Understanding how Redfin differs from traditional realtors can help you see the big differences in costs, services, and client experiences, which are important to consider when choosing who will represent you in buying or selling a home.
- Redfin operates as a discount brokerage, charging sellers a lower listing fee of 1.5% and offering buyers a commission rebate. While Redfin is praised for its technology and marketing prowess, some reviews suggest that its team-based service model may result in less agent involvement in transactions.
- Traditional realtors typically work under a standard commission model, charging listing fees of 2.5-3%. These agents are often associated with well-known national brokerages like Keller Williams and Century 21. Although they don't offer commission savings, they do provide comprehensive service and support throughout the buying or selling process.
There's also a third option that's less well-known: low-commission realtor alternatives. These services provide the cost benefits of Redfin without compromising on the level of service, offering competitive rates and full-service assistance.
Read on to discover whether Redfin, a traditional realtor, or an alternative is the best choice for you.
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Redfin realtors vs. traditional agents: Key differences
The main differences between working with Redfin vs. another real estate brokerage are the fees, agent selection, and service model.
| Feature | Redfin | Traditional |
|---|---|---|
| Listing fee | 1.5% | 2.5-3% (varies) |
| Buyer's agent fee | 2-3% | 2-3% |
| Agent selection | Limited to Redfin agents | Any agent |
| Minimum fees | Subject to minimum, which can be high in some markets | Typically none, but depends on the market |
| Commission savings | .50% listing fee reduction if buying with Redfin | None |
| Service model | Team-based | Typically individual-agent focused |
Redfin fees explained
Redfin’s standard listing agent commission is 1.5–2% — compared to the 2.5–3% that most traditional agents charge. If you buy and sell with Redfin within 365 days of each other, you’ll get a check after closing worth up to 0.5% of the sale price, effectively lowering your listing fee to 1%.
However, Redfin’s commission rates are subject to minimums, so some sellers may pay more than the advertised 1.5-2%. Minimum fees vary by location, and they tend to be higher in hotter real estate markets.
For example, if you live in San Francisco where the minimum listing fee is $9,000, your house will need to sell for at least $600,000 to get Redfin’s 1.5% listing fee. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay the minimum listing fee of $9,000.
“In my area, the minimum commission is $3,500. That means, you have to be selling your home at around $350,000 to get the full 0.5% back. I sold my condo for less than $350,000 so I was surprised that I was getting a fraction of what I was expecting as a discount from Redfin.” — Budzy05, February 20, 2024, Reddit
Also, if you’re selling with Redfin and the buyer doesn’t have an agent, your listing fee will increase by 1%.[1] While it’s rare for buyers to be unrepresented, this additional fee is something to be aware of since it will effectively mean you’re no longer getting a discounted listing fee.
Redfin's buyer agent fees
Recent changes in how real estate commissions are handled mean buyers now directly negotiate their agent's commission.
Previously, the seller typically covered this cost and included it in the home's listing details. Now, the commission is excluded from the listing details.
Despite these changes, many sellers nationwide still pay the buyer's agent commission to help facilitate a deal. So sellers should expect to pay at least 2% in buyer's agent commission to close on a home sale. Redfin also offers a .25% home buyer rebate – equal to $1,250 on a $500,000 home purchase – if you hire Redfin after your first home tour and buy a home within 180 days. Note: The Sign & Save program is temporarily available and may not be offered in all states due to legal restrictions.[2]
To qualify for the 0.25% buyer rebate, you must sign a buyer agency agreement before your second home tour. You’ll also need to purchase a home with your Redfin agent within 180 days.
Here’s how much money you could save on agent commission when you purchase a $500,000 home with Redfin.
| Buyer’s agent commission | How much you’d save | |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional realtor (2.5–3%) | $12,500 | $0 |
| Redfin agent (2.25%)* | $11,250 | $1,250 |
Note that Sign & Save isn’t available where prohibited by state law and, according to Redfin, is only being offered for a limited time.[3]
Service model: How is Redfin different?
Redfin uses a team-based approach. This means you’ll be assigned a lead agent to represent you, but you’ll also interact with several different members of the team, such as associate agents whose main responsibility is to conduct showings and relay questions and requests from customers to the lead agent.
The advantage of this system is that you’re not relying entirely on your real estate agent to keep things moving. For example, if a potential buyer wants to tour your home, there’s usually an associate agent available even if the lead agent is not.
However, there are more opportunities for errors and miscommunication, as so many people are handling one transaction. For example, contracts are handled by a transaction coordinator, listings and photography by a listing coordinator, and a tour coordinator schedules tours.
