Clever Real Estate matches home sellers and buyers with highly-qualified realtors in their area. Their 1.5% listing fee is about half the typical rate, and they also offer cash back savings for buyers — making them our top pick for real estate commission savings.
Our AI sentiment analysis of Clever reviews shows that it maintains a consistently high customer satisfaction rate. Major themes identified in reviews include professionalism, significant savings, hands-on support, and fast sales—all contributing to an impressive average 5-star rating across thousands of reviews on platforms like Google, Trustpilot, and the Better Business Bureau.
Clever's agent-finding service is free, and there's no obligation to sign with a realtor. If you don't find the agent you're looking for right away, you can request more matches or simply walk away
⚡ How to get started: Answer a few quick questions about your home sale or search — and get agent matches sent straight to your inbox.
Clever Real Estate summary
🏢Company type | Low commission realtor |
🏴Active since | 2017 |
💲Listing fee | 1.5% ($3,000 minimum) |
💰Buyer savings | $250–500 |
⭐Average customer rating | 5/5 ⭐ (4,037 reviews) |
🔍 Key insights from reviews | 🟢 Primary positive themes
|
📍Availability | Nationwide |
Clever Real Estate offers substantial savings for both buyers and sellers. The company's consistently high customer ratings, supported by thousands of reviews, demonstrate its commitment to quality and client satisfaction.
For sellers, Clever agents offer a pre-negotiated flat listing fee of just 1.5%, significantly below the national average of 2.74%. This results in an average savings of nearly $7,000.
Clever also offers a new cash offer marketplace called Clever Offers, which streamlines the process of selling homes by connecting sellers with pre-vetted cash buyers. This free service offers a simple alternative to traditional home selling, allowing homeowners to receive competitive offers quickly and up to 100% of the home's fair market value.
🔒 Is Clever Real Estate legitimate?
Yes, Clever Real Estate is a legitimate and well-reviewed company that makes buying and selling real estate more affordable. Established in 2017 by founders Luke Babich and Ben Mizes in St. Louis, Missouri, it has quickly risen as a reputable player in the real estate industry. Clever has earned an average customer rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars based on over a thousand customer reviews. The company also boasts over 3,400 five-star reviews on TrustPilot and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Clever is a licensed brokerage in Missouri and partners with agents nationwide from top brokerages like Keller Willams, Century 21, and Coldwell Banker. To become part of Clever's network, agents must hold an active real estate license, possess at least five years of experience, demonstrate strong local market knowledge, and maintain positive feedback from previous clients. These requirements ensure that both buyers and sellers receive exceptional service.
Who Clever Real Estate works best for
Clever Real Estate ultimately works best for sellers and buyers who want to save on realtor commissions without sacrificing service. It's a particularly good fit for:
- Sellers looking for full-service agents at lower rates. Clever pre-negotiates a 1.5% listing fee with highly vetted agents from top brokerages like Keller Williams and RE/MAX. This makes it a great option for those who want the full benefits of a traditional agent but at about half the cost.
- Buyers looking for expert support. Clever also connects buyers with experienced agents who offer full-service support throughout the buying process. Plus, eligible buyers can receive cash back after closing.
- Those seeking flexibility. Clever's free agent matching service allows users to interview multiple agents and choose the best fit. If you're unsatisfied, you can walk away anytime without being locked into a commitment.
- Sellers interested in cash offers. In addition to its agent finding platform, Clever can connect sellers to vetted cash buyers through its Clever Offers program, helping them earn more and potentially sell faster than they would by going directly to an investor.
Clever Real Estate reviews: What real customers say
Review site | Rating |
---|---|
Better Business Bureau | 4.9/5 (119 reviews) |
4.9/5 (434 reviews) | |
Trustpilot | 5.0/5 (clever reviews) |
Average rating | 5/5 (4,037 reviews) |
🟢 Primary positive themes
- Professional service (34% of reviews)
- Significant savings (33%)
- Hands-on support (28%)
- Easy process (27%)
- Sells fast (22%)
With a nearly perfect 5-star rating across 3rd-party review sites, customer sentiment toward Clever Real Estate is overwhelmingly positive.
