Top Illinois Flat-Fee MLS Companies | Best for Extra Support | Best for Hard-to-Sell Homes | Simplest Sale Process | Other Alternatives | Frequently Asked Questions
If you hire a listing agent to sell your home in Illinois, you can expect to pay around 3% in commission to your agent. You’ll also have to pay an additional 3% commission to a buyer’s agent.
These costs get expensive, so some sellers consider selling without a realtor to avoid the listing agent’s commission. While this option provides considerable savings, it leaves sellers responsible for all aspects of the transaction — including marketing their properties.
Most home buyers find out about properties through the Multiple Listing Services (MLS). Online home search websites draw their data from MLSes and real estate agents use them to find houses to show buyers.
For Sale By Owner (FSBO) homes need to be posted on the MLS to get in front of the widest pool of buyers — but sellers can’t do that on their own. A flat-fee MLS service solves this problem.
These companies will list your home on the MLS and are much more affordable than full-service agents. But they provide limited assistance and the quality of service can vary widely, so it’s important to find the right one. Here are three great options in Illinois to consider.
Not sure if selling your house without a realtor is right for you? Our friends at Clever can connect you with a full-service agent and save you thousands. Find out more!
Top Flat-Fee MLS Companies in Illinois
🥇 Mentor Listing Realty: Best for extra support
🥈 Prello Realty: Best for hard-to-sell homes
🥉 beycome: Simplest sale process
| Mentor Listing Realty | Prello Realty | beycome | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $299-$399 | $295-$795 | $299 |
| Number of Photos | 1-25 | 25 | Max allowed |
| MLS Listing | 6 months | 6-12 months | Until sold |
| Pricing Assitance | 💰 | ❌ | ❌ |
| Negotiation Support | 💰 | 💰 | ❌ |
| Yard Sign | 💰 | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Houses | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Not seeing a company you like? Check out the best nationwide flat-fee MLS companies!
🥇 Mentor Listing Realty: Best for extra support
Mentor Listing Realty includes broker support and assistance with all their packages. Past reviews indicate that the company offered not just routine help but the wisdom and expertise they needed to sell quickly for top dollar. Keep in mind, however, that this support would be over the phone or email.
While Mentor Listing Realty doesn’t offer an unlimited listing term like some competitors do, it’s only $99 to extend your property’s time on the MLS.
Mentor Listing Realty’s packages
| Package | Price | Professional Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $299 | The biggest drawback to this package is it only includes 1 photo. Without more pictures in your listing, it will be very hard to attract buyers. |
| Standard | $349 | The only difference between this package is it includes 6 photos. Given that, it might be worth it to spend more on the premium package to better showcase your house. |
| Premium | $399 | Compared to competitors, this a very affordable premium package and will fit the needs of most sellers. |
Other considerations about Mentor Listing Realty
- Mentor Listing Offers negotiation, contract, and closing services for $499. While that is very affordable, it also means those types of support are not included in the packages above.
If you have a standard home and want to know someone will be there to answer your questions, Mentor Listing Realty is a great option. Each package includes basic broker support and assistance that provide you with expert advice.
🥈 Prello Realty: Best for hard-to-sell homes
While Prello Realty offers a fairly standard basic package, its mid-tier and premium packages are a great deal if your home is going to be hard to sell. Professional photographs are included with these packages, which can help your house stand out in a slow market.
However, Prello Realty lists homes on the MRED MLS, which features homes in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. If you live outside of this area, the company won’t be the right option for you.
Prello Realty’s packages
| Package | Price | Professional Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| MLS Basic | $295 | This is a comprehensive basic package that allows you to list your property on the MLS for 6 months and includes 25 photos to show off your property’s best features. You can advertise an unlimited number of open houses and will be provided with a free yard sign. |
| MLS Plus | $495 | This package includes professional photographs that can make your home look its best. Plus the listing is for 9 months. If you expect your property to be more challenging to sell, the added money may be well worth paying for the longer listing time and professional advice. |
| MLS Pro | $795 | In addition to the appointment scheduling service, the big appeal of this package is contract negotiation assistance. This can be essential to closing your deal once you find the right buyer. |
Other considerations about Prello Realty
- While Prello Realty received mostly positive reviews, some past clients reported communication issues.
