Ideal Agent: Is It A Good Way to Find a Realtor?

Key takeaway: Ideal Agent is a nationwide agent matching service that connects home sellers with top-performing agents from major brokerages like Keller Williams, eXp, and RE/MAX. The platform offers full-service support at a reduced commission rate of 2%, compared to the 2.5–3% most agents charge.

Ideal Agent boasts a strong reputation, with an average 5-star rating across platforms like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau. Customers frequently praise the professionalism and expertise of the agents they're matched with, which the company claims it recruits from the top 1% of agents nationwide.

However, Ideal Agent's 2% fee structure, limited network size, and lack of savings for home buyers may not make it the best option for everyone.

Before signing with Ideal Agent, we recommend comparing it with other low commission options that might offer a wider agent selection for similar or better savings.

💰 Find the best agent, at the best rate: Get matched with top local agents offering a 1.5% listing fee through Clever Real Estate. Compare agents side-by-side to choose the best fit — with no added fees or obligation to move forward.

Ideal Agent at a glance

Who Ideal Agent works best for

Ideal Agent works best for sellers who want an experienced real estate agent at a good value.

Pros of using Ideal Agent include:

• Vetted agents. Ideal Agent has strict selection criteria, claiming to work with only the top 1% of agents nationwide.
• Full service. Ideal Agent provides comprehensive listing services, from pricing advice to handling closing paperwork.
• Outstanding customer ratings. Ideal Agent enjoys a 5-star rating across thousands of customer reviews on third-party platforms like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau.

Ideal Agent may not be the best choice for buyers or sellers who are primarily focused on commissions savings or want to compare a variety of agents before making a hiring decision.

Potential cons of using Ideal Agent include:

• Limited savings. While lower than the average commission rate, Ideal Agent's 2% listing fee is still higher than what many other discount brokers offer.
• Small agent network. Ideal Agent has a relatively small network of around 2,000 agents, which can restrict local options, especially in less populated areas. As a result, clients may not always be matched with someone who's familiar with their area. This is important, since finding a buyer often relies on networking with other local agents.
• Not much value for buyers. Ideal Agent caters specifically to home sellers and doesn't provide a sign up option for buyers.

Remember that Ideal Agent isn’t the only option for finding a great realtor at a lower rate. Several competitors offer even lower commission rates and a broader selection of vetted agents.

Ideal Agent vs. competitors

Ideal Agent has plenty going for it, especially discounts for sellers and high-quality real estate agents. But it doesn’t particularly stand out among similar low commission companies.

Some alternative brands offer equally good agents, plus:

• Bigger discounts for sellers
• Incentives for buyers
• More agents to choose from, especially outside of major cities

Requesting an agent through any of these companies is fast, free, and without obligation. So there's no harm in comparing agents from multiple platforms to find the best fit in terms of rates, experience, and services provided.

Ideal Agent vs. Clever Real Estate

While both Clever and Ideal Agent connect you with great agents, Clever has a better overall value proposition.

Clever pre-negotiates listing fees at just 1.5% (compared with Ideal Agent’s 2%). And unlike Ideal Agent, Clever provides up to $500 in cash back for home buyers.

Clever also gives you multiple agent matches to compare from its network of over 14,000 agents, while Ideal Agent matches you with just one agent at a time.

Ideal Agent vs. HomeLight

Ideal Agent operates with around 2,000 agents, while HomeLight has 70,000. Although HomeLight’s larger network offers more options, it lacks a robust screening process, raising concerns about agent quality.

HomeLight also doesn’t offer commission savings, unlike Clever and Ideal Agent.

Ideal Agent vs. Redfin

Ideal Agent connect sellers with high-quality, full-service agents and negotiates discounted listing fees for sellers at 2% (compared with the industry average of 2.83%).

Meanwhile, Redfin charges 1.5% and provides a 0.5% refund for clients who both buy and sell with them. However, you may deal with multiple agents who are stretched thin, compared with a single concierge and a single agent.

Ideal Agent vs. UpNest

Ideal Agent and UpNest both provide agent matching services. Ideal Agent assigns clients with one of around 2,000 agents and offers a standard listing fee of 2%. Meanwhile, UpNest relies on agents competing for your business, so you’ll hear from — and negotiates with — agents directly, resulting in an average fee of about 2.2%.

Selling a house is high-stakes, complex, and stressful. We recommend interviewing at least two — ideally three — agents to ensure you choose the best person for the job. Ideal Agent and Clever are free to use with no obligation, so there’s no risk in seeing how the agents and savings stack up!

Ideal Agent reviews: What customers say

🟢 Primary positive themes Hands-on support (43% of reviews) Professional service (40%) Easy process (33%) Sells fast (32%) Prompt communication (30%)

Ideal Agent has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers. Common praise highlights the professionalism and expertise of the agents, as well as the personalized service provided by the concierge team during the matching process. Many customers report smooth transactions and quick home sales.

