Is Ideal Agent the Best Way to Find a Realtor?

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  Written by Ashley Simon

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  Edited by Jessica Johansen

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  Reviewed by Kristyn Grewell

Key takeaway: Ideal Agent is a free nationwide service that connects home sellers and buyers with high-quality agents from major brokerages. It offers good commission savings for sellers, but not as much other brands, including low commission real estate brokerages.

» JUMP TO: Alternatives | Pros | Cons | Reviews | How it works | Savings | Bottom line

Who Ideal Agent works best for 

Ideal Agent is a solid low commission real estate brokerage, but most buyers and sellers can find a better deal elsewhere.

If you want to try Ideal Agent, consider checking it out alongside another agent matching service (we list our top picks below). That way, you’ll have a handful of qualified agents to review and interview. Always do your due diligence before making an important real estate decision.

Ideal Agent vs. top alternatives

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 2% commission companies.

» JUMP TO: Ideal Agent savings vs. traditional and discount realtors

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

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 compares vetted cash offers for you. Unlike Ideal Agent, Clever provides cash back for eligible buyers.

Clever also gives you multiple agent matches from its network of over 14,000 agents to compare, while Ideal Agent’s network is limited to 2,000 partners nationwide.

» Ready to find top agents and save thousands on commissions? Connect with top-rated local agents and get expert service at a lower cost.

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

Review site	Rating
Better Business Bureau	4.98/5 (260+ reviews)
Google	4.8/5 (460+ reviews)
Trustpilot	5/5 (6,350+ reviews)
Average rating	4.9/5 (7,070+ reviews)

Ideal Agent has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, boasting an average rating of 4.9/5 from over 7,000 reviews.

Customers praise their agents for responsiveness and effective communication, with many reporting quick home sales and a willingness to work with Ideal Agent again. While some negative reviews cite pressure into unfavorable deals, the company actively addresses complaints.

Our research team’s mystery shoppers noted high standards for agent selection and knowledgeable concierges who are licensed agents.

✅ Pros: Highly qualified agents, dedicated concierge

Ideal Agent thoroughly vets applicants to maintain a network of high-quality real estate agents. This rigorous selection process builds confidence among clients, with many reviews praising the quality of the agents matched.

The concierges at Ideal Agent are also licensed real estate agents. Reviewers consistently highlight how helpful, knowledgeable, and effective the concierge team is.

[Ideal Agent] offered us advice, which was the right decision. Ideal agent was wonderful, and the commission savings was awesome. Thank you, ideal agent for all of your help!

— Charles M., Trustpilot, September 2024

Clients benefit from one dedicated concierge, who ensures consistent communication and familiarity with their specific needs. Competing services like Redfin might require clients to deal with multiple representatives.

❌ Cons: Limited agent match results and savings

Ideal Agent has a very small network — only around 2,000 agents — which limits local options. As a result, it assigns customers only one agent at a time, though the company claims it’s to avoid overwhelming them. However, that means finding the right for you could take a while if that match doesn’t work for you.

Just because an agent meets Ideal Agent’s network criteria doesn’t mean they’re the best agent for you. Consider other factors, including personality and experience with your neighborhood, price range, and property type. Finding someone who meets all your needs could take interviewing multiple agents.

Note: If you decide not to work with the realtor assigned by Ideal Agent, you may get another referral. It’s not clear how often that actually happens, though.

⚖️ Limited options, savings compared to peers

While a 2% listing commission is lower than the typical rate, other discount brands often offer larger savings and comparable services. Ideal Agent also doesn’t provide buyers with any savings or specific services, making it a poor fit for those looking to save on home purchases.

Whether buying or selling, you should compare Ideal Agent with other low-commission brokers to maximize your savings. For example, Clever and Redfin both offer a 1.5% listing fee, and discounts for buyers.

How Ideal Agent works

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.

Cash offers: If you’re considering selling your home for cash, tell the concierge, and they’ll coordinate multiple cash offers from investors.

Although buyers don’t have their own sign-up page, they can still contact Ideal Agent to find a buyer’s agent.

Ideal Agent service breakdown 

Working with an agent gets sellers a comparative market analysis and an MLS listing.

Ideal Agent requires that its partner agents offer full service to both sellers and buyers. This includes help with:

• Pricing
• Marketing
• Paperwork, disclosures, and transaction services
• Communication and negotiation

Agents must also meet their clients in person and accompany them to closing.

If you’d rather sell for cash, Ideal Agent will present multiple cash offers, let you choose a closing timeline, and even help you coordinate lease-back options.

How much can I save with Ideal Agent?

Sellers can save about 1% on traditional commissions with Ideal Agent. It’s worth noting that on the same sale, another low commission agent could offer the same service, and at a bigger discount of another couple thousand dollars.

Fee	Traditional agent	Ideal Agent	1.5% discount broker
Listing fee	$11,280 (2.83%)	$8,000 (2%)	$6,000 (1.5%)
Buyer’s agent fee	$10,640 (2.66%)	$10,640 (2.66%)	$10,640 (2.66%)
Total commission	$21,960 (5.49%)	$18,640 (4.66%)	$16,640 (4.16%)
Total savings	None	$3,320	$5,320
* Based on national averages and $400,000 home

However, if you sell to a cash home buyer, be prepared to receive lower offers from these investors. On the same $400,000 house, you might get an offer of $280,000 (70%) in exchange for a quick as-is sale.

Buyers won’t have built-in savings through Ideal Agent. You’ll have to agree on the buyer’s agent fee directly with the agent.

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 or as is.

As of August 17, 2024, buyer’s agent commissions are no longer automatically covered by the seller and must be negotiated separately. (For more details, check out our in-house expert Steven Nicastro’s recent Yahoo Finance interview.)

Ideal Agent is currently funded by a private investor.

Bottom line: Should I use Ideal Agent?

Ideal Agent is a solid choice for home buyers and sellers to find a great agent.

Sellers can save money, though alternative brands offer even better discounts. Buyers won’t get any savings, so you’re better off looking elsewhere if that’s a top priority.

If you want to try Ideal Agent, consider checking it out alongside another agent matching service. That way, you’ll have a handful of qualified agents to review and interview. Always do your due diligence before making an important real estate decision.

For example, brands like Clever Real Estate and Redfin provide lower listing fees for sellers. And, unlike Ideal Agent, they also offer savings to eligible buyers.

Clever charges a 1.5% listing fee, compared with Ideal Agent’s 2%. And, just like Ideal Agent, Clever’s agents are pre-vetted local experts. Plus, Clever Offers will also provide you with multiple cash offers from reputable investors to compare.

In other words, you’ll save thousands more with Clever while still getting a top-rated, full-service real estate agent.

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

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