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Top Wisconsin flat fee MLS companies | Best for sellers who need help with pricing | Best for sellers looking for low fees | Best for sellers who need more support | Alternatives | Frequently asked questions
If you’re considering selling your home without a realtor, be prepared to handle all the tasks an agent would normally do. Marketing your home is one of the most important tasks, and an effective marketing campaign begins with listing your home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
Real estate agents search local MLS databases, and they’re used to populate most home search websites. You can’t just put your home into the MLS database on your own — only licensed realtors have access to it. Luckily, by using a flat fee MLS company, you can still get your property listed.
Flat fee MLS services are much cheaper than a traditional agent’s commission. While a Wisconsin home seller typically pays a 6% commission split between a buyer’s agent and a listing agent, a flat fee MLS allows you to eliminate the listing agent’s fee.
You should also know the quality of flat fee MLS companies can vary.
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 Wisconsin 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.
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Who are Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin flat fee MLS listing companies
Check out three of the best flat fee MLS companies in Wisconsin to find one that could work for you.
Top Flat Fee MLS Companies in Wisconsin
🥇 Madcity Homes: Best for sellers who need help with pricing
🥈 SconsinSells.com: Best for sellers looking for low fees
🥉 Madison Flat Fee Homes: Best for sellers who need more support
Madcity Homes | SconsinSells.com | Madison Flat Fee | |
---|---|---|---|
Price | $500 | $299-599 | $450 at listing + $1,550 at closing |
Number of Photos | Max allowed | 25-35 | 36 |
MLS Listing | 6 months | 3-12 months | 12 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!
🥇 Madcity Homes: Best for sellers who need help with pricing
Madcity Homes was founded in 2002, and provides top-notch customer service and professional advice for sellers in the Madison area. While the price of their services is higher than what some competitors charge, it includes pricing support and professional pictures — both of which can be instrumental in helping you quickly find a buyer.
Reviewers praised the company for being responsive, keeping listings updated, and walking them through the sales process. They have been featured in the New York Times, The Wisconsin State Journal, and other outlets, and have several million dollars in sales every year, so it’s clear Madcity Homes are experts in their local market.
Madcity Homes’ packages
Package | Price | Professional Recommendation |
---|---|---|
Flat Fee MLS | $500 | This package gets you many of the same services offered by other companies, but professional photos are a nice bonus. Their assistance with pricing and printable property data sheets are good for first time sellers or those with limited real estate experience. |
Other Considerations about Madcity Homes
- For an additional $2,500 paid at closing, you’ll receive full support from a broker, including buyer negotiations and offer reviews. You’ll also have access to ShowingTime, which makes it easy to schedule viewings. Unfortunately, the price is higher than competitors charge for the additional assistance and you’re likely better off with a full service agent.
- Yard sign rentals are only available in Dane County.
- You must offer either 2%, 2.5%, or 3% commission to a buyer’s agent, but if you find your own buyer who doesn’t have an agent, you pay nothing.
🥈 SconsinSells.com: Best for sellers looking for low fees
SconsinSells.com is a division of Standard Real Estate Services, LLC, which was established in 2006. They are one of the original low fee listing companies in Wisconsin, and their goal is to keep costs low by using technology to minimize time and expenses.
Reviews for SconsinSells.com show that most of their past clients felt the broker helped make their home sale simple and fast. The low fees may prompt sellers to overlook some problems described in past reviews, including slow listing updates — especially as the broker responded and said they had put administrative changes in place to resolve the issues.
SconsinSells.com’s packages
Package | Price | Professional Recommendation |
---|---|---|
Silver | $299 | With only a three month listing contract and no pricing support, this package is best in hot markets where you expect to sell fast and have multiple offers. If your market is a little slower, you might need more time or a little more support to get your listing just right. |
Gold | $599 | This package comes with a yard sign and lockbox, but more importantly, offers help with buyer leads, seller forms, docusign contracts, and general advice and guidance along the way. It’s not a full service agent, but pretty close, which makes this a great option for sellers who want to save money but still have an expert in their corner. |
Other Considerations about SconsinSells.com
- You have a choice of what commission to offer the buyer’s agent.
