SimplyFSBO is a flat fee MLS listing service that can market your home on simplyfsbo.com, Zillow, and Trulia. However, it does NOT list you on a multiple listing service (MLS). Plans cost roughly $500–700. SimplyFSBO operates in the Quad Cities of Iowa and Illinois.
Key takeaways
- We rate it 3.5/5
- Basic plan priced too high, no MLS exposure
- Pro plan comes with 3D imaging
Bottom line: Is SimplyFSBO worth it?
We don’t think SimplyFSBO is worth it unless you want to include a 3D virtual tour. For the price of a basic membership ($499), you can get just as many services and an MLS listing with other companies. (Learn more about our methodology.)
Quality of service
SimplyFSBO does not list you on the MLS, which is a huge loss for any seller, not just those selling a house without a realtor. Each plan comes with high-quality photography, no listing term ("listed until sold"), and an additional listing on Zillow and Trulia. The Pro plan includes a 3D showing, and a comparative market analysis (CMA).
Marketing
SimplyFSBO will list your property on its website, which gets weak traffic and likely won't be your strongest means of finding buyers. The company doesn’t list you on an MLS.
Cost
The most basic plan (FSBO Essential) cost is very high for a flat fee listing service, and you won't even get on your local M:S. The Pro plan (FSBO Plan) offers good value but only because it comes with a 3D showing of your home.
Customer experience
Reviews from past clients are overwhelmingly positive. Reviewers applauded the company’s communication, professional photography, and willingness to help. There were some complaints around response times, however.
User friendliness
The platform is super easy to navigate. The listing process is usually several steps long and has been simplified to one page.
Do you really want to sell your house FSBO?
Studies by the National Association of Realtors and Clever Real Estate found that FSBO homes sell for between $50,000 to $100,000 less on average than homes sold by an agent.
While using a flat fee MLS service like Houzeo can offer cost-saving benefits, it’s smart to weigh these savings against potential losses in the final sale price compared to homes sold with full-service agent representation.
Seeking top savings and the best price for your home? Real Estate Witch negotiates low listing fees with top realtors from trusted brands like Keller Williams and Century 21. Match with great local agents and save thousands.
Quality of service
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The biggest weakness with SimplyFSBO is that it doesn’t list your home on a local MLS, which is how most buyers agents and their clients find properties. You could severely limit who sees your property if you don’t list yours on at least one MLS.
Another shortcoming with SimplyFSBO is that it doesn’t allow you to add services to your plan. For example, if you want a CMA report (home valuation), you cannot select the higher-priced plan (FSBO Pro).
However, the company’s biggest strength is the high-quality photography included with each plan. The photos are taken and edited by professionals — and they look good. The Pro also has premium services to help you sell your home, including Facebook advertising, a CMA report, and a 3D virtual showing. You can also call or text your FSBO adviser (most likely the founder, Bob Strupp) anytime.
Marketing (how it works)
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SimplyFSBO will list your home on the company’s self-branded listing platform (listings.simplyfsbo.com), Zillow, and Trulia. The FSBO Pro plan will also launch Facebook and Google ads pointing local buyers to your listing.
Since your home won't be listed on a local MLS, weak website traffic can significantly reduce your pool of potential buyers. You'll certainly get high exposure from Trulia and Zillow, which receives around 93.2 million monthly online visitors. SimplyFSBO says its website gets around 20,000 visitors per month (in "peak season"), but our analytics tool showed it only gets 1,600.
Cost
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SimplyFSBO is very expensive when compared with other flat-fee listing services. Most FSBO websites will start their plans between $190 and $300 (including an MLS listing). SimplyFSBO, however, starts its cheapest plan at $499 — up to 2.6x as expensive! That price tag doesn't make sense since you’re not getting listed on the MLS.
If you're willing to shop around to get all the FSBO tools you need, remember that:
- It’s free to list your FSBO home on Zillow and Trulia
- Lots of agents will provide a free CMA
- Even the best photographers will charge ~$250 to take and edit pictures of your home
The FSBO Pro 3D provides a bit more value since you get a Matterport 3D walk-through of your home. You also get social media marketing and a pre-market home value estimate. Aside from the fact that you’re not getting exposure on the MLS, this plan seems reasonably priced — especially since Matterport is one of the best 3D cameras and software available and costs up to $3,000 to rent yourself.
You can create a free account, test drive the software, start and edit a listing. But you’ll have to pay a flat fee to post it.
Customer experience
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SimplyFSBO has 62 reviews on Google, with an average of 4.9 stars. Many reviewers were very pleased with the help and expert guidance from SimplyFSBO’s founder and adviser, Bob Strupp. They were also happy with the professional photography provided under each plan and the various experts (real estate lawyers, inspectors, appraisers) recommended.
We ran these reviews through an AI program that detects emotional language. Here's what we found:
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Most reviews praised SimplyFSBO’s communication to its clients about what they could expect to happen next. Some sellers complained about slow response times, but these were few and far between.
User friendliness
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SimplyFSBO has an immensely simplified listing process compared to other flat fee services. Instead of answering questionnaire after questionnaire just to create a post, you can add all the required information on one page and fill it out at your own pace. Your offers are organized in the sidebar, and you can view and respond to messages directly on the platform.