A few scattered reviews mention a lack of local market knowledge on the part of the agent, but these complaints represent fewer than 1% of Ideal Agent reviews.

🟢 Primary themes from Ideal Agent reviews  

Hands-on support (43% of reviews). Customers frequently praise the hands-on support they receive from their agents, who are described as knowledgeable, attentive, and effective in navigating complex real estate sales — including remote transactions and other unique situations.

• "She helped me stage my home, helped me with some minor repairs/enhancements to my home, answered all my numerous questions, helped me negotiate offers, walked me through my closing documents, and advised me on so many things!"
• "Her willingness to gather details and references for me went above and beyond since I was not living in the area my home was being sold."
• "He adjusted his schedule to be at the property at a specific time for a meeting with a third party, and provided other helpful assistance above and beyond what would be expected."
• "Amanda even went to the house a couple of times for us to check on the heaters during a really cold spell."
• "He was very helpful in handling some items at town hall, that would normally fall on the seller."

Professional service (40% of reviews). Reviews consistently highlight agents' high level of professionalism, with frequent mentions of both technical competence and interpersonal skills.

• "Everyone involved in our transaction was professional, honest, motivated and above all treated this transaction as though it was the only one they were dealing with."
• "She was extremely professional, with a very personal touch."
• "From our first meeting until closing he and his staff provided superior service."
• "Professional, yet very Real."
• "The professionalism and personalized attention we received truly set them apart."

Easy process (33% of reviews). Customers also appreciate how easy Ideal Agent makes the home-selling process. Many sellers note the minimal effort required on their part, with agents handling complexities and potential stressors.

• "The entire process was smooth and seamless and we never stressed over anything the whole time."
• "The entire process from onboarding to handing over keys to the new home owners was hassle-free."
• "Everything was easy, streamlined and seamless."
• "Just by following their simple instructions and putting our honest effort into the process."
• "A complete seamless transaction from start to finish that included a reduced commission fee."

Sells fast (32% of reviews). Many reviews highlight agents' ability to price homes competitively and secure quick sales. Multiple reviews highlight properties selling within days of listing, often above asking price.

• "While we knew things were hot we never expected over 8 offers in 24 hours and a firm offer on the table and signed in 36 hours."
• "We had multiple showings scheduled within 30 minutes of going live. Our home closed in two weeks above asking."
• "Listed and sold our home in 3 days!!…with multiple bids, higher than the asking price."
• "The house listed on March 11, received 10 offers on March 15, signed a contract on March 16 and closed on March 25."
• "Getting double digit offers within 72 hours left me both happy and impressed."

Prompt communication (30% of reviews). Reviews consistently highlight agents' exceptional responsiveness and proactive communication throughout the selling process, with emphasis on quick response times to calls/texts/emails and regular status updates.

• "Communication was top-notch, keeping us informed at every step."
• "He stayed in contact with us throughout the whole process. Days, nights, and weekends."
• "Great communication from start to finish. Agent was on point the entire time."
• "They were fantastic at responses and followed up at every point!"
• "He responds to texts immediately and always makes himself available."

Ideal Agent realtor reviews

There are limited reviews from agents who have used the platform. However, one recent review points to frustration with Ideal Agent's rollout of a new referral fee structure, which jumped from a variable 25–35% of the agent's sale commission to a flat 35% in 2023.

Ideal Agent got greedy and changed their referral fee from a tiered system based on home selling price with a referral fee paid from agent to IdealAgent between 25%-35% to a flat 35%. No problems so far until the contract for the referral fee was received and written to go into effect even for the properties that were already under contract and in escrow!

— Johnny, Trustpilot, April 2023

How Ideal Agent works

Ideal Agent offers a streamlined process for connecting with top-performing real estate agents. What sets Ideal Agent apart is their highly curated network of real estate agents, partnering with agents who meet specific criteria:[1]

• Experience: Agents typically have over five years of experience and have closed at least 50 transactions in the past year.
• Performance: Agents are often ranked in the top 1% of their local markets.
• Full-Time Commitment: Agents are full-time professionals, not part-time or hobbyists. 
• This rigorous selection process ensures that clients receive expert service throughout their real estate transactions.

Ideal Agent also assigns you a dedicated concierge, who acts as a liaison between you and your agent, including making the introduction and ensuring that things go smoothly through closing day.

