Help-U-Sell Review 2024

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  Written by Jessica Johansen

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  Edited by Ashley Simon

Key takeaway: Help-U-Sell is a franchise real estate broker that helps people buy and sell homes. It advertises full service for a discounted commission rate, but the localized fee structure means savings vary widely, and the company encourages sellers to do a lot of the work. For these reasons, Help-U-Sell didn’t make our list of top low commission companies.

The company has positive reviews overall, and could potentially save you money on realtor fees. However, how much you’ll save (and the kind of experience you’ll have) heavily depends on the specific location and agent you work with.

We think Help-U-Sell could be a solid option if you can work with a good franchise and agent. However, we also think most people will likely be better served by one of Help-U-Sell’s competitors, such as Clever Real Estate or Ideal Agent.

💰 Ready to save thousands on commissions? Get connected with top-rated local agents and enjoy the benefits of expert service at a discounted rate.

Help-U-Sell vs. top alternatives

Help-U-Sell has the potential to be cheaper than a traditional realtor, but its fees are sometimes higher than those of competitors like Clever Real Estate, Ideal Agent, and Redfin. 

Depending on your situation and priorities, you may find another low commission real estate company in your area that offers better savings and service quality.

Help-U-Sell reviews: What customers say

Site	Rating
Google*	4.8/5 (473 reviews)
Yelp	3.7/5 (3 reviews)
Weighted average	4.7/5 (476 reviews)
*Aggregate rating across ~20 franchise locations

We analyzed reviews from about 20 locations and noted themes from the past year. Almost all the negative reviews were from several years ago, and the few recent ones we found were about issues with particular realtors, rather than the company as a whole.

Most reviewers were happy with their agents. They mentioned how their agents were professional, knowledgeable, responsive, and effective at easing their stress.

Remember that Help-U-Sell is a franchise, so its fees, service quality, and overall value will vary considerably between locations. Reading Help-U-Sell reviews for your local office is a good way to see if the company fits your situation.

Here are some of the most common positive and negative themes from Help-U-Sell reviews.

Help-U-Sell: Pros and Cons

✅ Pros: Great communication, high-quality agents  

Great communication

The real estate market can move swiftly, so it’s important to have an agent who responds promptly. Good communication from an agent also makes it much easier to navigate a complicated process.

This reviewer highlighted how consistent and helpful their agent’s communication was:

[Our agent] was very knowledgeable, helpful and available in helping us to complete the purchase of our house. Every call, text or email we made was responded to quickly and every question was answered to our complete satisfaction. We highly recommend his services to anyone seeking to sell a home or to buy one.

— Cleve M., Jan. 2024, Google, ★★★★★

High-quality agents

Many positive reviews focus on specific agents who performed well for their clients. Customers frequently praised their agents’ knowledge, professionalism, and dedication.

Jennifer did an amazing job from start to finish selling our home. She was always easy to reach and very responsive. We felt we could trust her completely, and we were able to relax knowing that she truly had our best interests at heart.

— Wendy M., March. 2024, Google, ★★★★★

[Agent] was very knowledgeable, helpful, and available to help us complete the purchase of our house. Every call, text, or email we made was responded to quickly, and every question was answered to our complete satisfaction. We highly recommend his services to anyone seeking to sell a home or to buy one.

— Cleve M., Winter 2024, Google, ★★★★★

❌ Cons: A few poor realtor experiences

We found only a few recent complaints against Help-U-Sell. The negative reviews mentioned problems with specific realtors. This brings up one of the best pieces of advice we can offer: Make sure you vet agents before hiring one.

Help-U-Sell requires its agents to have an active real estate license and membership in the National Association of Realtors, but we don’t see any requirements beyond that. If you’re considering a Help-U-Sell realtor, you must vet them yourself.

» LEARN: How to choose the right real estate agent

Some companies, like Clever and Ideal Agent, screen agents for you. For example, Clever looks at an agent’s years of experience, recent transaction history, and customer reviews before letting the agent into its network. Clever connects you only with top agents in your area.

