Assist-2-Sell Review

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  Written by Jessica Johansen

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  Edited by Ashley Simon

Key takeaway: Assist-2-Sell is a discount brokerage known for advertising lower real estate fees. However, savings can vary by location, and pricing isn’t transparent on its website. While customer reviews are generally positive, many negative reviews point to poor realtor experiences and no clear agent vetting process.

The company offers (potentially) big savings and has very positive customer reviews overall. However, the savings are inconsistent and depend heavily on the specific franchise you’re dealing with.

Assist-2-Sell may be a good option if you have a highly-rated franchise nearby and are comfortable vetting the agent yourself. But for a smoother experience, most people may prefer competitors like Clever Real Estate.

» Ready to compare agents and save thousands on commissions? Get connected with top-rated local agents and enjoy the benefits of expert service at a discounted rate.

Overview | Pros & cons | Reviews | How it works | News

Assist-2-Sell Overview

Assist-2-Sell vs. top alternatives

Although Assist-2-Sell may be cheaper than a traditional realtor, its fees are relatively middle of the pack compared to those of other low-commission real estate companies like Clever Real Estate, Ideal Agent, or Redfin. It also doesn’t make those fees clear on its website.

Depending on your situation and priorities, you may find another company in your area offering better savings and service quality.

For example, Clever and Redfin offer 1.5% listing fees. Clever is available nationwide and provides a full-service experience. Ideal Agent is also nationwide and offers 2% listing fees. These alternatives should offer a more consistent experience than Assist-2-Sell, particularly in terms of agent quality and pricing.

Assist-2-Sell reviews: What customers say

Site	Rating
Zillow	5/5 (449 reviews)
Yelp	3.2/5 (11 reviews)
Google (aggregate across ~200 franchises)	4.8/5 (10,000 reviews)
Weighted average	4.8/5 (10,000+ reviews)

Most customers were satisfied with their Assist-2-Sell experience.

The company’s average rating is 4.8/5, based on over 10,000 reviews. Assist-2-Sell is also accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has an A+ rating.

We looked at reviews for Assist-2-Sell offices nationwide, specifically reviews within the last year.

Customers commonly mentioned the quality of their agent. They said their agent was helpful, communicated well, and made selling or buying a home easy.

Most negative reviews focus on bad experiences with particular agents. Some customers felt the discounts weren’t worth it.

Assist-2-Sell: Pros and cons

✅ Pros

Potential realtor commission savings

Many sellers list with Assist-2-Sell for its low fees. Although pricing varies between franchise locations, a consistent theme among positive Assist-2-Sell reviews is that the potential savings are genuine.

These reviewers mentioned saving big money through Assist-2-Sell:

Very pleased with the service we received from Assist2Sell. [My agents] saved us a ton of money and were extremely helpful and attentive to our questions. Would highly recommend them when selling your home.

— Anthony T., Spring 2024, Google, ★★★★★

Assist 2 Sell was recommended to me by a friend to sell my parents condo in Greenfield. Our family could not be happier with our experience. [My agents] were wonderful to work with, responded immediately to all of our questions and went above and beyond in making the process easy. The condo sold for the asking price, we went from listing to closing in less than 30 days and their very reasonable fee saved us thousands of dollars.

— Walt, Spring 2023, Google, ★★★★★

Smooth, easy transactions

Customers often mentioned smooth transactions because of their agent’s dedicated support.

Some offices may not provide a single dedicated agent, but many reviewers talked about having one or two agents who helped them through the entire process.

[My Assist-2-Sell agent] made the entire process of selling my mom’s condo so easy. He handled everything and answered all of my many, many questions. I couldn’t have done it without him.

— Barbara H., Jan. 2024, Google, ★★★★★

I normally don’t do reviews but had to say the [agent] from the first time I met him to the end of the selling process went so smoothly and had no hiccups in between this process. Had someone else offer but with [my Assist-2-Sell agent], explained to me completely how it works and even adjusted the contract to make it better for us. … Was a great experience working with this company!!

— Rich A., Mar. 2024, Google, ★★★★★

❌ Cons: Some poor-quality agents

Assist-2-Sell has relatively few negative reviews, but many negative ones mention bad realtors.

That said, it’s important to note that since Assist-2-Sell franchises are locally owned, inconsistent service isn’t entirely the company’s fault. Each franchise operates independently, so agent quality may vary depending on the location.

A review of the website doesn’t mention any agent vetting standards besides requiring an active real estate license and NAR (National Association of Realtors) membership.¹ This is in contrast to competitors like Clever Real Estate, which states right on the homepage that agents need to maintain exceptional reviews to remain in Clever’s network.

If you’re considering hiring an Assist-2-Sell realtor, we recommend vetting the agent yourself before signing a contract. Search for the agent on Zillow and Google, and check for recent transactions in your area and customer reviews.

How Assist-2-Sell works

What to expect as a seller

Service offerings vary between locations. The main Assist-2-Sell website mentions the following listing packages, but it’s unclear how many offices offer them. Contact your local Assist-2-Sell office to verify the services it provides.

• MLS for Less^TM: This package offers roughly the same experience as selling with a traditional brokerage — but for a cheaper price. Assist-2-Sell posts your house on the local multiple listing service (MLS),^ℹThe MLS is a database where realtors advertise the properties they’re selling. and a dedicated agent oversees your entire transaction.

• Direct to Buyer^TM: Assist-2-Sell attempts to find you a buyer who doesn’t have a realtor. That way, you won’t have to pay a buyer’s agent commission (BAC), saving you an additional 2–3%. However, refusing to pay BAC can shrink your buyer pool by as much as 90%,² making it harder to sell quickly and for the best price.