Customers repeatedly express satisfaction at the quality of agents they find through Clever, as well as the ability to choose from among several agents Clever sends their way. Customers also appreciate the significant cost savings and positive results — with many home sellers mentioning that they are able to sell quickly, often for above their asking price.
🔎 Methodology: How we write our reviews
When evaluating real estate companies, our process includes gathering all verifiable customer reviews from 3rd party sites such as BBB, Google, Consumer Affairs, TrustPilot, and Yelp.
In addition to tallying total review counts and average customer ratings, we use AI to analyze customer sentiment across a total of 20 positive and negative themes related agent quality, service, communication, savings, integrity, and more.
🟢 Positive Themes | 🟡 Negative Themes |
---|---|
Sells Fast | Struggles to Sell |
Easy Process | Misrepresented Services |
Hands-on Support | Poor Communication |
Prompt Communication | Poor Marketing |
Market Expertise | Poor Pricing Advice |
Professional Service | Unprofessional Service |
Quality Marketing | Technical Issues |
Negotiation Skills | No Refunds |
Significant Savings | Misleading Pricing |
Integrity | Lack of Integrity |
To ensure an accurate depiction of the customer experience, we run every review through AI to check for mentions of each positive and negative theme. We then tally the mentions to calculate the percentage of all reviews that reflect a given theme. The positive and negative themes with the highest percentages of mentions are displayed, along with representative quotes pulled from actual customer reviews.
Themes that are mentioned in less than 2% of reviews are not considered representative of the typical customer experience and are automatically excluded. Therefore, companies with overwhelmingly positive reviews may not have any negative themes displayed, and vice-versa.While Clever is our top pick among low commission real estate companies, we don't recommend choosing a realtor based solely on the brand. So feel free to compare its services and ratings to other companies we recommend.
Primary themes from Clever Real Estate reviews
🟢 Professional service (mentioned by 34% of reviewers). A primary theme among Clever reviews is the high level of professionalism demonstrated Clever's partner agents, who are frequently described as courteous, competent, personable, experienced, and respectful.
- "She is professional, respectful, and has been a tremendous support to us in this very stressful life event."
- "We could not be happier with the level of expertise and professionalism of this agent."
- "The agent was very experienced, professional, ethical and had my best interests in mind."
- "Her technical competence and professionalism was refreshing."
- "Best real estate experience ever. Our agent was so professional and helpful in every way."
🟢 Significant savings (mentioned by 33% of reviewers). Customer reviews consistently emphasize the substantial cost savings offered through Clever's reduced commission model. Customers also express satisfaction at receiving full-service representation despite the lower fees.
- "Saved thousands on the sale of our home without compromising service by using Clever."
- "The difference amounted to over a $10K savings!"
- "We saved $20,000 in commissions"
- "For half or a third of what I would have paid for another agent, I got a full-service realtor."
- "We also were not hit with any surprise fees."
🟢 Hands-on support (mentioned by 28% of reviewers). Reviews for Clever Real Estate frequently emphasize agents' consistent support throughout the entire selling process. Customers especially appreciate their agents' accessibility, proactive assistance with challenges, and willingness to go above and beyond the basic responsibilities of a realtor.
- "She went far beyond her responsibilities to help us get ready to sell and helping us remove stuff we could not get out without her assistance."
- "The agent stayed on top of things and was always there to advise when setbacks occurred."
- "Living out of state, she took the worries away and took them on herself."
- "Every challenge we encountered in getting our home ready for sale he had a resource to solve it."
- "They took care of everything in the sale of our home while we were living out of state."
🟢 Easy process (mentioned by 27% of reviewers). Customers also appreciate how easy and stress-free Clever makes the home-selling process, from agent matching through close.
