Published
Main takeaway: UpNest matches sellers and buyers with full-service real estate agents, which is why it’s one of our top low commission real estate companies.
Listing Fee
Buyer Savings
Active Since
Our take
Company details
Locations
UpNest is a legitimate agent matching service, but it’s not a great way to save money on realtor fees. It can be a good way to compare real estate agents in your area. But there’s no guarantee you’ll save on real estate commissions because UpNest doesn’t negotiate a lower fee with their agents.
Pros
- Fast, easy way to compare local agents.
- Agents offer full service and support.
- Many customers report a positive experience with their agent.
Cons
- No guaranteed savings for buyers or sellers.
- No guarantee your agent is a top performer or experienced in your market.
- Customer complaints mention a lack of professionalism and communication.
- Platform that matches sellers and buyers with full-service real estate agents
- Sellers fill out an online questionnaire and receive agent matches in an online dashboard
- Agents can offer to work for a reduced listing fee, but most charge close to market value (2.5-3%)
- Sellers are responsible for paying a competitive buyer’s agent commission, usually 2.5-3% depending on the market
- UpNest has a 4.6/5.0 rating across 6,934 reviews
- Not accredited through the Better Business Bureau
- Services may vary by agent, but most offer the same general services as traditional real estate agents (pricing advice, photography, negotiation support, etc.)
- No guaranteed buyer savings
UpNest is available nationwide.
We gave UpNest a good score for its agent quality and positive customer reviews. However, it falls short of the competition in terms of savings.
In this review, we’ll look at how UpNest works for both sellers and buyers, what savings it offers, and what customers say about the company. You’ll also see how UpNest stacks up against the competition — and whether you can get a better agent while still saving money somewhere else.
Savings | Services | Customer reviews | UpNest vs. the competition | How UpNest works | News | Bottom line: Should you use UpNest?
How much can I save with UpNest?
UpNest’s listing fee | 1.5-3% of home sale price |
Nationwide average listing fee | 2.83% of home sale price |
Amount saved with UpNest | 0-1.3% of home sale price |
Unlike our other top discount real estate broker picks, UpNest doesn’t offer guaranteed savings. Instead, each agent sets their own listing fee.
When you’re matched with agents through UpNest, each agent will submit a proposal with their listing fee. Some agents may offer listing fees that are slightly lower than the national average of 2.83%, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll get a lower listing fee.
UpNest claims that their platform encourages real estate agents to lower their fees to win more proposals. But we found little evidence to prove that. We combed through UpNest customer reviews and discovered that while many reviewers say their agent helped them sell their house for a good price, only a few mention commission savings.
- “[My agent] worked with the buyer to save us money.” – David A, 5/5 stars, January 2024, ShopperApproved
- “We were also able to save money going through UpNest.” – Christie, 5/5 stars, December 2023, ShopperApproved
UpNest is free to use, so there’s no harm in signing up to see if it matches you with agents who charge a lower listing fee. But if the proposals you receive are close to market value, we recommend checking out a discount real estate brokerage that guarantees a 1.5% listing fee, like Clever Real Estate or Redfin.
💰 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). Fill out a short form, and compare agent matches from your inbox.
Service breakdown
UpNest matches sellers and buyers with full-service real estate agents across the U.S. Rosa, a ShopperApproved reviewer, was happy with her UpNest agent and felt that he played a major hand in bringing a buyer to her door just days after her home was listed.
As a seller, you can expect to receive the following services from your agent:
- Comparative market analysis (CMA)
- Pricing guidance
- Staging advice
- Professional photography
- Listing description and MLS listing
- For-sale lawn sign and lock box for buyers’ agents
- Guidance during due diligence (inspections, appraisals, financing)
- Help evaluating offers and negotiating terms as needed
- Support throughout closing
Make sure to ask your UpNest agent whether they offer all the services listed above. While UpNest expects their agents to offer full service and support, each agent can submit their own proposal, so it’s important to clarify.
UpNest reviews: What customers are saying
Most customers are satisfied with UpNest, especially with the service they received from the real estate agents they were matched with. UpNest has thousands of online reviews, most of which are positive.
Review site | Rating |
---|---|
ShopperApproved | 4.6/5 (6,478 reviews) |
4.7/5 (297 reviews) | |
Better Business Bureau | 4.4/5 (36 reviews) |
Average rating | 4.6/5 (6,811 reviews) |
Customers who worked with UpNest were generally pleased with their experience. Most positive reviews focused on the quality of specific real estate agents. A few customers also appreciated how fast and easy UpNest was and how it allowed them to compare multiple realtors.
Overall, positive reviews outweigh the negative ones. While there is some risk that you’ll get matched with a subpar real estate agent, most customers are pleased with the agents they find through UpNest.
