Published
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Written by
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Edited by Galina Velgach
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Reviewed by Steve Nicastro
Written by Ashley Simon
Edited by Galina Velgach
Reviewed by Steve Nicastro
About Clever | About Redfin | How they’re different | Other discount brokers
Clever Real Estate and Redfin can both help you sell your home at a discounted price. Each charges 1.5% of the home’s final sale price, about half of the conventional listing agent fee (2.5–3%).
In general, we like Clever over Redfin because:
- Clever partner agents provide a highly rated customer experience, while Redfin agents tend to be stretched thin
- Clever is available in more markets nationwide
- Home buyers can save money whether or not they sell with Clever first
That said, Redfin is a good choice for sellers who:
- Prefer a tech-centric service to a hands-on approach
- Want the advantage of national exposure for their listings
- Are planning to buy a home within a year of selling
» LEARN: Which companies offer the lowest commission rates?
What is Clever Real Estate?
Availability
Listing Fee
Service
Our take
Overview
Locations
Clever Real Estate is our top pick because it delivers the best combination of savings and service of any competitor that we’ve reviewed. Clever’s main selling point is that its agents provide you with full service and support for just a 1.5% listing fee, saving you thousands when you sell your home, while eligible home buyers can earn cash back at closing. Unlike some of its competitors, Clever also allows you to choose your own agent. It matches you up with multiple agents, and you can choose the one that best fits your needs.
Pros
- Get matched with top-producing local agents in minutes.
- Low 1.5% listing fee.
- Network of 19,000 agents offers great selection
Cons
- No guarantee you’ll get matched with a specific local agent or brokerage.
- Add-ons like professional home staging may cost extra
- Fewer agent options in certain rural areas.
Clever is a free, no-obligation service that matches home sellers and buyers with top-rated, local real estate agents nationwide. Unlike most of its competitors, Clever pre-negotiates big discounts with its agent network, so customers land major savings! Sellers can save up to 50% on realtor commission fees. Buyers can qualify for cash back after closing.
Clever is available nationwide.
Clever Real Estate connects you with top-rated agents in your area for a pre-negotiated discount commission. And a Clever “concierge” will check in with you at every step of the home sale to make sure it goes smoothly.
Clever carefully vets agents at local brokerages before recommending them to buyers or sellers. You can interview as many agents as you like until you find the best fit, for free and with no obligations.
If you work with one of Clever’s partner agents to sell, you’ll pay a 1.5% listing fee while getting the same full service that other agents provide. Buyers can also get $250 cash back — $500 if they both buy and sell with Clever.
Clever’s reduced listing fee
Clever’s listing fee of 1.5% is among the lowest in the industry, and sellers still get comprehensive listing services from its network of agents.
When you match with a Clever partner agent, you’ll get a free comparative market analysis (CMA) to help you price your home. The agent will help you set a list price, market your home, list on the MLS, and conduct showings.
Clever’s rebate for buyers
If you’re a buyer, a Clever partner agent will help you find properties in your budget, negotiate offers, coordinate closing, and more. For qualifying homes, you could also get $250 cash back at closing, or $500 if both bought and sold a home with Clever.
What is Redfin?
Availability
Listing Fee
Service
Overview
Our take
Locations
Redfin offers good commission savings, and it’s available in most metro areas. But it comes up short in terms of customer service, plus its high minimum fees negate the savings in some markets.
Redfin uses a team-based model instead of having your agent oversee every part of your sale. This approach makes the process more efficient, which allows Redfin agents to handle a higher volume of customers. But you may face misunderstandings or mix-ups when working with multiple people.
And while some Redfin agents are good, others are new and inexperienced. With relatively few realtors in its network, you run a higher risk of getting stuck with a less-than-stellar realtor when you sell with Redfin.
Redfin is an established discount brokerage that offers impressive savings — especially if you buy and sell with the brokerage. But some of its agents are inexperienced. And while Redfin’s tech-focused approach comes with some neat features, it also means you may get less hands-on support than you need.
Pros
- 1.5% listing fee provides good savings.
- Up to 0.25% in savings for buyers
- Significant savings if you buy and sell with Redfin.
Cons
- Agent quality and customer service are not always great.
- High minimum fees in some markets.
- Agents may not have expertise in your local market.
Redfin is available in major markets in Washington D.C. and the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia.
Redfin is one of the largest discount brokerages in the U.S., serving almost half a million customers in 2022 alone.
It’s geared toward buyers and sellers who are relatively tech-savvy, given the company’s reliance on technology. The Redfin home-finding app and website are very popular and a major way they attract new customers, reaching almost 50 million monthly users.
Redfin has limited coverage, however, and is usually more accessible in major metropolitan areas. By contrast, it may not be available in many Midwestern states or in rural markets.
Because it operates differently than a traditional brokerage, the service level may not be quite what you’re looking for. Customers give Redfin an average online rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars, citing savings as a major strength of the company and customer support as a major weakness.
Redfin’s reduced listing fee
At a 1.5% listing fee, Redfin offers competitive pricing for sellers. Compared to working with a traditional brokerage, Redfin is likely to save sellers money. But with an average minimum fee of $3,350, lower-priced homes ($100,000 or less) aren’t likely to save much.
Redfin’s service will probably be a bit less hands-on and could prove difficult for sellers that want to work with just one agent and have more direct contact with them. Its team approach is supposed to increase efficiency and allows the company to charge lower rates. Unfortunately, this model can detract from an agent’s incentive to get you the best sale price possible.
Redfin Concierge Service
Redfin offers some premium packages for a higher fee to maximize your sale price.
Redfin Concierge Service is a premium listing option that:
- Charges 2.5% of the final sale price (vs. the 1.5% discount fee)
- Recommends high-impact updates
- Includes professional cleaning and staging
Redfin’s rebate for buyers
Buyers receive a 0.5% refund when they buy a home with Redfin within 12 months of selling their home. (That’s what Redfin means when it advertises a 1% listing fee — it’s actually 1.5% with the potential for a refund.)
How Clever vs. Redfin compare
Although Clever and Redfin are both strong options for sellers who want to save money on realtor fees, some key differences include:
- Customer service
- Coverage areas
- Buyer savings
One of the primary concerns for Redfin customers is the trade-off of customer service for savings. Clever agents, on the other hand, consistently show high ratings for their customer service.
Additionally, Clever is nationally available, while Redfin operates in only half the country.
Finally, sellers who are planning to buy their next house soon afterward could save more with Redfin. On a $250,000 home sale and $250,000 purchase, for example, Redfin customers can save a total of $750:
| Selling with… | Clever | Redfin |
|---|---|---|
| Listing agent commission | $3,750 (1.5%) | $3,750 (1.5%) |
| Buyer's agent commission | $7,500 (3%) | $7,500 (3%) |
| Realtor fees | $11,250 | $11,250 |
| Buyer savings | $500 | $1,250 |
| Total cost | $10,750 | $10,000 |
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