The 5 Best Flat-Fee MLS Companies in Illinois

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  Written by Thomas O'Shaughnessy

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  Edited by Josiah Wilmoth

Top Illinois flat fee MLS listing services | Who should get a flat fee MLS listing? | How these services work | Typical pricing | Top alternatives | FAQs

An Illinois flat fee MLS company might be the right choice for you if you’re selling your home without a realtor. These companies allow you to get your house listing in front of more potential buyers by posting it on the multiple listing service (MLS).

The main benefit of working with a flat fee MLS Illinois company is that you’ll avoid paying a listing fee to a realtor. Listing agents in Illinois charge 2.68% of the home’s sale price on average, while Illinois flat fee MLS companies charge a set rate anywhere from $99 to $795.

But there are some drawbacks to working with a flat fee Illinois company — namely, the MLS listing is the only service you get. You’ll need to handle every other aspect of the home sale by yourself, including pricing, showings, negotiations, and paperwork.

Flat fee MLS companies also charge their fees upfront, unlike traditional Illinois realtors who only charge a commission if your home sells. If your home doesn’t sell or you decide to list with an agent instead, you won’t receive a refund.

If you want to avoid overpaying for realtor fees but still want hands-on support from an agent, check out Clever Real Estate. Clever negotiates flat 1.5% listing fees with top Illinois agents from trusted brands like Keller Williams and RE/MAX. You’ll get guaranteed full service from a great local agent but pay a fraction of the typical price.

💰 Find top local agents, get a flat 1.5% listing fee now!

Quick view: Top 5 Illinois flat fee MLS listing services

Company	Listing fee
1. Mentor Listing Realty	$299-$399
2. Prello Realty	$295-$795
3. Beycome	$99-$599
4. FSBO.com	$399.95
5. Houzeo	$299-$449

Who are Illinois flat fee MLS listings best for?

Flat fee MLS listing services are best for home sellers who have lots of experience with real estate transactions and are comfortable selling without a realtor. 

You’ll need to handle many parts of the real estate process, like negotiations, paperwork, and contracts, on your own. If you’re comfortable DIY-ing your home sale, a flat fee MLS listing can be a worthwhile purchase. It’ll allow you to post your listing on the MLS and reach as many potential buyers as possible.

That said, selling your home for sale by owner is not for everyone. It’s a time-consuming process, and you’ll need to price your home, write a listing description, coordinate photography, marketing, and showings, and handle negotiations and closing paperwork.

You’ll also still need to pay the buyer’s agent commission, which is usually around 2%–3% of the final sale price of the home.

Most Illinois home sellers will find better value by working with a flat fee real estate agent or discount realtor who charges lower listing fees for the same services as a traditional realtor. You’ll still save thousands of dollars on realtor fees, but you’ll avoid the hassle and frustration of selling on your own.

Top 5 Illinois flat fee MLS listing services

1. Mentor Listing Realty

If your home sale is fairly straightforward and you want help with basic questions throughout the process, Mentor Listing Realty may be a good option. Each of its flat fee MLS listing packages includes some level of support from a broker, but the company isn’t clear on what this entails — and you’ll have to pay for their premium package ($499) to receive assistance with negotiations, contracts, and closing.

Mentor Listing Realty’s basic package ($299) is more affordable than many other MLS listing options in Illinois. With it, you can make unlimited listing updates and add up to 25 photos to the listing. Your listing will stay on the MLS for six months — which is fairly standard compared to other companies — but you can renew for an additional six months for just $99.

The company has only a handful of customer reviews and most are positive, calling out the professionalism and communication from the owner, Brian Waters. 

2. Prello Realty

If you know your property will be difficult to sell — but you’re still certain you want to sell it without a realtor — Prello Realty could be a great choice. Its MLS Plus package ($495) includes professional photography and will keep your listing on the MLS for one year, which will be worth it if you anticipate that your sale will take a long time.

Prello Realty’s basic package ($295) will also get the job done; it includes a six-month MLS listing, 25 pictures, and unlimited listing changes. 