Ready to find top agents? Compare pre-screened local agents with Real Estate Witch today!

How Help-U-Sell works

What to expect as a seller

Help-U-Sell advertises cheap listing fees, then offsets those discounted rates by requiring its agents to manage more customers than traditional realtors.

The company’s listing packages vary between locations, but most of its franchises offer the same services as a traditional brokerage. You can also choose to find a buyer yourself and then have the company step in to support you through closing.

Help-U-Sell’s approach could translate into real estate commission savings, but it also creates potential service quality compromises that make this company a riskier option than many of its newer, tech-forward competitors.

What to expect as a buyer

You can use a Help-U-Sell buyer’s agent to purchase a home. Your agent will provide full service like a traditional agent.

In some locations, the company offers home buyer rebates. If you qualify, you can get part of the buyer’s agent commission (BAC) back as a credit or cash. For example, a San Francisco office offers 25% of the BAC back. These rebates can help offset closing costs and other up-front expenses when buying a home.

Several of Help-U-Sell’s competitors offer buyer rebates in every state where it’s legal.

How much can I save with Help-U-Sell?

Help-U-Sell’s listing fee	Varies by location
Nationwide average listing fee	2.83% of home sale price
Amount saved with Help-U-Sell	Unclear

The amount you can save with Help-U-Sell depends on your location and your home’s sale price. Each Help-U-Sell office sets its own commission rates, but many local websites aren’t clear about the listing fees they charge. You’ll need to call your local Help-U-Sell office to verify its rates.

We researched fees for several franchise locations. Some offices charge a single flat rate around $3,000-4,000, while others charge on a sliding scale based on the price of your home.

Example: Listing fees at an Arizona office

Some of the rates provide little to no savings. For example, a Help-U-Sell in Tucson, Arizona, charges $4,950 for a $100,000 home sale. That’s effectively a 4.9% listing fee — way more than you’d pay with a traditional agent!

The Tucson office also charges $5,950 for a $300,000 home, which is about a 2% listing fee (close to the national average commission rate of 2.83%). And it charges $8,950 for a $600,000 home, which is 1.5%. That rate is actually in line with the rates that top discount brokers offer.

💰 Want to pay less in realtor fees? Use our free agent finding tool to connect with local realtors who charge a 1.5% listing fee (half the usual rate)

Help-U-Sell service breakdown 

Help-U-Sell’s services vary by location, but the company advertises two main selling options. You can market your home or get full service from start to finish. If you choose the full-service route, you’ll generally get the following support:

• Comparative market analysis (CMA)
• Pricing advice
• Professional photography or referral to a photographer
• MLS listing and listing description
• For-sale lawn sign and lockbox for buyer’s agents
• Guidance during due diligence (inspections, appraisals, financing)
• Assistance with evaluating offers and negotiating terms (as needed)
• Support through closing

Before you sign a contract, verify which services your agent will provide. Ask about any specific services you want, like open houses or a 3D house tour. Also, check the agent’s customer reviews to see if past customers received enough support throughout their transactions.

Help-U-Sell company history

Back in the 1980s and 1990s, realtor fees often cost as much as 7% of a home’s sale price. Help-U-Sell’s founder, Don Taylor, believed that by advertising commission savings, he would attract enough customers to turn a profit — despite earning less money on individual sales.

The business model was incredibly successful at the outset. Help-U-Sell began franchising in the 1980s. By 2007, it boasted approximately 1,000 locations, making it the fastest-growing real estate franchise in the US.^2,SourceStefan Swanepoel, 'Swanepoel Trends Report 2007: Top 10 Real Estate Trends,' 2006, https://books.google.com/books?id=onZqB-7m0WQC&lpg=PA115&pg=PA115#v=onepage&q&f=false³SourceInman, 'Help-U-Sell on pace for 1,000 franchises this year,' July 20, 2005, https://www.inman.com/2005/07/20/help-u-sell-pace-1000-franchises-this-year/

However, like longtime competitor Assist-2-Sell, Help-U-Sell struggled to recover from the US housing market crash. Its parent company declared bankruptcy in 2008,⁴SourceInman, Glenn Roberts Jr., 'Help-U-Sell franchiser files for bankruptcy,' Aug. 15, 2008, https://www.inman.com/2008/08/15/help-u-sell-franchiser-files-bankruptcy/ and while the Help-U-Sell brand survived under new management, it lost many franchise locations.