Here are the common themes we found in UpNest’s positive and negative reviews:
Pros
✅ Reviewer had a great experience with a specific agent.
UpNest matches you with several local realtors in its online platform, making it easy to interview and compare your options.
Reviewers often mention their agents’ honesty, hard work, enthusiasm, and communication, which contributes to a positive experience for the customer. Many customers also mention that their agents went the extra mile to ensure a smooth and successful transaction.
[Our agent] was a great realtor for us! He answered any questions we had really knowledgeably and also helped us coordinate things in a pinch when we were in the process of seeking and living a couple of hours away. He is a very good communicator and helped match a great buyer for our property with us.” – Deanne O., February 2024, Shopper Approved
✅ UpNest’s platform made it easy to find a realtor.
Several reviewers called out how easy it was to find quality agents through UpNest. Customers appreciate the platform’s ability to provide a list of high-quality local realtors, making it easy for them to select the right agent and move on to selling their home.
Finding a quality [agent] at upnest.com was such a breeze. They provide you all the information you could need and no having to contact each prospective realtor individually. I selected two realtors, one to help me sell in NYC and another to buy in Henderson. Both Michael and Charmaine were excellent. They were very helpful in guiding me through this arduous process.”
– Simon R., January 2024, Shopper Approved
✅ Home sold quickly.
Many positive reviews highlight the agents’ ability to find a buyer for their home quickly and efficiently. Several reviewers mention that their agent exceeded their expectations.
Tyler was fantastic! He is honest, hard working, energetic, outgoing, and you can tell he loves his job. He and his team went above and beyond. My home sold in no time at all. He is great at communicating and explaining everything. I highly recommend Tyler Smith to anyone buying or selling their home.”
– Maria, February 2024, Shopper Approved
❌ Poor communication from an agent.
While most UpNest reviews were positive, some customers felt let down by the service. Negative reviews tended to concern individual agents, often because they were unresponsive or didn’t seem proactive.
Although the process went without many hiccups there were times where I [would] not hear from my realtor for 1-2 weeks at a time. There was no follow-up on some of the items discussed in the beginning pitch that would be done such as photos of the home.”
– Anonymous, November 2023, Shopper Approved
❌ Spammy emails and texts from the brokerage.
Some reviews also complained about UpNest sending texts and emails afterward that felt spammy.
I contacted UpNest to find a realtor that I could hire to sell my home and whom I could negotiate the commission. UpNest sent me too many emails and texts after I had already hired a realtor and I did not appreciate that.”
– Georgina K., November 2023, Shopper Approved
❌ Lack of experience and professionalism.
Some reviewers express dissatisfaction with the quality of their home listings, citing issues such as terrible photos and missing important details about the property. One reviewer mentions that their realtor did not attend the closing due to a scheduling conflict, which suggests a lack of professionalism and dedication to the client.
[UpNest] was fine but our realtor was subpar. We may have seen her three times and she always had to be contacted for us to find out what was happening next. She did not even come to our closing because she had something else to do.” – Pat M., December 2023, Shopper Approved
UpNest vs. the competition
Company | Our Rating | Listing Fee | Availability | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Best overall
Clever Real Estate |
Our rating
|
1.5%
Min. $3,000
|
Nationwide
|
Find Agents |
Ideal Agent |
2%
Min. $3,000
|
Nationwide
|
Learn More | |
Redfin |
Our rating
|
1.5%
Min. fee varies
|
26 states and Washington, DC
|
Learn more |
HomeLight |
Our rating
|
Varies (2.2% on average)
|
Nationwide
|
Learn More |
Listing Fee
Active Since
Buyer Savings
✍️ Our take
Pros and cons
Company details
Locations
Clever Real Estate is the best option for sellers looking to save on realtor commissions. Its 1.5% listing fee is among the lowest of any full-service, nationwide brand. You save thousands on commission and work with top local realtors from well-known brokerages, like RE/MAX and Keller Williams.
Pros
- 1.5% listing fee is half the typical rate.
- Agents have strong sales records and great customer reviews.
- Free agent-finding platform with no obligation to sign with a realtor.
Cons
- Add-ons like drone photography and staging may cost extra.
- May not get matched with a specific realtor if they’re not in Clever’s network.
- Service that matches sellers and buyers with full-service real estate agents
- Sellers pay a pre-negotiated 1.5% listing fee (half the average rate) to their realtor after a successful home sale
- Sellers are responsible for paying a competitive buyer’s agent commission, usually 2.5-3% depending on the market
- To join Clever’s network, real estate agents must be top performers in their local market, have 5+ years of experience, and demonstrate a track record of positive customer reviews
- Clever has a 5/5 rating across 3,180 online reviews
- Accredited through the Better Business Bureau and holds an A+ rating
- Agents offer full service and support, including pricing advice, photography, MLS listing and description, negotiation support, etc.