The platform lacks the ability to call out features and key details in your home. For example, if you have a pool or energy-efficient appliances, the only way to call attention to these is to mention them in your description. Buyers who are skimming through hundreds of homes could miss these details.
SimplyFSBO alternatives
Listing Fee
Overview
Reviews
Beycome offers three flat fee packages, ranging from a basic MLS listing to mostly full service. The Basic plan is competitively priced and includes lots of helpful features, making it a good choice for experienced FSBO sellers.
The concierge service isn't worth the money. It offers hands-on support with pricing, negotiating, and closing. But it costs about the same as some leading low-commission brokerages — and you still have to do some of the work yourself.
Beycome has a 90-day money-back guarantee. However, you won't get your money back if you close, are under contract, or receive at least two credible offers within 90 days. You can cancel anytime.
Online reviews are positive. Reviewers report a high-quality, professional experience, quick responses, knowledgeable information, and no hidden fees.
Pros
- Listings appear on the MLS within 36 hours
- Bilingual customer service via phone, chat, and email
- All plans include listing until sold and max photos allowed by the MLS
Cons
- Comparative market analysis only with Concierge Service
- Agent support limited to Concierge Service
Listing Fee
Our take
Overview
Reviews
Fizber shines as a cost-effective, straightforward platform for FSBO sellers aiming for MLS listings with various service levels. While the low upfront costs are appealing, mixed reviews about customer service and aggressive sales tactics are worth considering. Before deciding, compare Fizber with other services to find the best match for your selling needs and preferences.
Pros
- Cost-effective
- User-friendly
- Listings get good visibility
Cons
- Mixed service reviews
- Aggressive sales
- Limited support
Listing Fee
Our take
Overview
Reviews
List With Freedom stands out in the crowded marketplace of flat fee MLS services by offering homeowners a powerful tool for saving on traditional commission costs while maintaining control over the selling process. With its user-friendly platform and supportive staff, it simplifies the listing process, making it accessible even to first-time sellers. Although it garners praise for affordability and efficiency, potential users should be aware of occasional listing errors and unexpected fees reported by some customers.
Pros
- Big commission savings
- User-friendly platform
- Helpful customer service
Cons
- Some users report listing errors
- Unexpected fees
- Listings have appeared on the wrong MLS
Listing Fee
Our take
Overview
Reviews
Houzeo, a flat fee MLS service with a high average customer rating, shows promise in its customer service, particularly during the initial listing setup. However, limited reviews on the complete selling process suggest some challenges, including listing inaccuracies and variable service quality from partner realtors.
While Houzeo’s online dashboard and service plans appeal to FSBO sellers, potential users should weigh these mixed experiences, alongside the service's costs and refund policy, before choosing it for their real estate needs.
Pros
- User-friendly online dashboard
- Positive reviews of its customer service
- Nationwide coverage
Cons
- High fees for some services
- Varied service quality
- Restrictive refund policy
Listing Fee
Our take
Overview
Reviews
Unreal Estate distinguishes itself in the flat fee MLS listing service market, focusing on For Sale By Owner (FSBO) offerings. Known for its easy-to-navigate platform and strong ustomer service, it allows sellers significant savings by avoiding traditional realtor fees. The company’s professionalism and streamlined process have garnered positive customer feedback, appreciating both the ease of use and the financial benefits.
Pros
- User-friendly platform
- Significant cost savings
- Positive customer reviews
Cons
- Limited marketing resources
- Less personalized support
- May offer less value than competitors
Next steps
SimplyFSBO has a clean interface and good services. But the cost is simply too high. Even if you’re not interested in listing your property on the MLS, you can still save money on the up-front fee by shopping around with other listing services.
Related reading
Low Commission Real Estate Agents + Companies. From Clever Real Estate to Redfin, these are the best low commission real estate agents and companies. Sell your home with cheaper fees now!
Read This Before You List FSBO on Zillow: Zillow is one of the most popular home-selling sites on the web. But it can be confusing to list your FSBO home for sale. This article details the best approach.
1% Listing Fees: A Way to Save Thousands or a Scam? Want all the benefits of a realtor without the high price? Scoring a discounted commission rate is easier than you think.
Methodology
We evaluated the value and quality of FFMLS and FSBO listing services based on five core criteria.
Quality of service
FFMLS companies should provide basic services, including:
- Listing to your local MLS
- Pushing listings to sites like Zillow and Trulia
- Maximum allowable photos
- Unlimited free listing changes
- Keeping a listing active until you cancel or close on your home
We noted add-on services that actually help you sell and manage your sale, like professional photography or an online dashboard. We didn’t give credit for fluffy offerings, such as video tours that are just photo montages or listings on Craigslist.
Marketing
We assessed how each company's services actually makes your listing visible to buyers compared with the MLS, which is the baseline. Additional marketing services (via social media, digital ads, etc.) count to higher visibility, as does the company's website traffic.
Cost
We compared pricing tiers for services with baseline national averages and other brands.
Customer experience
Our evaluation...
- Aggregated customer reviews from across the web and created a weighted average rating
- Ran reviews through a sentiment analysis program to identify key themes
- Checked for complaints with the Better Business Bureau
User friendliness
We checked how easy the company app or portal was to use, and how easy it was to upload and manage the listing.