7 Flat Fee MLS Companies in Illinois to Sell Your FSBO Home

What is a flat fee MLS listing service?

Flat fee MLS listing services are designed for FSBO sellers who want to feature their home on the MLS without paying for a full-service agent’s help. The MLS is a private directory of for-sale homes that real estate professionals use to share home details with each other. It’s built to help agents display their client’s homes and locate available houses for clients who want to buy.

Listing your home on the MLS is important because it exposes your listing to buyers’ agents. This database also auto-populates many of the most prominent property search websites. Flat fee MLS listing companies ask you to pay a one-time fee, and they’ll post your listing on this valuable database. In turn, your house’s listing will pop up on multiple home-search sites and reach more buyers.

How much does a flat fee MLS service cost in Illinois?

Flat fee MLS services aren’t one-size-fits-all. In Illinois, these services cost more or less, depending on the company and the perks you choose. As a whole, flat fee MLS services in Illinois range from around $100-$800. Some packages may include expanded services at an additional cost, such as professional photography, yard signs, lockboxes, or broker support. Others may offer basic MLS access and limited photo uploads.

Flat fee MLS listing companies in Illinois

It’s important to understand that not all flat fee MLS companies provide the same services. It’s a good idea to examine each MLS listing company’s options and make sure the company fits your personal selling situation before you commit. They may also deliver more or less hands-on service, depending on whether they’re a local, regional, or national company.

Note: Individual program details can change — please visit a provider’s website for the most current information on rate packages, fees, service areas, and more. HomeLight always recommends doing your own research to determine which selling option is best for your situation.

Which Illinois sellers might benefit from a flat fee MLS service?

Rafay Qamar, a top-selling real estate agent in Chicago, says that he believes flat fee MLS services are generally not a good option for luxury sellers because selling your home for the right price requires careful home preparation and marketing.

“There’s too much that goes into it,” says Qamar. “There has to be a story. There has to be a picture for quality, qualified buyers to come through.”

However, he does think sellers in Illinois who are investors and who know what they’re doing, or those who have experience selling on their own, could benefit from a flat fee MLS.

What are the pros and cons of a flat fee MLS listing?

Here are some pros and cons of using a flat fee MLS listing service in Illinois:

Will I save money with a flat fee MLS listing service?

You may be wondering, “Will my home sell for less if I use a flat fee MLS service, or will I really save money?” The answer is that it depends.

While you’ll be skipping your real estate agent’s commission fees, using a flat fee MLS service also means you’ll be selling your house on your own. So you’ll be investing substantial time and work doing everything from marketing, determining a price, and negotiating, to staging your home, managing repairs and upgrades, juggling paperwork, and more.

Qamar says the seller often doesn’t have time to handle the work that goes into selling a house on their own.

“Maybe the seller isn’t able to cater to all the buyers appropriately during their timeline, and they probably don’t have the experience of buying and selling real estate – especially during difficult times, navigating through ups and downs, or negotiating and handling multiple offers,” he says. “They might also be exposing themselves to litigation by not filling proper disclosures forms, things like that.”

Sellers who aren’t experienced also often end up netting fewer proceeds when all is said and done. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), FSBO homes sold at a median of $380,000 last year, significantly lower than the median of agent-assisted homes at $435,000. What’s more, HomeLight data found the top 5% of real estate agents in the U.S. sell homes for as much as 10% more than the average real estate agent.

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Alternatives to a flat fee MLS service in Illinois

Not sure you want to use a flat fee MLS service? You still have alternative options. Here are a few:

Option 1: Hire a full-service real estate agent

Full-service real estate agents are experienced at selling homes and tackling all of the tasks that go into landing a successful sale. That includes things like marketing, pricing, negotiations, fielding calls from potential buyers, and more.

Qamar says that, especially in the current market, it can pay to go with a real estate agent who has experience.

HomeLight can connect you with a trusted agent in your market. Our platform scans your local area and finds top-selling agents that fit your selling situation.

Option 2: Flat fee real estate agents

Rather than taking a commission, flat fee real estate agents agree to help you sell your house for a lump sum. This route can make it easier to budget for a property transaction because you’ll know exactly how much money you’ll be pocketing after the sale. At the same time, flat fee real estate agents don’t have a compelling reason to sell your house for a high price. That means they may not work as hard on negotiations, marketing, pricing, or other tasks that full-service agents prioritize.

Option 3. Sell for cash

If you want to expedite the home-selling process, you can also seek a cash offer from a house-buying company, such as an iBuyer or a We Buy Houses investor group. If you sell your home for cash, you likely won’t receive an offer as high as you would if you listed your home. However, it’s a way to cash in on your home quickly without having to spend time and energy prepping for a sale.

One easy and convenient way to sell your home fast for cash is to use HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform. This tool allows you to bypass repairs, showings, and commissions, and presents you with a cash offer in as little as a week. You’re under no obligation to accept offers, but if you do, this method makes it possible to close in as few as 7 days.

Weigh your options and sell your Illinois home

Listing your house on the MLS is crucial if you want to sell your home in Illinois, and a flat fee MLS is one avenue to help you do it. Still, you have plenty of choices when it comes to selling your Illinois house. The key to landing a successful sale is weighing your options and finding the best solution for your situation. With that strategy in mind, you’ll have what you need to secure a smooth home sale in Illinois.

Editor’s note: This post is for educational purposes only. Links and mentions of Illinois flat fee MLS companies in this post do not constitute endorsements. 

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