7 Flat Fee MLS Companies in New Jersey to Sell Your FSBO Home

What New Jersey sellers might benefit from a flat fee MLS service?

Because a flat fee MLS service may only provide limited real estate support, New Jersey real estate agent Robert Greenblatt, who works with over 83% more single-family homes than the average area agent, believes it’s best suited for homeowners who have extensive experience buying and selling real estate.

“If you have a lot of real estate experience, are an attorney, or have a friend who’s an attorney, you can potentially save a few bucks,” he says. “But I think it’s a rare individual.”

Other New Jersey sellers who might consider a flat fee service include those who:

• Want to avoid paying real estate commission.
• Have had a bad experience working with a real estate agent in the past.
• Insist on being very involved in the home sale process.
• Have time to invest in the home sale process.
• Have solid negotiation skills and are comfortable fielding offers on their own.

According to Greenblatt, sellers who choose to use a flat fee MLS service will have to take on many of the responsibilities that an agent typically provides. This includes:

• Doing a comparative market analysis to determine the best price for the home.
• Staging and photographing the house.
• Marketing the house locally and on social media.
• Coordinating the inspection, closing, and contract negotiations.
• Fielding phone calls from prospective buyers and their agents to schedule showings.

“Without an agent, there are a lot of things you could be missing,” Greenblatt says. “The biggest thing they’re missing is a professional negotiator…that’s what a real estate agent really is.”

Pros and cons of using a flat fee MLS service

Before you decide whether using a flat fee MLS service is right for you, it’s important to consider both the pros and the cons.

According to Greenblatt, selling a house without the assistance of a real estate agent may initially appear to be cheaper, but in many home sales, that’s not the case. “Statistically, sellers will net more money for their house even after paying a professional than they would by selling it on their own with a flat fee listing.”

Data from the National Association of Realtors backs this up. According to 2022 data, the median selling price for FSBO homes was $225,000, compared to $345,000 for homes that were sold with the help of a real estate agent.

How do I list my home with a flat fee MLS service in New Jersey?

If you determine that using a flat fee MLS service is right for you, or you simply want to better evaluate your options before putting your house on the market, you’ll want to look at companies that have access to all of the MLS databases in your area. This will ensure your listing gets as much visibility as possible.

Here’s how to get started:

Step 1: Research flat fee MLS companies that service New Jersey. Take the time to compare their package offerings, read their terms of service, and check their online reviews. Depending on how much support you’re looking for, you’ll find everything from a simple MLS listing service to help with contract reviews and negotiation guidance.

Step 2: Choose the listing company and package that best suits your needs. Many of the flat fee MLS companies will allow you to choose and purchase your package directly from their website. Simply choose your package and fill out the required information about your property to get started.

Step 3: Work with the flat fee MLS company to list your home. Although the specifics of this step will vary depending on the company selected, you can expect to work with a representative from the company who will help guide you through the process of getting your listing added to the MLS.

Step 4: Your listing will go live on all major real estate search websites. Once your listing is on the MLS, your home will appear in search results on Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and other major real estate websites. Interested buyers (or buyers’ agents) will be able to reach out through the listing to request an appointment to view your home.

Are flat fee MLS listings effective in New Jersey?

Almost all homebuyers use online tools when searching for a new home — and with few exceptions, these online tools are relying on the local MLS databases to populate the most up-to-date listings. Buyers’ agents rely on MLS data as well — making it one of the most effective marketing opportunities for sellers.

In fact, the National Association of Realtors found that 86% of home sellers list their home on the MLS.

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Alternatives to a flat fee MLS service

Before you make the decision to use a flat fee MLS service, it’s best to explore your options to ensure you’re making the right decision for you. As we mentioned earlier, your home is likely your largest investment, and you’ll want to make sure you’re well prepared to maximize your profits on the sale of the property.