We don’t recommend the company’s premium package. While most sellers will benefit from the contract and negotiation assistance it provides, the $795 package is much more costly than comparable options from other companies.

Prello’s flat fee MLS listing Chicago reviews are limited but generally positive, calling out the company’s excellent customer service, professionalism, and low fees. One Prello Realty complaint calls out the company’s hands-off service and a lack of communication. But overall, the company is a good option for Windy City sellers looking to sell by owner.

3. Beycome

For sellers on a tight budget, Beycome provides attractive pricing options without sacrificing essential services. 

Beycome’s $99 MLS listing package is one of the most affordable options in Illinois. Beycome also allows you to keep your MLS listing active until your house sells (as opposed to most competitors, who have six-month listing periods). And its $399 upgraded package includes some worthwhile extras, such as professional photography and one-click sharing to classified sites like Craigslist.

Beycome also gives you the ability to manage your home visits, offers, and messages from a digital dashboard — which past customer reviews say is easy to navigate even if you’re not digitally savvy.

However, you won’t have a real estate agent to help you navigate your sale unless you spring for Beycome’s pricey concierge service. If you need additional support from a licensed agent during your home sale, we recommend choosing a discount realtor that offers full service for a better price.

4. FSBO.com

If you prefer working with an established brand, FSBO.com is a safe choice. The company has been in business for over 20 years and provides flat fee MLS listing services nationwide. 

It’s certainly not the cheapest Illinois flat fee MLS listing option available, but FSBO.com’s $399.95 package includes the basics: a six-month MLS listing and up to 20 photos.

The main drawback to FSBO.com is that the brand outsources to a third-party broker to manage your MLS listing. Because there are more parties involved, you may find less satisfactory customer service. Some FSBO.com reviews from past sellers complain about miscommunications due to multiple brokers being involved in the process.

5. Houzeo

Houzeo offers several listing packages, but the $349 Silver package that most home sellers should consider is more expensive than similar offerings from other Illinois flat fee companies.

Houzeo’s Silver package covers the basics with a six-month MLS listing, unlimited listing updates, and 24 photos. However, it doesn’t come with any valuable extras like broker support or contract review. And at $349, it’s simply more expensive than it needs to be. Comparable packages from other Illinois flat fee MLS companies cost around $99–$299.

Houzeo does offer a cheaper option (a $299 Bronze package), but it isn’t worth it for most home sellers. The Bronze package will only keep your listing on the MLS for three months; most other companies offer a six-month term. You’re also limited to six photos, which isn’t enough to truly show off your home in your listing.

How do flat fee MLS listing services in Illinois work?

Illinois flat fee MLS listing companies charge a fixed dollar amount to post your house on the local multiple listing service (MLS), a regional database of properties for sale in your area. These services are typically a lot cheaper than selling with a traditional realtor. But you get what you pay for: aside from the MLS listing, the company will provide few (if any) of the services you’d expect from a real estate agent.

What do you get with an Illinois flat fee MLS listing?

Most basic Illinois flat fee MLS listing packages include a six-month MLS listing with 20–25 photos, although a handful of companies offer only a three-month listing and as few as six photos.

Flat fee MLS listing services don’t usually include support from a licensed agent — and when they do, they charge extremely high fees that aren’t worthwhile. This means you’ll be left to navigate your sale on your own. 

If you’d rather have professional support with pricing, marketing, and negotiations, your best choice is to work with a low commission real estate brokerage, as these companies offer better overall value.

How much do Illinois flat fee MLS listings cost?

Flat fee MLS listing companies in Illinois can cost anywhere from $99 to $795, with most falling in the $100–$400 range for a basic six-month MLS listing. 

Most Illinois flat fee companies allow you to make free, unlimited updates to your listing. One exception is Houzeo, which charges $25 for each listing update.

Many companies also offer premium packages that include additional services like broker assistance, pricing, and support with paperwork and negotiations. However, these packages are rarely worth it due to high fees of anywhere from $500 to over $800.

For example, Beycome charges $599 plus an additional 1% of the sale price at closing for their Concierge package. If you need services like a dedicated closing coordinator and pricing assistance, you’re better off going with a low commission realtor who offers a higher quality of hands-on service at an even lower price.