- SconsinSells.com also offers a platinum package. You’ll have a full service agent help you sell your home for no fee up front and a 1% commission at closing. They recommend you offer a 2% commission to the buyer’s agent with this package.
- Unlike the other two companies on this list, SconsinSells.com covers the entire state of Wisconsin.
🥉 Madison Flat Fee Homes: Best for sellers who need more support
Madison Flat Fee Homes is available only in Dane, Columbia, Sauk, Green, Rock, Jefferson, and Dodge Counties. If your home is in these areas, the company’s owner/broker Noelle Stevens can offer affordable support throughout your real estate transaction.
Reviewers describe her as professional and knowledgeable, and her flat fee MLS package includes a comprehensive array of services so you can take advantage of her expertise throughout your sale.
Madison Flat Fee Homes’ packages
Package | Price | Professional Recommendation |
---|---|---|
Flat Fee MLS | $450 to list + $1,550 at closing | Just one package is available, and while it’s more expensive than some, it will feel almost like having a full service agent. You’ll get one year on the MLS, a walk-through, professional photos, and support throughout your sale. We’d recommend it if you need help with pricing or negotiating with buyers, but if you prefer to do the work yourself it’s likely more than you need. |
Other considerations about Madison Flat Fee Homes
- If your home is more than 30 miles outside of Middleton, you’ll pay an extra $100 up front. Additionally, they only serve sellers in Dane, Columbia, Sauk, Green, Rock, Jefferson, and Dodge county.
- You’ll also pay an additional $100 fee if your home has acreage, is larger than 4,000 sq/ft, or has multiple units on the same property.
- Madison Flat Fee Homes offers a buyer rebate program.
Alternatives
If selling a house on your own sounds like too much work, don’t worry. There are alternatives to flat fee MLS companies that can still save you money while offering the benefit of a traditional real estate agent.
A discount broker can save you thousands of dollars on commission while acting as a full service agent. You’ll still have to pay 2-3% commission to your buyer’s agent, but you’ll save by paying as low as 1% to your listing agent.
» LEARN: The companies with the lowest commission fees!
Not convinced selling without an agent is right for you? If you want a full-service experience while saving money, try Real Estate Witch. Learn more about our agent-matching service and 1.5% commission savings now!
Frequently Asked Questions about Flat Fee MLS in Wisconsin
What is the best flat fee MLS listing service in Wisconsin?
If you’re in the Madison area, Madcity Homes offers a great level of service for the price. Their agents are local, know the area well, and have a large sales volume, which may also explain why they have such high reviews. But, like any flat fee MLS company, they aren’t the perfect fit for every seller, and with a limited service area, they may not even be an option. Before you choose a service, read our complete guide to flat fee MLS services to make sure you know all the pros and cons of using one.
How much do flat fee MLS services cost in Wisconsin?
The cost of flat fee MLS services in Wisconsin can vary between $299 and $2,500. In many situations, more expensive packages come with more comprehensive support during the real estate transaction process. Additional fees add up quickly, and if you don’t keep track of them, you might end up spending more than you wanted to. Budget-conscious sellers may find better overall value with a discount company that provides the support of a full service agent for a cheaper fee. Find the best low commission real estate companies near you.
Are flat fee MLS companies in Wisconsin worth it?
The flat fee MLS companies in Wisconsin offer a variety of services and price points, but none of them offer a winning combination of both. You’ll likely end up with either barebones service that requires add-ons to get the support you need, or pay a fee almost as big as the commission you would pay a full service agent. Homes that are listed without an agent often sell for less, so in this case, it might be worth looking for a 1% commission realtor that can help you.
How do I tell if a flat fee MLS company is legit?
Most of the problems that home sellers report with flat fee MLS services center on unexpected fees or inadequate services. Read the fine print in your contract with the flat fee MLS company to make sure there are no surprise costs.
It’s also a smart idea to read past reviews to determine if the flat fee MLS company provided the promised services and was responsive to client needs. Remember: any package that seems too good to be true probably is.
Do you need to pay a buyer’s agent commission with a flat fee MLS?
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.
Are seller disclosures required in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin requires you to complete a Real Estate Condition Report, which provides details on how long you have lived in the home and what defects, if any, you are aware of. You’re also required by federal law to disclose the presence of lead paint if the home was built prior to 1978.
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