Increased competition from a new generation of discount real estate services — led by low commission companies like Clever Real Estate and Redfin — only accelerated Help-U-Sell’s decline. Today, it has fewer than 80 US offices, over 90% less than it had in 2007.

The company frequently appears on “cheapest franchises to buy” lists.⁵SourceUpflip, Brandon Boushy, '31 Best Low-Cost Franchise Opportunities (For 2024),' Mar. 2023, https://www.upflip.com/blog/low-cost-franchises Owners pay Help-U-Sell an initial $17,750 for the right to use the company’s branding and trademarks, plus 6% of their gross revenue as an ongoing royalty fee.

Bottom line: Should I use Help-U-Sell?

Most people will generally find better value with a different discount broker than Help-U-Sell.

We recommend using Help-U-Sell only if you know and like the agent who works in your area, or if none of the top national discount brokers are available near you.

If you want to try Help-U-Sell, interview the agent you’d be working with before you sign anything. Ensure that the agent is upfront with you over the phone about their pricing, that they have good customer reviews, and that they have a solid track record of selling homes in your area.

We advise interviewing at least 2–3 agents to ensure you find the best fit for your situation.

Methodology

The Real Estate Witch team evaluated Help-U-Sell on various factors, including potential savings, online reviews, customer service, and agent quality. We also considered how it compares to the competition. We aim to help you make the most informed decision possible about whether Help-U-Sell is right for your next real estate transaction.

Our low-commission real estate brokerage rankings are based on three key criteria:

• Cost and savings. We compared Help-U-Sell’s pricing model to top competitors and average prices across the US, including the average listing fee, minimum fees, and any buyer incentives offered.
• Customer service. We performed an in-depth analysis of Help-U-Sell’s customer reviews across review sites. We broke down the sentiment of reviews, looking at themes around agent responsiveness, expertise, and meeting customer expectations.
• Ease of use. We evaluated how efficient it is for customers to find, compare, and select an agent through Help-U-Sell, evaluating their agent network size, technical platforms, communication methods, and post-transaction support.

Related reading

Looking to sell your house without breaking the bank? Read on to learn about alternatives to Help-U-Sell, as well as how to find the right low commission company for your situation.

What Companies Offer the Lowest Real Estate Commission Fees? Help-U-Sell’s listing fees are cheap, but how do they stack up against the competition? Find out which discount service charges the lowest commission rates.

Assist-2-Sell Reviews: Learn the Good and the Bad: Assist-2-Sell is a discount real estate franchise that offers many of the same advantages — and built-in risks — as Help-U-Sell. Read reviews from real Assist-2-Sell customers to learn the truth about this company.

Discount Real Estate Brokers and Agents: Everything You Need to Know: Curious about how discount brokers like Help-U-Sell work? Learn more about how these services create savings, how they’re different from conventional realtors, and how to decide which one is best for you.

Clever Real Estate: Must-See Reviews: Whether you’re buying or selling, Clever can help you find top-rated realtors in your area. Learn how its free agent matching service can help you find full-service agents who charge just 1.5%.

Sources

1. National Association of Realtors, “2023 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report.”
2. Stefan Swanepoel, “Swanepoel Trends Report 2007: Top 10 Real Estate Trends,” 2006.
3. Inman, “Help-U-Sell on pace for 1,000 franchises this year,” July 20, 2005.
4. Inman, Glenn Roberts Jr., “Help-U-Sell franchiser files for bankruptcy,” Aug. 15, 2008.
5. Upflip, Brandon Boushy, “31 Best Low-Cost Franchise Opportunities (For 2024),” Mar. 2023.