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Edited by Kristen Klempert
Written by Thomas O'Shaughnessy
Edited by Kristen Klempert
Top Maryland Flat-Fee MLS Companies | Best for Showcasing Your Home | Best for Rock-Bottom Pricing | Best for Inexperienced Sellers | Other Alternatives | Frequently Asked Questions
Selling a Maryland home generally involves hiring a listing agent and paying that agent a 3% commission to both your agent and the buyer’s agent.
While you can’t avoid the fee for the buyer’s agent in most situations, selling without a realtor would enable you to cut your commission costs in half. However, it makes the process more complicated since you’ll have to market the property yourself and negotiate your own price and terms.
A flat-fee MLS service can help you take care of one of the key marketing tasks involved in finding a buyer: listing your property on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
Local MLS databases are used by most agents and they serve as a source of data for popular online home search websites. You can’t put your property into the MLS yourself, but a flat-fee MLS service can do it for you if you don’t have an agent. Some flat-fee MLS companies also offer additional support for an extra cost.
If you want to avoid overpaying for realtor fees but still want hands-on support from your agent, we recommend checking out Real Estate Witch. We negotiate flat 1.5% listing fees with top Maryland 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!
Who are Maryland 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 be confident that you can handle almost every aspect of the sale that a real estate agent would typically take care of.
If you’re determined to list your house “for sale by owner,” it’s worth investing in a basic flat fee MLS listing. This ensures that as many buyers see your listing as possible.
But selling your home without a realtor is a big time and work commitment. You’ll have to handle a lot of tasks, including pricing, listing descriptions, photography, marketing, showings, and negotiations. Even though you won’t pay a traditional listing fee, it’s still typical for sellers to offer a 2—3% concession to help the buyer pay their real estate agent’s commission.
The average Maryland home seller is better off working with a flat fee real estate agent or discount realtor who charges reduced listing fees but still offers the same basic services and support as a typical realtor. You’ll still save thousands of dollars on realtor fees, but you’ll avoid the hassle and frustration of trying to sell by owner.
Top 3 Maryland flat fee MLS listing companies
Here’s what you need to know about three of the top flat-fee MLS services in Maryland.
Top Flat-Fee MLS Companies in Maryland
🥇 Cottage Street Realty: Best for showcasing your home
🥈 DNK Real Estate: Best for rock-bottom pricing
🥉 Mr. Lister Realty: Best for inexperienced sellers
| Cottage Street Realty | DNK Real Estate | Mr. Lister Realty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $299-$999 | $249-$799 | $450-$650 |
| Number of Photos | Max Allowed | 6-25 | 20-30 |
| MLS Listing | 6 months to Until Sold | 6 months | 12 months |
| Pricing Assistance | 💰 | 💰 | ❌ |
| Negotiation Support | 💰 | ❌ | ❌ |
| Yard Sign | 💰 | 💰 | 💰 |
| Open Houses | ❌ | ❌ | 💰 |
Not seeing a company you like? Check out the best nationwide flat-fee MLS companies!
🥇 Cottage Street Realty: Best for showcasing your home
Cottage Street Realty will provide the help you need to get your home sold, with past reviews praising the company’s responsiveness, speed, and knowledge of the Maryland real estate market.
Sellers who want to show off all their property’s best features will appreciate that all of the company’s packages include the maximum number of photos allowed by the MLS. And those who want a little more help during the process may find the company’s upgraded package to be well-worth paying for since negotiation help is available at an affordable fee.
Cottage Street Realty’s packages
| Package | Price | Professional Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $299 | This is an extremely affordable option that will get you up to 150 photos. However, it's only for six months, so it may not be the right choice in a slow market. |
| Showcase | $399 | For an extra $100, you'll get a lockbox, yard sign, and showing scheduling and feedback services, which can be helpful for less experienced sellers. |
| Premium | $799 | This package includes contract review and a market analysis. But considering the difference in price, inexperienced sellers would be better off going for the Supreme option. |
| Supreme | $999 | Including everything in the other packages, this one also includes negotiation services. If you aren’t comfortable dealing with a buyer directly, this is a major benefit. |
Other considerations about Cottage Street Realty
- Yards signs have an extra shipping cost
🥈 DNK Real Estate: Best for rock-bottom pricing
DNK Real Estate provides an affordable way to list your home. There are also plenty of add-on services you can buy (virtual tours, comparative market analysis, yard signs, etc.) so you can get everything you need without overpaying.
Unfortunately, it can take two to three business days to list your property. If you’re in a hurry to get your home on the market right away, you’ll need to pay $100 for DNK Real Estate’s expedited service or choose another company.
