EPISODE 41 – [FSBO] – DISCOUNT LISTING OPTIONS AVAILABLE

Thinking about selling your home but don't want to pay a full real estate commission?

You have more options than ever before.

In this episode of the Happy Homeowners Hub Podcast, Fred Turner explains the different discount listing options available to homeowners, including Flat Fee MLS services, discount brokerages, limited-service Realtors, and online listing companies. Learn how each option works, what services are typically included, and how to decide which one best fits your situation.

Drawing from years of experience in the For Sale By Owner industry, Fred shares real-life stories of homeowners who successfully saved thousands of dollars while still getting the professional help they needed.

Whether you're planning to sell your home yourself or simply looking for ways to reduce your selling costs, this episode will help you make an informed decision.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• What Flat Fee MLS services are and how they work
• The differences between discount brokerages and traditional Realtors
• When a limited-service listing may be the right choice
• How online listing companies can help market your home
• The questions every homeowner should ask before selecting a listing service
• How to compare listing packages and avoid hidden fees
• Common mistakes homeowners make when choosing the cheapest option
• How to save thousands while still receiving professional support

Books available from Happy Homeowners Hub and sold on Amazon.com

For more details on these books, check out HappyHomeownersHub.com 

                       Click on the Amazon book links below

The Happy Homeowners Handbook for Navigating Property Claims

The Happy Homeowners Handbook For Navigating Water Damage Claims

The Happy Homeowners Property Claim Documentation Booklet 

The Happy Homeowners Handbook for First-Time Homebuyers 

The Happy Homeowners Handbook for Selling Your Home by Owner 

The Happy Homeowners Home Maintenance Journal 

The Happy Homeowners Helper (A Children's book to help with a move) 

