FAQs
If you have questions about Flat Fee MLS,we’ve got
Here are answers to some of the frequently asked questions we receive. If you have any further inquiries after reviewing this information, feel free to reach out to us at any time. We’ll respond quickly with the answers you need.
Flat Fee MLS Basics
What is a Flat Fee MLS Listing?
A Flat Fee MLS Listing is a hybrid model between being a FSBO (For Sale By Owner) and being listed with a traditional licensed real estate broker/agent. Flat Fee MLS Listings cater to home sellers that have a For Sale By Owner mind-set and want to save money, but realize they need better marketing than what is available to a true For Sale By Owner. Rather than pay a large % commission to a traditional listing agent, with a Flat Fee MLS Listing, the seller simply pays a small flat fee to be listed on the MLS and a small closing fee at settlement when the property successfully sells.
What is the MLS?
MLS stands for Multiple Listing System. There are between 600 and 700 MLS’s around the country covering specific geographic areas. The MLS is a web-based database used by licensed real estate professionals to share listing data. The MLS is restricted to real estate professionals and the general public does not have access to the MLS. However, the MLS does syndicate its listings to hundreds (maybe thousands) of websites. Sites like Realtor.com and Zillow.com are the most prominent.
Which MLS will my home be listed on?
There are many MLS systems throughout the country. The MLS where your property will be listed depends on the state and county where it is located. We are a member of many MLS’s, so we will be sure to list your home in the primary MLS for your area. In most cases, it is not necessary, but if you’d like, we can list your property in multiple MLS’s for an additional fee.
What is the HomeZu by Simple Choice coverage area?
HomeZu by Simple Choice does Flat Fee MLS listings across most of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Louisiana, and Arkansas. We belong to approximately 13 different MLS systems allowing us to cover such a broad area. We have partner / affiliate brokers covering then entire United States.
Commissions & Fees
What are HomeZu’s fees?
Based on your package selection, we charge a small up front flat fee at the time of listing and a small closing fee payable at settlement. The closing fee is only assessed if your home successfully sells.
Should I offer a commission to Buyer Brokers?
Our sellers decide if they would like to incentivise buyer agents to show and sell their home by offering a Buyer Agent Commission. This is NOT a requirement. Some sellers feel it is to their advantage to offer a commission to buyer agents whereas other sellers will determine if they are willing to offer buyer agent compensation based on the specific offer a buyer is making. And some sellers choose to offer nothing at all to a buyer agent. This is completely up to you, the seller.
Commissions are not fixed by any government agency, real estate association, etc.
Do I pay a Listing Agent commission?
We are the Listing Agent. Our fees vary based on the package you choose. Ut our fee structure typically includes a small up front listing fee and a transaction fee at closing if the property sells successfully.
How do I negotiate commissions with buyers and their agents?
Option 1 is to offer a set commission to a buyer agent if they sell your property.
Option 2 is to leave the buyer agent commission up for negotiation. You can choose whether or not to offer a buyer agent commission (and the amount of the commission) based on the strength of the offer the buyer presents.
Option 3 is to offer nothing at all to buyer agents.
Commissions are not fixed by any government agency, real estate association, etc.
What is your refund policy?
Once your home is listed on the MLS, the up front flat fee is non-refundable.
If you pay for a listing and decide not to list, we will refund you 100% of the listing fee minus our credit card fee (about 3%).
Listing Basics
How do I make changes to my MLS listing?
Log into your account on our website and click the “Manage My Listing” link. This will take you to a page where you can request changes to your listing. Changes include: price changes, photo changes, add open house dates, status changes (once you have an offer), and any other type of change you may need.
Can I advertise an open house on the MLS?
Yes. If you plan to have an open house, just log into your account to notify us so we can post it for you. Open Houses will always be posted on the MLS. Some of our upgraded packages include advertising Open Houses on websites like Realtor.com, Zillow, and Trulia.
How long is the listing contract term?
Our Flat Fee MLS listing contract is a 6 month contract. Hopefully your home is sold within 6 months, but if you need more time, the contract can be extended in 6 month intervals for a reasonable fee.
Can I cancel my listing?
If you decide you no longer want to list your home, you can cancel the listing at any time by logging into your account and terminating the listing. There is no cancellation fee, but the listing fee is non-refundable.
How do I take photos of my home?
Many sellers take their own photos. Some use their phone and others use an actual camera.
Some sellers will hire a professional photographer to take photos. We have a nationwide network of photographers and offer professional photography for an additional fee.
Regardless of who takes your photos, ultimately you will want them saved to your computer so you can upload them to your listing via our Listing Portal powered by PropZu.
Can I add video to my listing?
Yes! Videos can be added to your listing. They must be hosted somewhere like YouTube. And the video may not have any branding or contact information visible in the video or on the page that hosts the video.
On what websites will my listing appear?
Wow, this is tough to answer! Your listing will appear on the most popular websites including Realtor.com, Zillow.com, Homes.com, Trulia.com, etc. But the listing will also appear on our website as well as thousands of other broker websites and other real estate related websites.
How do I sign documents?
Our listing process is powered by PropZu, which is our own software used to collect everything we need to list the property. DocuSign is integrated into PropZu and all docs are signed electronically.
Customer Support
What do I do if I need more help?
Just call or email us. Upon listing with us, you will get a direct email address and phone number where you can reach out if you have any questions. We are here to answer basic questions.
If you need help beyond basic questions. If you are not comfortable handling the contract review, negotiations, or any other aspect of the sale, we encourage you to consult with a professional. HomeZu by Simple Choice offers various options for assistance or you can contact an attorney.
Pricing & Packages
Sign up for a HomeZu listing package and get your home on the MLS within one business day.
4.9 Star Reviews
Not sure about working with HomeZu? Read testimonials from our happy clients who saved thousands!
How it Works
Selling your property with HomeZu is easy and effortless. Learn about the 6 steps needed to get started today!