Option 1: Flat fee real estate agent

A flat fee real estate agent offers to list and sell your home for a flat rate rather than a percentage of the home sale. Unlike a flat fee real estate service, this option will give you the hands-on expertise of a real estate agent throughout the home sale process. And while the level of service will vary from agent to agent, you likely won’t receive the same level of support, or negotiating power, of a commission-based agent who is incentivized to get you the highest possible price for your home.

Option 2: Discount real estate brokers

You can seek out the services of a low-commission or discount real estate broker. These companies or agents are typically more expensive than flat fee MLS service, but they will accept a reduced commission and often still provide some of the basic services and support you might receive from a full-commission agent.

Keep in mind that whether you use a flat fee MLS service, flat fee real estate agent, or a discount broker, you will likely still need to pay a full commission to the buyer’s agent.

Option 3: Full-service, experienced real estate agent

Using a top real estate agent in New Jersey provides many benefits beyond having your home listed on the local MLS. According to Greenblatt, when he’s representing sellers in New Jersey, his job is to make the home sale process as simple as possible for his sellers by taking as many tasks off their plates as possible.

He also takes care of the expenses related to photography, videography, and staging the house. “When you hire a professional real estate agent, there are usually no upfront, out-of-pocket costs. I know when I sell houses personally, I bear that risk. So if the house doesn’t sell, the seller doesn’t lose anything.”

Other benefits of working with a professional real estate agent include:

• A comparable market analysis to price your home correctly.
• Advice on home preparation and staging.
• A large network of real estate professionals for marketing your home.
• Home inspection guidance.
• Appraisal expertise.
• Professional negotiation skills.

“At least in my area, real estate agents are also going to take care of the contract,” Greenblatt says. “Coordinating the inspection, the closing, and taking care of the behind-the-scenes paperwork are things most homeowners don’t think about.”

At Homelight, our data shows that the top 5% of real estate agents across the U.S. sell homes for as much as 10% more than the average real estate agent. In just two minutes, we can connect you with top real estate agents in your area using our exclusive Agent Match platform.

What if I need to sell my New Jersey home fast?

Another option for sellers is to seek a cash offer from a house-buying company, such as an iBuyer or a We Buy Houses investor group. If you need to sell quickly, or your house needs a significant amount of work and you intend to sell as is, these could be good options for you.

One of the most convenient ways to sell a home fast is to use HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform. When you sell with HomeLight, you can skip the headaches and hard work that typically go into the home-selling process and receive a no-obligation cash offer in as little as a week. If you accept an offer, you can close in as few as 10 days.

If you end up going the for sale by owner (FSBO) route and using a flat fee MLS service in New Jersey, the Simple Sale platform is also a great tool for determining what your house would sell for on the open market — so you can price accordingly.

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What else should I know about selling a house in New Jersey

New Jersey does have disclosure laws that require sellers to disclose all potential defects to the residence — this includes issues (or past issues) that might not be easily identified or picked up on during a home inspection.

Sellers also need to consider the specific requirements of the township where their house resides. “In New Jersey, every town is a little different,” Greenblatt says. “You need to determine what the town requires when you’re selling a house.”

And while a real estate attorney isn’t required, it is a good idea for FSBO sellers to have one available throughout the home sale process to help ensure all documents are filled out and filed correctly.

Ready to sell your New Jersey home?

As you prepare to sell your New Jersey home, your first step should be understanding your priorities. If maximizing your profits is most important to you, statistics prove that working with an experienced real estate agent who can price your home accordingly and negotiate on your behalf is the right way to go.

On the other hand, if a quick, hands-off sale sounds appealing, working with an iBuyer or using the HomeLight Simple Sale platform may be the right decision for you.

If you do decide to sell your home yourself — with or without a flat fee MLS service — you’ll just want to make sure you do your research first so that you understand the logistical and legal obligations of selling property. “There’s a lot of crazy stuff that goes on in the background,” Greenblatt says. “If you’re not in the industry, you’re not going to think about these things.”

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