000 nonrefundable upfront fee. While $2,000 can be significantly less than a 3% seller's agent fee, the cost might not be worth it if you're doing most of the heavy lifting. And that upfront fee isn't appealing.

Generally, if you manage to successfully sell FSBO while only spending a few hundred dollars to list on the MLS, you can save thousands. According to the St. Louis Fed, the median price of a home sold at the end of 2021 was $408,100. Without the 3% seller's agent fee, a FSBO seller can potentially save around $12,000 minus the MLS listing fee.

Just keep in mind, you'll likely still have to pay the 3% buyer agent's commission, even on a FSBO sale.

While there are other FSBO fees that will eat into your savings, it's the sales price that matters most. On average, FSBO homes sell for 25% less than agent-assisted properties. Those thousands of dollars in lost profit are way more than you'd ever pay for a seller's agent.

Our 2022 survey of 1,000 home buyers found that the majority of agented buyers believed they could out-negotiate a FSBO seller, which essentially means they thought they could snag the FSBO home for less than its market value.

» MORE: Read the research: Essential FSBO vs. realtor facts you need to know

Additional fees and minimum service laws

Brokers located in states with minimum service laws are required to provide extra services and charge extra fees accordingly. That fee is usually an extra few hundred dollars at closing or 0.5% of the sales price for flat fee listing services, although it can be more or less depending on the service, so shop around.

For example, Flat Fee Group's broker in Kansas charges a $299 MLS listing fee, plus a $395 broker administrative fee and a $500 agent closing fee. On ISoldMyHouse.com, the basic listing cost is $299 and the extra fee is $500.

In Colorado, the Flat Fee Group broker charges $399 plus an extra 0.5% with a $1,500 minimum, and $250 for their basic MLS listing service. FSBO.com charges $399 plus a 0.5% fee to get listed on the MLS.

In Arizona, there isn't even a basic, MLS-only option for FSBO sellers, as the $99 tier costs 1% at closing and comes with broker assistance. The MLS-only option costs $799 and is only open to "agents, investors, and flippers."

» COMPARE: The best for sale by owner websites

Flat Fee Group customer reviews

There are no Flat Fee Group customer reviews online. Instead, you'll need to look up your state's listed broker.

Some brokers show their ratings and link to their Zillow or Better Business Bureau rating page. Many do not. You'll need to do some more DIY work by searching online.

Most brokers had good reviews, but some had few reviews available online.

Flat Fee Group does not make any guarantees about the brokers on its website or include any information about how they've chosen which brokers to partner with.

While Flat Fee Group is transparent about what broker you'll be working with, you only get one option per state. Sellers who need expert help will be better off going with a discount broker that has multiple agents nearby to choose from.

Flat Fee Group alternatives

Don't think the Flat Fee Group broker in your state is right for you? Consider these flat fee MLS companies:

Other flat fee MLS services

• 🏠 ISoldMyHouse.com offers uniform pricing with two tiers of service. Lockboxes and addons are available in every state, although Flat Fee Group may offer better options depending on the broker.
• 🔑 FSBO.com is good for sellers who just want to get on Redfin and FSBO.com or have a no-frills way of listing on the MLS.
• 🎲 Fizber offers special deals and extra MLS options depending on the state, but they aren't listed on the website — you'll need to ask customer service.

Discount brokers

Many of Flat Fee Group's brokers offer services that are similar to low-commission agents. But if you don't like that state's broker, or if their office is located far away, Flat Fee Group doesn't offer alternatives. It's a good idea to compare Flat Fee Group's brokers to those from a trusted discount brand.

• 💡 Redfin has a 1.5% commission, but minimum fee requirements vary by market, which can result in less savings overall.
• 🔍 REX says it can eliminate the buyer's agent commission and charge you a total of 2.5%, but that poses significant risks to the seller.
• ⭐ Clever charges a flat fee of just 1.5% and will match you with top local agents. That means you'll have several to choose from and aren't hamstrung by a single choice. Best of all, there are no upfront fees or obligations!

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