- "Everything was exactly as advertised and was so easy, I was more than satisfied, I was impressed and thankful."
- "The whole process was seamless. He and his team handled everything - all we had to do was show up and sign the papers."
- "The showings were automated with potential buyers' agents scheduling via an online application. SEAMLESS!"
- "Every step was just as described. Could not have gone any smoother."
- "The company is a perfect example of how 'everything that used to be done' can be disrupted. Including, paperless and automations in the selling process."
🟢 Sells fast (mentioned by 22% of reviewers). Reviews indicate consistently rapid sales with Clever agents, with many customers noting that their homes sold within days or even hours of listing. Customers frequently mention receiving multiple offers above asking price, suggesting effective pricing and marketing strategies on the parts of their agents.
- "Had multiple offers the first day and sold in 14 days"
- "In three days we had 19 showings and seven offers, ALL ABOVE ASKING PRICE!!!"
- "The house was under contract within 13 days of listing, with 5 bids and we closed 1 month later for $20k over asking"
- "Our home was on the market for less than 24 hours and in escrow for an easy 30 days"
- "We couldn't sell our house for 11 months, and then with the agent they chose, we sold in less than a month"
Clever Real Estate vs. alternatives
Clever is our top pick among low commission real estate companies, standing out for its commitment to service and savings.
The company ensures its partner agents meet strict quality standards, including verifying their sales history and customer ratings before accepting them into their network. The company also continually monitors agents' performance to ensure customers are satisfied with the service.
In addition to having a 5-star rating across thousands of customer reviews, Clever’s 1.5% commission rate is one of the lowest in the industry — undercutting other well-rated competitors on our list.
How Clever Real Estate works
Clever Real Estate connects you with top agents from both local and nationally known brokerages like Berkshire Hathaway, Keller Williams, and more.
When you request an agent through Clever, you'll get several options to compare. Regardless of who you choose, you'll receive a pre-negotiated listing commission rate of just 1.5%, or cash back savings when you buy.
Clever partner agents are carefully vetted to ensure they have ample real estate experience, excellent reviews, and a strong track in the markets they serve.
To be a part of Clever's network, agents sign an agreement stipulating they must provide 100% full service to all clients referred through Clever.
The agent matching process
To get matched with a listing agent through Clever, you complete the following steps:
1. Fill out an online form: Enter your zip code on Clever’s website. Then, answer a few basic questions about your property, how many agents you want to interview, your address, estimated market value, and the best time to connect with an agent.


2. Clever concierge reaches out: You'll get contacted to learn more about your situation, answer any questions, and provide more information about Clever's services.
3. Agent matching begins: Clever will search through its network of 19,000 partner agents to find the best matches based on your location, needs, and agent experience.
4. Introductions: You’ll receive both an email and group text with agent introductions, including links to their brokerage, Zillow profile, and social media for easy comparison.
5. Schedule interviews: You can meet with your recommended agents and choose to interview them in person or over the phone.
6. Get started: After choosing and signing with your agent, you can start the home sale process, with Clever providing ongoing support throughout.
For buyers, the agent matching process is simple: Clever will first ask about the type of property you're looking for, your price range, and your timeline for purchasing.

On the next page, you'll select the number of agents you'd like to interview and your preferred time for contact.
If you're not already working with a mortgage lender, Clever will offer to match you with one. After you submit the form, Clever’s team will send agent introductions within two hours.
Selling with Clever Real Estate
When you sell with a Clever partner agent, you’ll get the same service and support you’d expect from a traditional listing agent charging full commission.
