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May 13, 2021 by Thomas O'Shaughnessy Leave a Comment

The 3 Best Flat-Fee MLS Companies in Michigan

Michigan home

Top Michigan Flat-Fee MLS Companies | Best for Pricing Support | Best for Rock Bottom Pricing | Best for Hard-to-Sell Homes | Other Alternatives | Frequently Asked Questions

Michigan home sellers typically pay a 6% commission split between the buyer’s and seller’s agents. To save the 3% you’d pay to a listing agent, you could sell your home without a realtor. 

This would mean you’d be responsible for marketing your property. That generally involves listing it on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is the largest local database of homes for sale.

If you aren’t listed on the MLS, you’d miss out on most potential buyers because agents use the MLS to find homes for clients and home search websites obtain data from the MLS. The good news is, it’s easy to get your home in the database by using a flat-fee MLS service.

Flat-fee MLS services vary in price and quality, but are all much less expensive than the traditional 3% fee you’d pay a listing agent. Here are three of the top flat-fee MLS services in Michigan that can help you to list your property for an affordable price.

Worried about selling your home without professional help? Clever can connect you with a full-service agent and save you thousands. Find out more!

Top Flat-Fee MLS Companies in Michigan

🥇 The Flat Fee Pros: Best for pricing support

🥈 Kermath Realty: Best for rock-bottom pricing

🥉 Modern Way Realty: Best for hard-to-sell properties

💰 Service is an additional cost or not included in the basic package
The Flat Fee ProsKermath RealtyModern Way Realty
Price$349-$1,499$299-$1,299$395-$695
Number of Photos15-506-5025
MLS Listing3 months to Until Sold6 months to Until Sold12 months
Pricing Assistance💰💰💰
Negotiation Support💰💰💰
Yard Sign✅✅💰
Open Houses✅💰💰

Not seeing a local company you like? Check out the best nationwide flat-fee MLS companies!

🥇 The Flat Fee Pros: Best for pricing support

Pros: Most packages to choose from; Affordable pricing assistance
Cons: Additional closing fees with some packages

When you need help pricing your property, you’ll appreciate the comparative sales analysis that The Flat Fee Pros include with most packages. You can also count on top-notch support if you opt for one of their upgraded packages offering broker assistance. This Michigan-based service is operated by agents with decades of combined experience.

The Flat Fee Pros’ packages

PackagePriceProfessional Recommendation
Basic$349While affordable, this entry-level package doesn’t provide the best value for most sellers. It allows your property to stay on the market for just 3 months and you won’t get pricing support from a comparable market analysis.
Broze$399+0.5% at closing The Bronze package is an affordable upgrade well worth paying for. You double your listing time on the MLS compared with the Basic package; get 10 additional pictures; and receive an analysis of comparable sales. The downside is, you’ll pay an additional fee at closing of 0.5% (max of $1,000).
Silver$749In addition to more photos, this package adds in negotiation assistance. If you’d prefer extra help during one of the most complicated parts of your transaction, upgrading to Silver may be worth the extra expense — especially as there’s no fee owed at closing with this package.
Gold$999The only big difference between this package and the less expensive one is that it includes digital signatures. Considering the difference in price, this may not be worth it to most sellers.
Ultimate$1,499While it's more expensive, this package offers some additional marketing help (drone footage and an open house) and lasts for 12 months. If you've got a hard-to-sell house, this is a great option, but most sellers can get by with more affordable options.

Other considerations about The Flat Fee Pros

  • A la carte services like virtual reality tours can be added to packages

Pricing your home is one of the hardest parts of selling without a realtor. No matter what other services you need, The Flat Fee Pros include a CMA with almost every package.


🥈 Kermath Realty: Best for rock-bottom pricing

Pros: Most affordable options; highly reviewed
Cons: Costly pricing support

Kermath Realty has earned positive reviews from former sellers. Clients describe the owner, Jeff Kermath, as responsive with many praising the comprehensive support he provided. 

However, some of the most important services like pricing support or negotiation assistance are only available with the more expensive packages.

Kermath Realty’s packages

PackagePriceProfessional Recommendation
Bronze$299Although this service is especially affordable, it comes with just six photographs, lasts 6 months, and doesn't include pricing support. It's a great deal for experienced sellers, but might not be enough assistance for everyone else.
Silver$399With this package, you’ll double your time on the MLS, be eligible to post up to 35 photos, and gain access to ShowingTime (an app that makes scheduling viewings easy and automatic).
Gold$998Unlimited open house announcements, pricing assistance, phone and email support, and negotiating help are all included with this package. The price is a bargain due to the hands-on help you receive, and is the best choice for most sellers who want assistance handling some of the more complex aspects of their transaction.
Platinum$1,298The only difference between this package and the Gold one is professional photos. Unless you have an unconventional home that needs professional photos to stand out, this package might not be worth it.

