Q: What is a Flat Fee Real Estate Listing Services?

A flat fee listing services can mean many things; however, it has essentially become a catch all phrase for any alternative services to sell real property without the full service real estate agent broker who is paid a percentage of the homes selling price after it is sold.

Flat fee premiums are generally paid in advance can be extremely varied in both price and the range of services offered. Some flat fee real estate companies list your property on the local Mls, while many others only list on there site. There is no comparison between these two options, a listing on a single real estate companies website is almost worthless, while over 90% of all homes sold are done so as a direct result of the Mls.

The range of services can range from just some internet marketing to full service brokerage with a single flat fee upfront. Common value added aspects of the various services include a professional yard sign, entry locks, brochure kits, legal documents, marketing templates, legal and sales documents, open houses and postcard marketing. Unfortunately price and value are not highly correlated in this industry so you should shop around and do your homework before paying for any flat fee services. Get Listed Now!

Top reasons that a Flat Fee MLS listing works BEST for selling Atlanta Real Estate.

  1. The most important factor in selling a home is price. By saving thousands of dollars, (average of ~10,000 in savings) you can still make more, while making your home more attractive to buyers because you can price you home for less.
  2. The vast majority (~90%) of all homes sold in Atlanta are found by buyers searching the online MLS listings. The other ~10% come mostly from yard signs.
  3. Being listed in Atlanta’s FMLS means Realtors can find your home in the database.
  4. Being listed in FMLS and Realtor.com means all the buyers can find your on virtually all real estate companies sites because agents share all of our listings; hence the name MLS(Multiple Listing Services)
  5. MLS listed properties (for sale by owner or not) sell faster and for more money than non-MLS listed "for sale by owner" properties.

Atlanta Flat Fee Listing Case Scenario
“The story of two homes for sale”
 The point of this case scenario is to see how the top 5 reasons to list in really does effect home sales in Atlanta every day. Here are the basics of how our two homes stack up:


Home 1

Home 2

Flat fee

6% Listing

Listed for 345,000

Listed for 345,000

Mortgage 310,000

Mortgage 310,000

Home #1 and Home #2. They call the number to set up a viewing. At home number one they are told they can access the home themselves with a lock box on the front door.
The offer at 327,500 is less than the owners wanted, however, they pay no commission and the $17,500 is enough for them to put 5% down on the home they had wanted to move to.

On Home #2 the agent they talk to tells them he will have to call the listing agent, who will call the owner to see when they can let you in. The listing agent calls the home owner to set up a time, but the home owner is at work and takes 30 minutes to call back. The listing agent then calls the buyers and tells them he can show them the property later that day.
The agent, looking to represent both buyer and seller now looks to make the 6% commission himself ($19,665) Knowing the offer is low, the agent is motivated by the $19,665 and tells his sellers what a tough market it is for sellers and that they should take the offer! Because the buyers have another on House #1. I f the home owners accept, they will net $308,085 after commission. Because the mortgage is 310,000, the sellers cannot sell unless they want to pay 2,000 at closing. They turn down the offer and now the listing agents thinks they are wasting his valuable time.

1.Let’s assume our buyers are like ~90% of buyers in Atlanta and they begin by looking for homes on the Real Estate sites they are familiar with in their area. They discover a neighborhood that works well for them and there are two homes in there price range that are similar
2. The showing goes well, and the home buyer’s like both houses. They decide to make and an offer 327,750 or 95% of the list price.

Pie chart on ownership % verus commission %

Why is a Flat Fee MLS listing the best choice for a home seller in Atlanta?
            The best reason is obviously the cost. But it is what the cost saving allows you to do in terms of listing and negotiating.The average home in Atlanta list for $307,000. The typical listing commission in Atlanta is between 2%-3% for residential real estate. This means a FSBO using a flat fee services can save on average, as much as $9210 on the listing commission.
Sure it cost less but won’t it be harder to sell my home as a flat fee listing?
            This may be the most important aspect of understanding about marketing Real Estate homes in Atlanta. Let’s start with the fact that Atlanta is in an extreme buyers market, which simply means that the buyers have the control because of the incredible amount of options available to them.