We spoke with Thorsteinn S., who sold his home with a Clever agent in the Seattle, Washington area. Thorsteinn told us that his agent provided more hands-on service and support than any realtor he'd paid 3% to before. His listing agent provided the following services:
- Comparative market analysis (CMA) and pricing strategy
- Connection with a pre-listing stager
- Professional photography
- Full listing on the MLS and hundreds of other real estate sites
- Showings and open houses
- Help with offers, counteroffers, and negotiations
- Contract and paperwork support
- Closing and title coordination
Thorsteinn told us that his agent's pricing and marketing strategy were instrumental in procuring four offers just days after his home was listed on the MLS.
Marc P, a Trustpilot reviewer, was also impressed with the knowledgeable agent Clever paired him with. Despite the discounted listing fee, Marc's realtor provided top-notch service, including professional photography, resulting in his home selling in just one day for well above the asking price.
Clever’s concierge team will check in with you and the agent continuously to ensure your agent delivers the promised service and support. Thorsteinn told us that Clever's customer service team kept in touch with him throughout the process and that the communication was all very straightforward.
Buying with Clever Real Estate
As a buyer, you can expect to receive the following services, typical of a buyer's agent:
- Real-time MLS alerts
- On-demand house tours
- Help with offers and counteroffers
- Support during the inspection and any renegotiations
- Final walk-through and closing coordination, and more
With Clever’s Cash Back program, eligible buyers can get up to $500 after closing: $250 for buying, or $500 if you buy and sell with a Clever agent. This rebate is available in most states for homes priced over $50,000, though some states don't allow commission rebates.
Other Clever Services
In addition to its core agent matching service, Clever offers title and escrow services through its subsidiary, Clever Closings. Its interactive portal allows clients to monitor their escrow process in real time, providing access to important documents, seamless communication with all stakeholders, and fraud protection.
For homeowners who need to offload a property quickly or as is, Clever also provides connections to reputable cash buyers and other sell-fast solutions through its Clever Offers program. This free service connects you with the best offers from leading cash buyers and presents alternative selling routes that might yield a higher payout than a typical cash offer.
How much can I save with Clever?
By using Clever Real Estate, sellers can save up to 50% on listing fees compared to traditional agents. Clever charges a pre-negotiated 1.5% listing fee, significantly lower than the typical 2.5–3% most brokerages charge.
Clever's listing fee | 1.5% of home sale price |
Nationwide average listing fee | 2.5–3% of home sale price |
Amount saved with Clever | 1–1.5% of home sale price |
For example, a traditional 3% commission on a $400,000 home would cost $12,000, but with Clever, you’d pay only $6,000 — a savings of $6,000. On a $600,000 home, you'd save $9,000 in listing fees.
On average, Clever sellers save around $7,000 on their home sale, while still receiving full-service support from top agents. In addition to the listing fee, sellers may need to cover the buyer's agent commission, which is negotiable and ranges from 2-3% nationwide.
💡 Why do Clever's partner agents work for just 1.5%?
You may be wondering why any real estate agent — especially one who already has a solid track record — would agree to work for a 1.5% commission when the standard rate is 2.5–3%. In fact, Clever’s 1.5% model is a win-win for both agents and customers.
Here’s why: Agents usually invest much time and money on marketing to attract clients. Clever handles this by providing agents with pre-qualified leads, meaning they don’t have to spend as much on finding new business. As a result, agents can take on more clients with less effort, and the savings get passed on to you. Everyone benefits from this efficient setup.
Clever Real Estate news and updates
Clever has made significant strides recently, with key developments in its services, partnerships, and industry recognition:
- In April 2025, Clever announced that it had reached a milestone of $500 million in home sale transactions through its new platform, Clever Offers. The program connects sellers needing a quick sale with vetted cash buyers and top-performing local agents, ensuring they get a fair price without compromising on speed.[1]
- In March 2025, Clever's Drake Shadwell was named one of HousingWire's Rising Stars for 2025. Shadwell has been instrumental in growing Clever Offers, which now generates nearly 30% of the company's total revenue.[2]
- In February 2024, Clever Real Estate launched Clever Title, a full-service title and escrow company.[3]
- In January 2024, Clever acquired Gravy Technologies, a startup that built a rewards platform for home buyers.[4]
- In October 2023, two of Clever's executive team members received the HousingWire Insiders Award.[5]
- Clever launched a product for mortgage lenders called Clever Pro in July 2023.[6]
- In June 2023, Clever was named the number 1 real estate agency on Trustpilot.com.[7]
- In May 2023, Clever raised $2 million in funding and ranked #65 on Inc.'s List of Fastest-Growing Companies in the Midwest.[8]
Bottom line: Should I use Clever Real Estate?
