UpNest Reviews: Is It a Good Way to Find an Agent?

UpNest has built a reputation as a reliable agent matching service for homebuyers and sellers, offering an easy way to find and compare real estate agents.

The company emphasizes transparency, allowing users to see agents' commission rates, qualifications, and services offered upfront. If you value having several options to choose from, UpNest’s approach can save time and simplify the process.

Where UpNest falls short of competitors is in offering commission savings. While the platform promotes lower fees, agents are free to set their own commission rates — meaning the savings aren't guaranteed. Also, UpNest doesn't vet agents beyond verifying their licensure, so agent quality may vary.

If you're looking for a highly qualified realtor, plus guaranteed savings, other low commission options may offer a better fit.

Options like Clever Real Estate also help you compare agents from leading local brokerages. However, agents offer guaranteed savings exclusively through Clever's network. You can view agent profiles side-by-side to choose the best fit, and sell your house for just 1.5%. See how Clever's 5-star rated service compares with other options – it's free, with no obligation.

UpNest at a glance

Who UpNest works best for

UpNest is a great option if your priority is finding a real estate agent quickly and efficiently. It’s particularly helpful for people who want to compare multiple agents without doing extensive legwork. UpNest's user-friendly platform makes it easy to view agents side-by-side, including commission rates, specific services offered, and years of experience.

Pros of using UpNest include:

• No upfront costs: UpNest’s service is completely free for homebuyers and sellers, with no obligation to use the agents it matches you with.
• User-friendly online platform: The platform simplifies agent selection by presenting multiple options with detailed side-by-side comparisons.
• Full-service agents: UpNest connects users with full-service real estate agents who handle everything from listing to closing.

UpNest isn’t the best choice for those focused on maximizing savings on real estate commissions or working exclusively with highly vetted agents.

Potential cons of using UpNest include:

• No guaranteed commission savings: Agents set their own rates, which may not always result in lower fees compared to traditional agents — unless you're willing to further negotiate the realtor fee yourself.
• Limited vetting standards: UpNest’s agents meet basic licensing requirements but may lack additional screening for service quality or experience.
• Lack of resolution when issues arise: While most customers are pleased with their choice of agent, those who have issues report difficulties getting Upnest to intervene or even respond to their calls.

Remember that UpNest isn’t the only option for finding a realtor, especially if saving on commission fees is your top priority. Several alternatives offer more competitive commission structures, potentially saving you money while still matching you with a great agent.

UpNest customer reviews and complaints

🟢 Primary positive themes Easy process (39% of reviews) Prompt communication (24%) Significant savings (24%) Hands-on support (23%) Market expertise (17%)

🟡 Areas for improvement: Poor communication (7% of reviews) Misrepresented services (5%) Misleading pricing (3%) Lack of integrity (3%) No refunds (3%)

UpNest reviews are generally positive. Customers frequently commend the platform for its user-friendly interface, the quality of agents it connects them with, and the consistent follow up from UpNest's team to ensure their satisfaction.

However, some reviews highlight areas for improvement, particularly around communication and a lack of follow through on delivering promised commission refunds. Some of the harshest UpNest criticism comes from agents themselves, who report high referral fees, a lack of qualified leads, and issues getting refund when they wish to cancel their contracts.

🟢 Positive themes from UpNest reviews

Easy process (39% of reviews). Many users praise UpNest for simplifying the process of finding a good real estate agent by connecting them to several local agents at once and letting them compare agent profiles at a glance before choosing. Reviewers appreciate that the platform clearly shows each agent's commission rate and the services included, helping them make a more informed decision.

"Super quick and easy. Within minutes I had offers from realtors and a day later we were looking at houses."
"They saved me a lot of time and found several great agents."
"We were able to see in a glance what services they provided at what cost."
"The website made it easy to view the proposals and decide who to meet in person."
"I found this service to be of great assistance in obtaining offers from various real estate agents without calling each individually."

Prompt communication (24% of reviews). Reviews indicate UpNest excels at rapid initial responses, with many customers receiving agent proposals within minutes to 24 hours of signing up. Customers also value the platform's proactive follow-up and ongoing communication throughout the agent selection process, as well as the communication they receive from agents themselves.

"Signed up on UpNest and within 5 minutes received a call."
“She was pro-active, always available, and worked with me till the end.”
"She was almost always available for questions, and if she was busy with other clients or in a meeting, she would return my calls as soon as she was free."
"My advisor, Austin, was very prompt and responsive to inquiries and feedback."
"Sarah Hood from UpNest always kept in touch to make sure I'm getting a great experience."