- Eligible buyers receive $250 cash back
Clever is available nationwide.
Listing Fee
Active Since
Buyer Savings
✍️ Our take
Pros and cons
Company details
Locations
Ideal Agent does a good job of vetting its agents, and it offers a small discount for sellers. But it has a limited service area and a small agent network, which limits your ability to choose the best agent for your situation. Alternative services, like Clever, offer the same service — but with better savings, more coverage, and more agents.
Pros
- Matched with full-service realtors.
- 2% listing fee is slightly less than average.
Cons
- Only get one agent match.
- 2% listing fee is higher than most discount brands.
- Platform that matches sellers and buyers with full-service real estate agents
- Company negotiates a 2% listing fee with its realtors, which is slightly less than market value (2.5-3%)
- Sellers are responsible for paying a competitive buyer’s agent commission, usually 2.5-3% depending on the market
- Ideal Agent has a 4.9/5.0 rating across 7,007 reviews
- Accredited through the Better Business Bureau with a A+ rating
- Agents are expected to offer full-service and support, including pricing advice, photography, negotiation support, etc.
- No guaranteed buyer savings
Ideal Agent is available nationwide.
Listing Fee
Active Since
Buyer Savings
✍️ Our take
Pros and cons
Company details
Locations
Redfin is an established discount brokerage that offers impressive savings — especially if you buy and sell with the brokerage. But some of its agents are inexperienced. And while Redfin’s tech-focused approach comes with some neat features, it also means you may get less hands-on support than you need.
Pros
- 1.5% listing fee provides good savings.
- Extras (like 3D walk-throughs) can help sell your home.
- Significant savings if you buy and sell with Redfin.
Cons
- Agent quality and customer service are not always great.
- High minimum fees in some markets.
- Agents may not have expertise in your local market.
- Full-service discount brokerage with licensed, salaried agents
- Sellers pay a 1.5% listing fee to their agent after a successful home sale
- Sellers who also buy a home with Redfin will receive 0.5% cash back, bringing their total commission to 1%
- Minimum fees vary by market but are $4,000 on average, meaning that sellers of homes priced $250,000 or below may pay more than the 1.5% listing fee
- Sellers are responsible for paying a competitive buyer’s agent commission, usually 2.5-3% depending on the market
- Redfin has a 1.6/5 rating across 220 third-party review sites — but you can find reviews of individual agents on Redfin.com
- Not accredited through the Better Business Bureau
- Redfin agents provide free photography and a 3D walkthrough to market your home to potential buyers, as well as traditional services like pricing advice, negotiation support, yard sign, open houses, etc.
Redfin is available in major markets in Washington D.C. and the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia.
Listing Fee
Active Since
Buyer Savings
✍️ Our take
Pros and cons
Company details
Locations
HomeLight can be a good option for sellers in small markets or rural areas who can’t find a local agent through other platforms. HomeLight’s agent network is double the size of some competitors, so you may be more likely to match with an agent in your local market. But it’s not a good option if you want savings and a top agent. The company doesn’t offer discounted realtor fees and it doesn’t screen its agents for quality and experience; any agent can sign up.
Pros
- Well-known, established agent matching service.
- Lots of agent and brokerage options.
- Better coverage in small towns and rural markets.
Cons
- No pre-negotiated customer savings.
- Automated agent matching process can result in bad matches.
- Customers cite unsolicited calls and spam emails after signing up.
- Largest agent matching service in the US, with more than 28,000 agents in its network
- Easy-to-use online platform
- Services and listing fees vary by agent and location
- Agent matching process is fully automated, which makes it a bit more streamlined but also creates some quality risks
- HomeLight has a 4.6/5 rating across 1,178 online reviews
- Accredited through the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating
- No savings for home sellers or buyers
HomeLight is available nationwide.
How UpNest works
What to expect as a seller
To get matched with a listing agent through UpNest, you complete the following steps:
- Fill out a quick online questionnaire about your property and real estate needs.
- Review your initial agent matches via your customer dashboard. Your dashboard will include each agent’s commission rate, their years of experience, recent sales in your area, and the services they offer.
- An UpNest representative will call you to discuss your selling needs in more detail. Based on the information you provide, you may get additional agent matches which you can review online.
- Choose which agents you want to interview through your customer dashboard.
- You can sign with your preferred agent, request additional agent matches from UpNest, or simply walk away.
When using UpNest as a seller, remember that the real estate commission rates are set by the agents themselves. While UpNest claims that many agents provide “exclusive savings” through their platform, those savings aren’t guaranteed. Many agents on UpNest charge the traditional rate of around 2.5–3%.