• Paperwork Only: You find a buyer, and then Assist-2-Sell acts as a transaction coordinator. It helps you draft a purchase agreement, complete legal documents, and arrange the pre-closing process. We recommend getting quotes from local real estate attorneys, who may provide the same services for less.

What to expect as a buyer

You can purchase a home with an Assist-2-Sell buyer’s agent, and they’ll provide full service like a traditional agent.

But Assist-2-Sell doesn’t offer any built-in savings for buyers.

In contrast, many of Assist-2-Sell’s competitors offer home buyer rebates. If you qualify, you may receive a portion of the buyer’s agent commission back as a credit or cash. These rebates can help offset closing costs and other up-front expenses you face when buying a home.

» Find out which company offers the best home buyer rebate

How much can I save with Assist-2-Sell?

Assist-2-Sell’s listing fee	1–3% of home sale price
Nationwide average listing fee	2.83% of home sale price
Amount saved with Assist-2-Sell	0–1.8% of home sale price

Each local office sets its own listing fee. After reviewing several franchise locations, we determined that most offices charge 1–2.5%, which is reasonable.

That said, the savings aren’t guaranteed. The best discount real estate brands, like Clever and Redfin, guarantee listing fee savings no matter which agent you work with. With Assist-2-Sell, each agent sets their own commission structure — there’s no universal standard.

💰 Want to pay less in realtor fees? Use our free agent finding tool to connect with local realtors who charge a 1.5% listing fee (half the usual rate). Fill out a short form, and compare agent matches from your inbox.

Assist-2-Sell service breakdown

Exact services vary by location, but you can generally expect the following services:

• Comparative market analysis (CMA)
• Pricing guidance
• Staging advice
• Professional photography
• Listing description and MLS listing
• For-sale sign and lockbox for buyer’s agents
• Guidance during due diligence (i.e., inspections, appraisals, financing)
• Help evaluating offers and negotiating terms
• Support through closing

If you want something specific — like open house hosting or a 3D house tour — verify in advance that your agent provides that service. It’s also important to review your local agent’s customer reviews to ensure that past customers received support and guidance throughout the transaction.

Assist-2-Sell history

Along with longtime competitor Help-U-Sell, Assist-2-Sell pioneered the discount real estate brokerage model.³ These companies believed that if they advertised low fees, they’d attract enough customers to turn a profit despite earning less money on each sale.⁴

Assist-2-Sell launched in 1987 with a single office.⁵ By 2006, it had 630 franchise locations across 46 states and Canada.⁶

However, Assist-2-Sell hemorrhaged locations following the collapse of the US housing market and has struggled to compete with tech-forward discount brands like Redfin.⁷

Bottom line: Should I use Assist-2-Sell?

Most people will find better value with a different discount broker than Assist-2-Sell.

We recommend using Assist-2-Sell only if:

• None of the top national discount brokers are available near you
• Your local Assist-2-Sell agent has up-front pricing, high customer ratings, and a solid track record of home sales in your area
• You already know and like the agent in your area

No matter which broker you choose, we advise comparing multiple agents to ensure you find the best fit.

Methodology

The Real Estate Witch team evaluated Assist-2-Sell on various factors, including savings, customer service, online reviews, agent quality, and how it compares to the competition. Our mission is to empower you to make an informed decision about whether Assist-2-Sell is right for your next real estate transaction.

Our low-commission real estate brokerage rankings are based on three key criteria:

• Cost and savings. We compared Assist-2-Sell’s pricing model to top competitors and average prices across the US, including the average listing fee, minimum fees, and any buyer incentives offered.
• Customer service. We performed an in-depth analysis of Assist-2-Sell’s customer reviews across review sites. We broke down the sentiment of reviews, looking at themes around agent responsiveness, expertise, and meeting customer expectations.
• Ease of use. We evaluated how efficient it is for customers to find, compare, and select an agent through Assist-2-Sell, evaluating their agent network size, technical platforms, communication methods, and post-transaction support.

Related reading

If you’re considering Assist-2-Sell pros and cons, it’s important to compare all of your discount broker options. We recommend reading the following resources to learn about other ways to save.

Discount Real Estate Brokers and Agents: Everything You Need to Know: Curious about how discount brokers like Assist-2-Sell work? Learn more about how these companies create savings, how they’re different from traditional realtors, and how to decide which service is best for you.

What Companies Offer the Lowest Real Estate Commission Fees? Assist-2-Sell offices typically provide solid savings for home sellers, but other discount services charge even less. Find out which company offers the lowest real estate commission fees.

How to Sell a House Without a Realtor: If you’re an experienced home seller, you can maximize your savings by listing your house “for sale by owner” (FSBO). Want to learn more? Read our comprehensive guide on how to sell a home without a realtor.

Sources

1. Assist2Sell, “How Assist-2-Sell is Different” ↩︎
2. National Association of Realtors, “Quick Real Estate Statistics,” Mar. 21, 2024. ↩︎
3. Help-U-Sell, “About Help-U-Sell Real Estate,” accessed Mar. 28, 2024. ↩︎
4. Assist-2-Sell, “Our Story,” accessed Mar. 28, 2024. ↩︎
5. Naples Daily News (FL), “Helping hands: Discount real estate firms boast of lower commissions or flat fees for their services,” Jan. 16, 2005. ↩︎
6. Stefan Swanepoel, Swanepoel Trends Report 2007: Top 10 Real Estate Trends, 2006, p. 115. ↩︎
7. Entrepreneur, “Assist-2-Sell,” accessed Mar. 28, 2024. ↩︎