- Full-service package available for $395 plus 1% listing commission at closing
If you believe it will be difficult to find a buyer for your house, Prello Realty might be your best option. They have services to help you better market your home and negotiation support to ensure the deal doesn’t fall through once you find a buyer.
🥉 beycome: Simplest sale process
Past reviews tout the ease of listing with beycome, with some users indicating their digital dashboard was simple to navigate even for those who aren’t tech-savvy. The ability to manage your entire sale from one unified online platform streamlines the entire process, making it easy to keep track of all the details of your transaction.
However, beycome doesn’t offer and pricing support to sellers. This could be the hardest part of listing your house without a realtor, so unless you’re confident in a listing price, consider other options.
beycome’s packages
| Package | Price | Professional Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $99 | If you only need minimum support, this is an extremely affordable option. However, if you’re in a competitive market, you might benefit more from other packages with more marketing assistance. |
| Enhanced | $299 | Photos attract buyers, so the fact that this package includes professional photography could be a game-changer. You can also easily add your listing to classified sites like Craigslist, which is not something most other flat-fee companies offer. |
Other considerations about beycome
- Beycome offers a full-service option for 1% (with $499 due upfront)
Beycome is a great option if you are an experienced seller or should have a straight forward sale. Their platform is easy to use and can help you through each step of the selling process.
Alternatives to flat-fee MLS companies in Illinois
There are other ways for sellers to save money besides working with a flat-fee MLS company. You could also work with a discount broker. These are full-service real estate agents who work for a lower listing commission, typically 1% to 2%.
If you want to learn more about working with a full-service agent while saving money, we can’t recommend Clever Real Estate enough. Learn more about their agent-matching service and 1% commission (or $3,000 fee on homes under $350,000).
Don’t Want to Sell Your Home By Yourself?
Our friends at Clever Real Estate negotiate with top-performing agents so you don’t have to go it alone (and you can save thousands in fees).
FAQs about flat-fee MLS companies in Illinois
What is a flat-fee MLS company?
A flat-fee MLS company is a service that lists your home on your local Multiple Listing Service (MLS). If you are selling your home without an agent, one of these companies is your only option to get your house listed on the MLS.
Since local MLS databases are used by home search websites to identify properties for sale, you’ll need to make sure your property appears on the MLS. A flat-fee MLS company takes care of this and, in some cases, also provides you with other services such as contract negotiation for an additional fee.
How do I tell if a flat-fee MLS company is legit?
To determine if a flat-fee company is legitimate, carefully read past reviews as well as the contract they send you.
If past reviews show a pattern of problems, there’s a significant chance you will experience the same issue as past sellers. If the contract shows hidden fees, you can also expect that the company’s services will cost more than anticipated, which is a common complaint among sellers who use flat-fee MLS companies
How much do flat-fee MLS services cost in Illinois?
The cost of a flat-fee MLS service in Illinois can vary by company and based on the package you select. Some services are priced as low as $295 while you could also pay as much as $795.
You’ll need to consider the level of professional support you are willing to pay for when deciding what service and package is right for you. You should also shop around among several companies to find the most affordable rates.
Do you need to pay a buyer’s agent commission with flat-fee MLS?
Most buyers who purchase properties are represented by real estate agents. It’s traditional for sellers to pay a 2-3% commission to a buyer’s agent as payment for bringing the right buyer to the table.
You would be able to avoid commission entirely only if you happened to find a buyer who did not have an agent or who was willing to pay the 3% commission to their agent, which is rare.
Are seller disclosures required in Illinois?
Illinois passed strict disclosure laws under the 1994 Residential Real Estate Property Disclosure Act. Sellers must answer a series of questions about their property's condition. You might also need to provide information about the dangers of radon exposure. This is on top of federally-mandated disclosures related to lead paint in older homes.
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