Ideal Agent’s agent matching process is straightforward:

1. Fill out a form. Go to the website and provide basic details, including property type and estimated value for sellers, or budget for buyers.
2. Talk to a concierge. Within minutes, a concierge will contact you via phone and email to explain the service and introduce your assigned real estate agent.
3. Get agent details. After the call, you’ll receive an email with your agent’s name and contact information, and the agent will reach out to discuss your needs. If you decide not to work with the agent, Ideal Agent may try to match you with someone else.
4. Cash offers: If you’re considering selling your home for cash, tell the concierge, and they’ll coordinate multiple cash offers from investors.

Selling with Ideal Agent

Realtors who sign up to receive referrals through the Ideal Agent platform agree to provide full service to Ideal Agent's clients. As a seller, you can expect the following services to be included in your listing agreement:

• Comparative market analysis (CMA)
• Pricing guidance
• Staging and home prep advice
• Professional photography and marketing
• MLS listing syndicated to sites like Zillow, Trulia, etc.
• Coordination of showings and open houses
• Help evaluating and negotiating offers/counter offers
• Support with paperwork, disclosures, legal requirements, and additional negotiations through to closing

Some realtors may provide additional services such as videography, social media marketing, drone photography, coordination of pre-listing home improvements, and more.

Can you buy a house with Ideal Agent?

Although buyers don’t have their own sign-up page, they can still contact Ideal Agent to find a buyer’s agent. However, Ideal Agent is a service geared toward home sellers, so customers looking for a buyer’s agent may wish to look elsewhere.

Several well-rated real estate companies offer home buyer rebates, which may be applied toward closing costs or simply given as cash after closing.

Ideal Agent fees and savings

Realtor commissions vary somewhat by market but typically add up to 5–6% of a home's final sale price, with an average of 2.74% going to a listing agent and 2.58% going to a buyer's agent.

With Ideal Agent, home sellers pay a listing fee of 2%, compared to the 2.5–3% listing agents typically charge. On a home valued at $400,000, that's roughly $2,000–4,000 in commission savings.Buyers don't get any built-in savings with Ideal Agent. You’ll have to settle on a buyer’s agent fee directly with your realtor. However, realtor fees are negotiable, so it's worth having a conversation to see if an agent will cut you a deal.

Is Ideal Agent legit?

Yes, Ideal Agent is a legitimate real estate agent-matching service that connects home sellers with top-performing agents across the United States. The company was founded in 2016 and is currently led by Steve Johnston, who has built its business model around offering sellers a streamlined way to work with high-quality agents at discounted commission rates. Ideal Agent partners with approximately 2,000 agents nationwide, carefully selecting those who rank in the top 1% of their markets. This rigorous vetting process ensures that customers receive expert service throughout their real estate transactions.

Ideal Agent operates in all 50 states, making it accessible to most home sellers. The company makes money by collecting a referral fee from agents for every completed transaction. This fee structure allows Ideal Agent to provide its service to customers at no upfront cost. The company is privately owned and has not faced major controversies.

Ideal Agent locations

Ideal Agent is available nationwide.

Ideal Agent news and updates

Recently, Ideal Agent has started a service that lets sellers compare cash offers from investors, allowing them to sell their homes quickly as is.

However, there are no verified reviews for the cash offer service, and few details available about how it works — or whether you need to go through an agent to get cash offers.

Requests for more information about the program from Ideal Agent reps went unanswered. We will update this review with additional information when it comes available.

Bottom line: Should I use Ideal Agent?

Ideal Agent is a solid choice for home buyers and sellers to find a great agent. Its vetting criteria ensures you'll be working with an experienced and highly qualified agent. 

Sellers can also save some money on realtor fees, though some alternatives offer better discounts — including savings for buyers.

While we don’t recommend choosing a realtor based solely on commission rates, we do recommend comparing several options to see who offers the best deal in terms of experience, services provided, local market expertise, and commission rates.

Depending on your priorities as a home seller, other low commission options may offer a better value. And always do your due diligence before choosing a real estate agent — including asking about their sales history and what to expect as a buyer or seller in the local market.

Related reading

Best 2% Commission Realtors Near Me. A 2% real estate commission can save you thousands of dollars on your home sale. Find the best brands in your area.

Top-Rated Low Commission Realtors Near You. Save on realtor fees with low commission realtors charging 1.5% vs. 2-3% listing fees.

Best Discount Real Estate Brokers for Big Savings. See our top picks for discount real estate brokers that offer commission savings and great service.

Methodology

The Real Estate Witch team evaluated Ideal Agent on various factors, including savings, customer service, online reviews, agent quality, and how it compares to the competition. Our mission is to empower you to make an informed decision about whether Ideal Agent 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 Ideal Agent's pricing model to top competitors and average prices across the U.S., including the average listing fee, minimum fees, and any buyer incentives offered.
• Customer service. We performed an in-depth analysis on Ideal Agent'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 Ideal Agent, evaluating their agent network size, technical platforms, communication methods, and post-transaction support.