Other considerations about Kermath Realty

  • Recommends a buyer’s agent commission of 3%

If you want to save as much money as possible, Kermath Realty offers an affordable package that will support most of your selling needs.


🥉 Modern Way Realty: Best for hard-to-sell properties

Pros: Highly rated; longer listing term
Cons: Costly pricing assistance

Modern Way Realty is an ideal choice for hard-to-sell properties because of the long listing period, ability to showcase your home, and option to make free modifications throughout the listing process. 

Melissa Socha of Modern Way Realty can also provide the support you need to find a buyer, as she’s received numerous five-star reviews and sold more than 100 properties over the past year. Past clients were especially impressed with her knowledge and responsiveness.

Modern Way Realty’s packages

PackagePriceProfessional Recommendation
Basic$395Sellers with difficult properties will appreciate the fact this package includes 12 months on the MLS, up to 25 photos, and an unlimited number of price and status changes. Buyers also have the option to schedule showings online, which simplifies the process.
Full Service$695You’ll get pricing support through a comparative market analysis, as well as full agent support throughout your transaction. Given the price of competitors' comparable packages and the reputation of Modern Way Realty, this is a great deal.

Other considerations about Modern Way Realty

  • If you want to upgrade from the basic to full-service package, you pay the difference in price plus a $65 fee

Modern Way Realty offers a longer listing term, plenty of photos, and additional services to help you sell your unconventional house.


Alternatives to Flat-Fee MLS companies in Michigan

Flat-fee MLS sercices are not right for every home seller. If you think you’ll need more support than they can offer, you might want to consider other options. Otherwise, your house might sell for significantly less, or not at all.

Another way to save money on listing commissions is using a discount brokerage. These agents are full-service and work for a discounted rate, typically 1% to 2% (plus a buyer’s agent commission). You’ll still save money but won’t have to deal with the stress of selling your house on your own.

Want to save money selling your home, but don’t want the hassle of doing it alone? 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).

FAQs about Flat-Fee MLS Companies in Michigan

What is the best flat-fee MLS provider in Michigan?

Kermath Realty is the best flat-fee MLS provider in Michigan for experienced sellers looking for an affordable option, whereas the Flat Fee Pros is better for sellers that need additional support. Both of these companies offer tiered packages to suit most sellers’ needs, but these also have drawbacks that all flat-fee MLS companies share. To understand more about the pros and cons, look into our complete guide to flat-fee MLS services.

Are flat-fee MLS companies in Michigan worth it?

Purchasing the services of a flat-fee MLS company in Michigan such as Flat Fee Pros or Kermath Realty will allow you to list your property on the MLS. However, if you’re looking for a more cost-effective option for your time and money, then working with a 1% agent may prove to be the best option. Learn more about the best 1% commission realtors.

How much do flat-fee MLS services cost in Michigan?

The services of a flat-fee MLS company in Michigan can cost around $300 to $400 for a bare-bones package. Additional services, such as added photos and pricing assistance, will cost extra, adding over $1000 to the base price. Those that need more support but still don’t want to break the bank should consider a discount real estate company. Learn about the best low commission real estate companies near you today.

What is a flat-fee MLS company?

A flat-fee MLS service lists your property on the Multiple Listing Service, which is crucial to attracting the maximum number of buyers. MLS databases are widely used by agents and are a source of listings for home search websites.

If you're selling your home with an agent, the agent lists your property on the MLS for you. The agent also helps you through all of the other steps involved in the sale.

A flat-fee MLS service is typically used by sellers who don't hire a real estate agent. The service is much less expensive than the commission you'd pay an agent, but it doesn't provide most or any of the assistance an agent offers.

Do you need to pay a buyer’s agent commission with flat-fee MLS?

If you want the best chance to sell your property, you will need to pay a commission of 2.5% to 3% to a buyer’s agent. This is the standard fee buyers’ agents collect. If you’re not willing to pay it, they won’t have an incentive to bring clients to your home.

It’s possible to avoid commission only if you find a buyer who doesn’t have an agent. However, this is difficult to do that since buyers generally hire realtors to help them through the purchase process.

Filed Under: Sell a House Without an Agent

About Thomas O'Shaughnessy

Tommy O’Shaughnessy is the Growth Product Manager at Clever Real Estate, a real estate education platform where buyers, sellers, and investors can learn how to make smarter financial decisions.

With previous experience working in real estate education at Veteran's United — a major VA lender — Tommy is an expert in home buying and mortgages. His work has been featured by CNBC, LA Times, Yahoo Finance, and Business Insider.

Education: BA Journalism, Magna Cum Laude — University of Missouri, Columbia Journalism School

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