Based on our research of Clever Real Estate and other popular agent matching services, we think Clever offers the best overall service for most buyers and sellers. Clever’s partner agents are consistently high quality, its savings for sellers and buyers are the best in the industry, and you can try it for free with zero obligation. Simply fill out this short quiz to get matched with top agents today!
The only thing to remember is that Clever's minimum commission is $3,000, so if you sell a house for less than $200,000, you'll pay slightly more than 1.5%. While a $3,000–5,000 minimum is fairly typical among low-commission realtors, you may want to compare costs to see if you can find a better deal with another discount broker.
FAQ
Clever sellers typically save between 40-50% on total commission fees or $7,000 or on average thanks to the pre-negotiated 1.5% listing fee. See how much you can save with Clever!
Yes. As a seller or buyer, you won't ever pay Clever a referral fee. Sellers only pay their Clever partner agents discounted 1.5% listing fee when their home sells. Buyers won't pay any agent fees, because their agents' fee is typically covered by the seller.
Like other agent matching companies, Clever collects a small fee from its partner agents in exchange for referring new customers. This allows Clever to offer a free service for its customers.
Most agents burn a lot of time and money trying to attract new clients. Clever's partner agents get a steady stream of new business with zero up-front cost or effort (they pay Clever a fee only when a deal closes). The arrangement boosts their revenue, sales numbers, and visibility within their local market and the volume allows them to lower their rates, helping sellers and buyers save money.
To be a Clever partner agent, realtors must have an active real estate license, at least five years of experience, and a proven track record of success. Clever also states on its website that it will remove agents from its network that don't provide excellent service, and its team actively reviews its partner agents' performance on an ongoing basis.
Yes. All Clever's partner agents have signed contracts that they'll provide 100% full service and support to Clever customers.
No! You can interview as many agents as you'd like through Clever. Until you've connected with an agent you like and decided to move forward, you don't sign a thing. The benefit of Clever is getting a reduced commission, whereas if you reach out directly to an agent, you'll likely pay full commission.
Related links
How to Find a Realtor: The Complete Guide: A good agent can make a big difference in how well your home sale or purchase goes — and how much you get or save for your house. Find out how to choose the right realtor for you.
Top Low Commission Real Estate Agents: Low commission real estate companies can help you save thousands on your home sale. Check out our ranking of the best low commission companies, and see what options are available in your local real estate market.
The Best Discount Real Estate Brokers and Agents: Discount brokers can save you a lot of money, but some come with significant drawbacks. Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering a discount realtor.
Negotiating Realtor Fees: Tips to Lower Commission: Negotiating real estate fees centers on knowing the market and your situation and using that information while talking to multiple agents.
Methodology
The Real Estate Witch team evaluated Clever Real Estate 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 decide whether Clever Real Estate is right for your next real estate transaction.
We regularly update all our reviews to ensure they are accurate and relevant. We aim to help you find an agent to get you the best possible value when you buy or sell your home.
Our low-commission real estate brokerage rankings are based on three key criteria:
- Cost and savings. We compare each brokerage's pricing model to top competitors and average prices across the U.S., including the average listing fee, minimum fees, and any buyer incentives offered.
- Customer service. We perform an in-depth analysis on each brokerage'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 evaluate how efficient it is for customers to find, compare, and select an agent through a brokerage; and we evaluate their agent network size, technical platforms, communication methods, and post-transaction support.