📈 Key callout: Redfin agents handle 3x clients
Redfin agents close more than twice as many transactions as traditional agents do. This is partly due to Redfin’s service model, which allows for more tasks to be handed off to associate agents and staff members. While this service model helps Redfin increase its productivity, it might result in less personalized attention from your agent.
Your assigned agent may not oversee every stage of your home sale or purchase, and you’ll instead be interacting with different specialists during different parts of the transaction.
Redfin's team-based approach
You’ll be assigned a lead agent to represent you, but you’ll also interact with several different members of the team, such as associate agents whose main responsibility is to conduct showings and relay questions and requests from customers to the lead agent.
The advantage of this system is that you’re not relying entirely on your real estate agent to keep things moving. For example, if a potential buyer wants to tour your home, there’s usually an associate agent available even if the lead agent is not.
However, there are more opportunities for errors and miscommunication, as so many people are handling one transaction. For example, contracts are handled by a transaction coordinator, listings and photography by a listing coordinator and a tour coordinator schedules tours.[4]
Agent selection: Are Redfin agents good?
Redfin agents are licensed realtors, and their quality is comparable to traditional agents. The level of service varies by individual agent, whether you’re working with Redfin or a traditional brokerage. Some of Redfin’s agents are excellent, while others may not be the right fit for your needs. When looking to find a real estate agent, you should focus on the quality of individual agent rather than the brand they work for.
That said, Redfin’s service model, where you’ll work with different agents and staff could affect your experience. We’ll look at the different types of agents you’ll likely encounter when working with Redfin and whether they’re as good as traditional realtors.
What is a Redfin Lead Agent?
A Redfin Lead Agent is a licensed realtor. As the name suggests, this person is your primary agent and they’ll be in charge of your transaction, including negotiations, pricing advice, and closing. However, another member of the Redfin team will take over many other tasks, such as scheduling home tours and completing paperwork.
The quality of Redfin agents varies, just like with any brokerage, and many are experienced and proactive. However, Redfin itself has fairly low entry requirements to become an agent and hires both new and experienced agents.
What is a Redfin Associate Agent?
Redfin Associate Agents are independent contractors and their duties are largely limited to conducting home tours, being present at inspections, and relaying questions and requests from customers to the lead agent. These tend to be newer agents or agents looking to make some extra money on the side.
You’ll likely encounter a Redfin Associate Agent when you’re touring a home for sale. While the Associate Agent isn’t involved in contracts or closing, you can ask them questions, which they can pass on to your Lead Agent.
This system ensures that it’s easy to tour homes at your convenience since there’s usually an Associate Agent available, although the fact that there’ll be a middle person between the buyer and the Lead Agent can lead to miscommunication.
What is a Redfin Partner Agent
In markets where Redfin doesn’t have many available agents, they may pair you with someone called a Redfin Partner Agent. Despite the Redfin name, this is just a traditional agent who has agreed to take on some of Redfin’s clients.
Redfin Partner Agents aren’t bound by Redfin’s 1.5-2% listing fee. So chances are you’ll pay the full fee of 2.5-3% — just like you would with a traditional agent.
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Selling with Redfin vs. a realtor
Redfin offers two service tiers for sellers: Its standard full-service listing and Redfin Concierge for luxury homes. It also offers a concierge service for homes that need a little TLC before listing.
Redfin Full Service
Redfin Full Service is Redfin’s standard offering. With this service tier, you’ll be assigned a Redfin Lead Agent as your listing agent who will provide full service, which typically includes:
- MLS listing and description
- Comparative market analysis (CMA)
- Pricing guidance
- Home tour scheduling
- Negotiation assistance
- Closing assistance
Additionally, Redfin Full Service includes free professional photography and a free 3D walkthrough. Your listing agreement will detail the full list of services.
Thanks to their 1.5-2% listing fee (reduced to 1% if you buy and sell with Redfin), Redfin agents offer sellers some legitimate savings compared to traditional real estate agents.
“We sold through Redfin, and the agent was helpful and came up with a realistic price, and sold within a few weeks. There were a few hiccups with the closing process but we’d use them again. Was a bit skeptical of perhaps hidden fees but the amount they told us was what we paid.” — maxncookie, November 22, 2024, Reddit
However, reviews indicate that Redfin can feel a bit less personal than working with a traditional real estate agent. Finding a local Redfin agent in rural areas can be tough, so you may be paired with a partner agent who doesn't offer the usual Redfin savings.
Redfin Premier
Redfin Premier is Redfin’s service tier for luxury homes, charging a 1.5-2% listing fee, which is reduced to 1% when you both buy and sell with Redfin. The service is subject to minimum home value of $850,000–$1,750,000, depending on the market.
With Redfin Premier, you’ll be matched with a more experienced agent with a history of closing deals on luxury properties.