UpNest claims to only work with top agents, although it seems that the only actual requirements agents must meet is to hold a valid realtor license and abide by the NAR Code of Ethics. These are both bare minimum requirements for most realtors and are not indicative of quality.
Note that UpNest will feature agents higher in your search results who have more completed profiles and who are more proactive on UpNest. While these metrics may indicate that an agent is more motivated overall, they don’t guarantee that such an agent is right for your sale.
What to expect as a buyer
Getting matched with a buyer’s agent is almost identical to the process for finding a listing agent. Here’s how it works:
- Fill out a questionnaire online. You’ll provide some basic info about your property and situation, including your timeline for purchasing and your credit score.
- Head to your customer dashboard and review your agent matches. Each agent profile will include their years of experience, sales volume, and services offered. You’ll also see how much commission refund they offer, if any.
- A representative from UpNest will call and email you within 24 hours. You can go into more detail about what you’re looking for in an agent and request more matches.
- Use the customer dashboard to choose which agents you want to interview.
- You can choose to sign with an agent or request more agents from UpNest. You’re also free to walk away.
The main difference between finding a buyer’s agent on UpNest compared to a listing agent is that buyer’s agents profiles include a commission refund instead of a commission rate. The commission refund isn’t offered by all agents, however. It’s also not available in Alaska, Oregon, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or Tennessee.
» MORE: Here’s how to get a home buyer rebate in your state
UpNest news and updates
In June 2022, UpNest was acquired by Realtor.com for an undisclosed amount.1
In 2018 and 2019, UpNest was recognized on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 list as a fast-growing private company.2 It was also ranked within the top 400 fast-growing private companies in 2018 and 2019 by Inc. Magazine.3
Bottom line: Should I use UpNest?
You should use UpNest if your main priority is to find a real estate agent fast. The fact that UpNest lets you compare and interview multiple agents is also a good way of making sure you get the agent that is right for you.
However, you should not use UpNest if you’re looking for savings on real estate agent commission. Other real estate companies offer lower commission fees while also holding their agents to much higher standards and vetting processes.
UpNest FAQ
Is UpNest legitimate?
Yes, UpNest is a legitimate and licensed agent matching service. The company was founded in 2013, and acquired by Realtor.com in 2022. UpNest was named to Deloitte's Technology Fast 500™ in 2019 and 2018, and it was included twice on Inc. 5000's list of the fast-growing privately held companies in the U.S. To be included in UpNest's network, agents must hold a valid real estate license through their state and through the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
What's the difference between UpNest and Clever Real Estate?
Both UpNest and Clever Real Estate match buyers and sellers with licensed real estate agents. However, Clever has stricter agent vetting requirements. Clever also pre-negotiates a 1.5% listing fee with agents in its network, while UpNest allows agents to set their own rates.
What's the difference between UpNest and HomeLight?
HomeLight and UpNest will both match you with a local real estate agent for free. HomeLight typically gives customers more agents to choose from. Another small difference is the cost. HomeLight agents typically charge the traditional 2.5–3% listing fee, while UpNest encourages agents in their network to discount their listing fees in order to win more customers.
What's the difference between UpNest and Redfin?
Unlike UpNest, Redfin hires its own real estate agents instead of matching you with an outside agent. Redfin also offers guaranteed discounts, with its standard listing fee of 1.5% better than the average listing fee of 2–2.5% typically available on UpNest.
What is the UpNest referral fee?
UpNest charges agents a 30% referral fee when a sale is completed. This amount is taken directly from the agent's commission: sellers and buyers are not charged any fees through UpNest.
Related articles
How to Choose a Realtor: Don’t sign a contract with a real estate agent until you read this! It’s full of tips to find the best realtor for your needs.
Top 10 Low Commission Real Estate Agents and Top Companies: Want to save money when buying or selling your home? Check out this list of companies that help you save on commissions.
How Does a 3% Real Estate Commission Work? Commissions can be confusing! This article explains how they work and how you can get lower rates when selling your home.
Methodology
The Real Estate Witch team evaluated UpNest on a variety of 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 UpNest 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 UpNest’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 UpNest’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 UpNest, evaluating their agent network size, technical platforms, communication methods, and post-transaction support.
Sources
- PR Newswire, ‘Realtor.com® Acquires UpNest,’ June 8, 2022, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/realtorcom-acquires-upnest-301564136.html ↩︎
- PR Newswire, ‘UpNest Again Named To Deloitte’s 2019 Technology Fast 500™’ Nov. 7, 2019, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/upnest-again-named-to-deloittes-2019-technology-fast-500-300954415.html ↩︎
- PR Newswire, ‘2019 Inc. 5000: The Most Successful Companies in America’ Aug. 14, 2019, https://www.inc.com/inc5000/2019/top-private-companies-2019-inc5000.html ↩︎
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