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Transcript

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You now have more choices than ever. Years ago, your choices were pretty simple. Either you hired a traditional realtor and paid a full commission, or you sold your home completely by yourself with very little outside help or education to assist you. Today there are many companies offering different levels of service options. Some charge a flat fee, some place your home on the MLS, and some provide professional photography, and some help with the paperwork. Others simply advertise your home online and let you take care of it from there. Technology has completely changed the real estate business. The internet has leveled the playing field. Today, buyers begin their home search online long before they ever call an agent. That means your listing can often receive plenty of exposure without paying the highest commission available. Today, we're going to talk about some of the different discount real estate options available to home sellers and what these options can cost. Welcome to the Happy Homeowners Hub Podcast, where we share real life stories and break down the lessons, mistakes, and wins that can save you time, money, and stress when buying your first home, navigating your property claim, selling your home by honor, and home maintenance and repair tips. I am your host, Fred Turner, and today's episode is one that can potentially save you thousands of dollars while still giving you some professional help if that's what you're looking for. We are continuing this FISBO series, and this is the final episode in that series. The title of today's episode is Discount Listing Options that are available to people selling their home by owner. Maybe you've been thinking, I don't really want to pay a full 5 or 6% commission to sell my home, but at the same time, I'm not sure I want to handle everything myself. The good news is you don't have to choose only one extreme or the other. Today we're going to explore several middle ground options that many homeowners don't even realize exist. So let's dive in, shall we? One of the most popular options today is called the Flat Fee MLS listing. Here's how it works. Instead of paying a realtor a percentage of your home sale price, you simply pay a one-time fee. That fee might range anywhere from a couple hundred dollars up to around $1,000, depending upon the services included. The company places your home into the MLS listing service, commonly called the MLS. Now your property is appearing where thousands of real estate agents search for homes every day. When you list your home on the MLS, typically you would indicate how much you will be offering the selling agent to sell your home. If you're not paying any fee to a selling agent or a low fee, they have no or very little incentive to show your home. Many listings will typically offer a 2-3% selling agent fee, but that's always negotiable. You continue handling the phone calls, the showings, the negotiations, and the sale. The exposure is similar, but the commission is dramatically lower as you're not paying a seller's agent commission fee to list your home. Another option is working with a discount brokerage company. These companies still provide realtor services, but they charge less than a traditional full service brokerage company. Some charge 1%, some charge a flat fee amount, or others can charge different packages depending on how much help you want. Think of it like buying a car. Some people want every option available, others simply want basic reliable transportation. Real estate has become much the same. You can choose only the services you actually want or need. Many homeowners are surprised at how many online companies now specialize in helping people sell their homes themselves. Some allow you to create professional listings, some provide printable flyers, some offer electronic document signing, and others provide lockboxes, yard signs, and marketing materials. These companies allow homeowners to customize the amount of assistance they desire to receive. These companies allow homeowners to customize the amount of assistance they receive. That flexibility can save significant money. Here's a real life story. Years ago, while I was publishing My Homes for Sale by Owner Magazine, I met a retired couple who wanted to maximize the money from the sale of their home. They didn't mind showing the property, they were comfortable talking with buyers, but what they really wanted was a wider exposure, so they used a flat fee MLS company. Within a few weeks, a realtor bought them a qualified buyer. The sellers paid only the buyer's agent commission rather than paying on both sides, both the selling agent fee and the buyer's agent fee. They estimated they saved well over $15,000 compared to a traditional listing. That money helped furnish their retirement home in another state. What services do you really need? Before selecting any listing option, ask yourself a few questions. Do you enjoy talking with people? Can you answer questions about your home? Are you comfortable scheduling showings? And can you negotiate respectfully? If the answer is yes, you may not need every service a traditional realtor provides. Maybe all you really need is professional exposure, or perhaps you only need help with the paperwork. Buying only the services you need can be a smart financial decision. Compare the total cost. Sometimes homeowners become focused on percentages instead of looking at the total dollars. Let's use an example. Suppose your home sells for $500,000. A 6% commission equals $30,000. Even reducing that amount by half can mean $15,000 remains in your pocket. That's huge. Make sure you ask every company you're talking to what's included. Ask about additional fees. Ask whether photography is included. Ask whether contract assistance is included. Ask whether they provide customer support. You want to make sure you're comparing apples to apples. Here's another real life story. I remember another homeowner who immediately hired the cheapest discount listing company they could find. The listing looked rushed, the photos were fairly dark and not very good quality, the description was very short, only two sentences, and very few buyers came through. Eventually, he upgraded to a better package with professional photography and a much stronger marketing presentation. Almost immediately, his showings increased dramatically. The lesson? Saving money is important, but don't sacrifice quality. A professional presentation still matters. Before selecting a discount listing company, consider asking the following questions. How many photos are included in the listing? Will my listing appear on Zillow.com and Realtor.com? Can I make changes myself? Are contracts included? Do you provide customer service support? Can buyers contact me directly? Are there cancellation fees? Can I upgrade later if needed? What kind of signs do I get? Those questions can prevent surprises later. Here's my recommendation. After spending more than 17 years in the for sale by owner industry, here's what I've learned. Most homeowners are fully capable of selling their own home. What they usually need isn't someone to sell it for them, they simply need maximum exposure, good information, and some trusted professionals to help them along the way. That's exactly why I encourage homeowners to assemble a winning team instead of relying only on one person to handle everything. Make sure you have a good attorney, a mortgage professional, maybe a home stager or a good designer friend, and possibly a flat fee MLS company. Build the team that works best for you. Here are some final thoughts. Selling your home yourself doesn't mean doing everything completely alone. Today's marketplace offers more options and more flexibility than ever before. You can mix and match services, you can save thousands of dollars, and you can still receive professional assistance where you need it the most. Knowledge gives you options, options gives you confidence, and confidence helps create happy homeowners with no regrets. If you've enjoyed this series on selling your home yourself, you'll find even more practical tips in my book, The Happy Homeowners Handbook for Selling Your Home by Owner. The book walks you through the entire process from preparing your home and pricing it correctly to negotiations, inspections, closing costs, moving, and choosing the right listing options. It's based on my 17 plus years of experience in helping homeowners save thousands by selling their homes themselves. This book is available on Amazon.com, or you can get more information at my website, happyhomeownershub.com. Don't forget to sign up for the Happy Homeowners Hub newsletter to receive homeowner maintenance and repair tips, podcast updates, and valuable resources delivered right to your inbox. Just go to my website, happyhomeownershub.com, click on the contact us page, and type the word newsletter in the message box, or see the show notes. Here's the Happy Homeowners Hub Podcast disclaimer. The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is based on my personal experience in the home selling, home buying, and property restoration industries. It should not be considered legal, financial, or real estate advice. Every real estate transaction is different and unique, so please consult qualified professionals, including a licensed attorney, real estate professional, lender, or financial advisor, for advice specific to your situation. Thank you for listening to the Happy Homeowners Hub Podcast. If you found this episode helpful, share it with someone who's also thinking about selling their home by owner. And remember, the more you know, the more confident you feel, and that's how you become a happy homeowner with no regrets. My goal is to make your homeownership journey smoother, smarter, and way less stressful. I've got some great stories, practical tips, and occasional guest experts coming up in future episodes, so stay tuned and remember, your home is your biggest investment. Be smart from the start. Thanks for listening. This is your host, Brett Turner, and I'll see you at the next episode. Have a blessed day. Goodbye.