DNK Real Estate’s packages
| Package | Price | Professional Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Flat Fee MLS | $249 | This $249 package includes just 6 photos, which may not be enough to attract the attention of most buyers. Additional pictures cost $10 each, or up to $175 for 25 extra photos. Virtual tours can also be added for $250. Although paying for these upgrades improves your chances of finding a buyer, you’ll miss out on the rock-bottom pricing that’s one of DNK’s best features. |
| Deluxe Flat Fee MLS | $499 | The Deluxe Flat Fee service includes 15 pictures as well as a report on comparable sales to help you accurately price your property. The cost is considerably higher at $499 but may be worth paying due to the pricing help. |
| Premium Flat Fee MLS | $799 | For $799, you’ll upgrade to 25 photos as well as receive printable flyers and a yard sign. We recommend the less expensive package and paying separately for the extra pictures will likely be the better deal. |
Other Considerations about DNK Real Estate
- Services are non-refundable
- A 1% full-service listing package is available but requires a $2,000 non-refundable fee
- Changes cost $25 each
🥉 Mr. Lister Realty: Best for inexperienced sellers
Unlike many competitors, Mr. Lister Realty offers unlimited support from an agent at all package levels. Inexperienced sellers who take advantage of this will benefit from professional, knowledgeable advice.
Mr. Lister Realty also doesn’t force you to pay extra to include a reasonable number of pictures with your listing, which means you can better show off your property to potential buyers.
Mr. Lister Realty’s packages
| Package | Price | Professional Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Quick List | $450 | You’ll be able to list your property for a full year and include 20 pictures. If you suspect your home will take longer to sell, this is an especially affordable option for sellers who don’t want to pay repeat fees. Broker support is also part of this package. |
| Sellers Choice | $650 | For $200 more, you'll get 10 more photos, as well as two free listing changes, a blank sales contract, a yard sign, and two free open house announcements. Unless you need the extra pictures or expect to modify your listing, the extra fee may not be worth paying. |
Other considerations about Mr. Lister Realty
- The company’s chief executive officer has more than 52 years of real estate experience
Alternatives to flat-fee MLS companies in Maryland
Flat-fee MLS companies are not the only way to save money when listing your home. You could sell your home faster and for money with a discount agent.
These are full-service real estate agents who offer their expertise for a lower listing commission, typically 1.5-2%. You’ll still be responsible for paying a competitive buyer’s agent commission, but working with a discount agent can save you thousands.
If you want to learn more about your home selling options, try Real Estate Witch. Learn more about our agent-matching service and 1.5% commission savings now!
FAQs about flat-fee MLS companies in Maryland
What is the best flat-fee MLS provider in Maryland?
One of the best flat-fee MLS companies in Maryland is Cottage Street Realty because of its affordable service packages and the number of reviews it provides. While it does provide a bit more support than your average provider, it does have some downsides that are common to such services. Read our complete guide to flat-fee MLS services to learn more.
Are flat-fee MLS companies in Maryland worth it?
Yes, working with a flat-fee MLS company such as DNK Real Estate will be worth it if you’re simply looking to get your Maryland property advertised on the MLS. However, those looking to get the most profit from their sale might be disappointed to find that FSBO properties often net less at closing — which is why many choose to work with a 1% agent instead. Learn about the best 1% commission realtors near you today.
How much do flat-fee MLS services cost in Maryland?
Flat-fee MLS services typically cost around $300 to $500, depending on the providers. Basic plans may be as affordable as $250, whereas more complex packages can go as high as $1,000. However, those looking for a full-service package that's still on the affordable side can find better value in working with a discount real estate company. Find out about the best low commission real estate companies near you.
What is a flat-fee MLS company?
A flat-fee MLS company helps home sellers without an agent list their properties on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
The MLS is a comprehensive local database of properties currently for sale. Agents typically list properties on the MLS for clients, and the data from the MLS is used by home search websites to compile listings for buyers.
Home sellers who aren’t represented by a listing agent need to work with a flat-fee MLS service so their property will be included in this database and seen by the widest pool of potential buyers. Flat-fee MLS services charge a low flat fee to sellers to list their properties, but sellers are left handling most of the transaction on their own unless they opt for upgraded services.
How do I tell if a flat-fee MLS company is legit?
A flat-fee MLS company is legitimate if it provides the promised services at the advertised price.
To make sure you’ll pay only the price you expect and not any hidden fees, check the fine print of your contract with the flat-fee MLS company. If you notice unexpected costs, that’s a major red flag.
To assess whether the company provides the promised services, read past reviews from other clients. If there are repeated complaints about any aspects of the transaction, chances are good you’ll face similar issues.
Do I need to pay a buyer's agent commission with a flat fee MLS company?
Buyer's agents negotiate their fees with the buyer. However, it's common for home sellers to offer a concession of 2—3% to help the buyer cover their agent's fee. You can offer this concession voluntarily, or the buyer may request it.
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