In addition to all of the services you’d get with Redfin Full Service, Redfin Premier also provides:
- Syndication of your listing to news and luxury lifestyle websites.
- AI-powered social media advertising on Facebook and Instagram.
- Targeted email campaigns to users of Redfin’s website and app.
- Luxury mailers and brochures.
These additional features are designed to get your listing noticed by more high-end buyers, which ideally could help lead to a better sale price.
“I listed my home in the Seattle area a few months ago with a Redfin Premier agent. We had lots of in-person viewings and got a stellar offer after only a couple of days. We made a killing, to be honest.” — fakesaucisse, August 9, 2024, Reddit
To qualify for Redfin Premier, your home must be priced at or above the following minimums
- $1,750,000: San Francisco
- $1,500,000: Los Angeles and Orange County
- $1,250,000: Hawaii, New York, San Diego and Seattle
- $1,000,000: Boston, Washington, D.C., Flagstaff, Lake Tahoe, Maryland, Miami, New Mexico, Palm Springs and Virginia
- $850,000: All other markets
What about Redfin Concierge?
Redfin Concierge is a line of credit provided through Redfin partner Notable Finance. It is designed for home improvements before selling. Whatever you spend is paid back at closing, along with interest.
In most states, you’ll need a minimum FICO score of 680 to qualify, except for Hawaii, Illinois, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, and Tennessee, where the minimum FICO score ranges from 700 to 800.
Redfin Concierge can be a convenient option for funding home improvement projects before you sell. However, you’ll need to pay attention to the interest rates. Many lenders will provide a line of credit for similar purposes and some may offer lower rates. Shop around to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
Also note that Redfin Concierge was the name of Redfin’s former premium service, where they’d help with renovations and staging in exchange for a higher fee. This version of Redfin Concierge has seemingly been discontinued and exists only as a line of credit offer. Redfin Concierge has seemingly been discontinued and exists only as a line of credit offer.
Buying with Redfin vs. a realtor
For buyers, Redfin’s team-based approach has advantages and disadvantages over a traditional model. For example, scheduling a tour with Redfin is usually easy since somebody on the Redfin team will be there even if your agent isn’t available.
“The ability to find and see a house almost immediately instead of having to align our schedule with our realtor is quite nice. In addition we found our Redfin agent to be tremendously knowledgeable, more so than our previous agents, although that’s definitely going to be hit or miss.” — PB111, November 28, 2023, Reddit
However, instead of your buyer’s agent showing you the house, it will likely be an associate agent. Associate agents are contractors who get paid per showing, and they may not have as much knowledge about the property as you’d expect. While part of their job is to pass on questions from you to your lead agent, there’s no guarantee that that will actually happen.
If you already know what you want and are comfortable evaluating a house without too much input from your agent, Redfin is probably fine. But if you want an agent to be with you at every step, you’re better off opting with a conventional realtor.
The best Redfin competitors
Redfin isn’t the only company offering discounted real estate agent fees. Alternatives can land you savings that are just as good or better. Plus, some of them work exclusively with traditional agents, so you can get the personalized service of a traditional realtor along with Redfin's savings.
Redfin vs. traditional realtors: Which is right for you?
Redfin can be a good option for home sellers looking to save on realtor commissions. It’s a reputable discount real estate broker with solid discounts and great agents in certain areas. However, while Redfin delivers on savings, it's important to weigh the potential trade-offs.
Ultimately, Redfin can be a good fit if you’re comfortable with its team-based model and are focused on saving money. However, a traditional realtor might be the better choice if you prioritize personalized service and agent selection.
FAQ
Are Redfin agents better than traditional realtors?
Redfin real estate agents are neither better nor worse than traditional realtors. Both are fully licensed and generally provide good service — although quality will always vary from one agent to the next. While Redfin agents offer a discounted listing fee, those fees aren’t the best in the business. You can get an ever lower listing fee from a discount brokerage, many of which use traditional realtors.
Do Redfin agents get commission?
Yes. Some Redfin agents get paid a base salary, but they also get a bonus for each transaction, which is based on the final sale price. Redfin recently announced a new agent compensation model, called Redfin Next, which will see Redfin Agents earn all of their income through commission.
Related reading
The Best Discount Real Estate Brokers for Every Budget: If you want to save money on your next real estate transaction, check out our list of the best discount real estate brokers.
The Best 1% Commission Realtors and Brokerages: A 1% commission brokerage can help you save thousands of dollars on your home sale. Check out the ones that offer the best savings while maintaining excellent customer service.
What Companies Offer the Lowest Real Estate Commission Fees? Wondering which company can save you the most on your realtor fees? Check out this list to find out.