Top Illinois flat fee MLS alternatives

Sell FSBO without an MLS listing

Listing your home on the MLS is generally the best way to get your home in front of potential buyers, but there are other platforms you can use. If you’re a for sale by owner (FSBO) seller on a tight budget, here are some other ways to advertise your  home listing:

• List FSBO on Zillow: Zillow is the world’s largest real estate website, and it’s free to list your home on it. However, if your home isn’t on the MLS, Zillow will group your listing in a separate section of the site — which is harder to find. Your listing will technically be on Zillow, but be aware that most potential buyers on the site won’t see it.
• Use a different FSBO website: Other websites like Forsalebyowner.com and Facebook Marketplace also let you list your house for free. But the number of eyes on your listing will be limited.
• Sell your house on Craigslist: Craigslist is another site where sellers can advertise their homes for free to a large audience. But it’s important to note that many serious buyers on Craigslist are investors, so they may try to aggressively negotiate your price. You’ll also need to avoid scammers.

Sell with a flat fee real estate agent

Most traditional realtors are paid a percentage-based commission, but there are flat fee real estate brokers who charge a set dollar amount instead. If you’re selling a more expensive home, you could save a lot of money by working with a flat fee real estate broker.

We recommend looking for a flat fee real estate broker who offers the same general services and support as a traditional real estate agent. Limited or reduced service real estate agents tend to charge lower rates, but they’ll often leave you to work through the complicated steps of the home selling process on your own.

Sell with another discount real estate broker

Flat fee real estate agents can be a good option for higher-priced homes, but sellers should also consider working with a discount real estate broker that charges percentage-based rates.

It’s important to research what each discount real estate broker offers before deciding on one. The top discount brands charge listing fees as low as 2% (or less!) while still offering the same services as a traditional realtor. But some brands have service tradeoffs that could negatively impact your sale.

The best option for most people is Clever Real Estate, which negotiates 1.5% listing fees with top agents at traditional brokerages like Keller Williams and Berkshire Hathaway. That’s the lowest rate in the industry, plus you’ll still get to work with an experienced agent from a trusted brand.

FAQs about flat fee MLS listings in Illinois

Methodology

Our team of real estate experts and mystery shoppers spent weeks looking into various flat fee MLS listing companies to find the best ones in Illinois. In coming up with our rankings, we considered price and the range of services offered as the most important factors. However, we also took into account other considerations, like the size of the company’s service area, customer service, and customer reviews. We update our real estate reviews on a regular basis to ensure they’re providing you with the most up-to-date information.

More ways to save on realtor fees

Top 10 Low Commission Real Estate Companies: The best way to save money on realtor fees without sacrificing hands-on support is by working with a low commission real estate brokerage. Here’s our guide to the best companies near you.

Negotiating Realtor Fees: 5 Tips to Lower Commission: One way to save money when you sell your home is to negotiate a lower fee with your agent. But is it possible to lower your commission significantly? Here are the best ways to approach this conversation (and pay lower fees!).

Clever Real Estate Reviews: Clever is a real estate brokerage that charges a low 1.5% listing fee in exchange for full service and support from a traditional realtor in your area. Learn more about how Clever stacks up against its competitors.

More Illinois home selling guides

Top 5 We Buy Houses for Cash Companies in Illinois: Working with a We Buy Houses company is a popular way to sell your home in a matter of days. In this guide, you’ll learn which companies to choose (and which to avoid) in Illinois.

Average Real Estate Commission in Illinois: All sellers are responsible for paying real estate commission when they sell a home, but how much can the average homeowner in Illinois expect to pay? Find out in this in-depth guide!

How to Sell a House Without a Realtor in Illinois: If you’re thinking of selling your Illinois home for sale by owner (FSBO), read this first. We’ll help you determine which pitfalls to avoid and how much you can expect to save as an Illinois FSBO seller.

Cost to Sell a House in Illinois: Real estate commission fees are usually the largest expense when you sell your home, but they’re not the only fees you have to budget for as a home seller. In this article, we break down the most common expenses for Illinois home sellers.