Significant savings (24% of reviews). Reviews consistently highlight UpNest's ability to deliver commission savings without compromising service quality. Customers report saving money through both reduced commission rates and buyer rebates. Reviewers also appreciate the transparency of seeing competing commission rates upfront.

"UpNest delivered me some great realtor options who where willing to sell my house for less and still give me full service."
"Big savings due to agent rebates. I got 50% of my buyer agent's commission back."
"5 realtors competed to sell my home and that meant a reduced sales commission without sacrificing service."
"I was able to get a commission rate of 5% instead of the 6% I was offered."
"We saved over $1500 in fees and had a fantastic realtor!"

Hands-on support (23% of reviews). The vast majority of UpNest customers express satisfaction with the level of support offered by their agents, with several mentioning that agents went above and beyond helping to prep their homes for sale. Customers also praise specific UpNest advisors for their follow up to ensure satisfaction with their agent selection.

"She's very hands on in getting our house ready for selling - from landscaping, staging, and at one point she was wiping our stairs and walls!"
"Our agent walked us through the entire process before we did anything."
"Periodic calls from UpNest to check on our progress but was never pushy."
"He had incredible resource recommendations that were very reasonably priced to make a few minor repairs to my parent's home."
"She took care of issues with property lines, deeds, multiple things the other realtors never even attempted."

Market expertise (17% of reviews). Reviews emphasize UpNest's ability to connect users with experienced, market-savvy agents. Customers frequently highlight agents' deep local market knowledge, ability to provide accurate pricing strategies, and proven track records of success. Many reviewers specifically value agents' expertise in their particular neighborhoods and property types.

"It wasn't easy to choose an agent because several of them were proven and successful."
"She explained to us comparatives so we can come up with the right asking price and proper timing."
"competitive proposal from an agent that understands the rental market and investment properties"
"Very knowledgeable of the local DC market and trends."
"I selected the agent that lived in the town the house was in and he also had the best resume and sales record."

🟡 UpNest complaints and areas for improvement

Poor communication (7% of reviews). A small subset of UpNest reviews indicate issues with the responsiveness of UpNest's customer service team. Specific complaints focus on unanswered calls going to AI voicemail, lack of follow-up on issues, and difficulty getting responses about post-closing matters like promised gift cards.

"I have called to get resolution for my issues several times. It goes into voicemail managed by AI."
"Their customer service is awful, they never answer the phone even though they have the time to email you."
"After closing the house when I asked UpNest about the gift card they stopped responding."
"They don't respond email, call, or text messages. Need to be more communicative."
"Another 30 days went by and still no check or further response or explanation."

Misrepresented services (5% of reviews). A handful of reviews point to discrepancies between UpNest's promised services and actual delivery — particularly among agents who use the platform for referrals. Primary complaints focus on false promises about lead quality, undisclosed contract commitments, and a lack of resolution about such complaints.

"When signing up, I was not told it was going to be 12 month commitment."
"It claims to give leads for qualified buyers and sellers. Anything but. I have not received one lead."
"They sold me into buying the leads, however failed to mention that some leads aren't real."
"I've requested cancellation several times and they will not allow me to cancel."
"They do not verify whether sellers have an agent already or if their home is listed."

Misleading pricing (3% of reviews). A small percentage of reviews highlight issues with UpNest's transparency around fees and promised savings. Customers report discrepancies between advertised and actual commission rates as well as unfulfilled promises of cash back/rewards. Agents note hidden referral fees.

"Don't waste your time, most agents are over 4% in commission."
"They offered me no savings. They sent messages saying they did when they didn't."
"Trying to push you to offer lower commissions then want to grab a larger and larger referral fee."
"They also fail to mention that not only are they taking a 30% split."
"They promised to send $300 after purchasing a new home with their service and it never came."

UpNest vs. competitors

UpNest excels in providing a streamlined, transparent agent-matching process, but UpNest doesn’t offer the same potential for commission savings as competitors.

Discount brokerages like Redfin focus on lowering commission fees through a tech-driven or team-based approach, which allows them to serve a higher volume of clients. However, agent selection is limited to Redfin's salaried agents.

Competing agent-matching services like Clever Real Estate and Ideal Agent help users connect with full-service agents from a variety of local and nationally-known brokerages — and vet them based on experience, recent sales history, and customer ratings. Some companies also offer exclusive savings through their referral networks, often reducing realtor fees by thousands of dollars.

Here's a more detailed look at other options worth considering.

How UpNest works

UpNest is a free service that matches buyers and sellers to local agents.

1. Fill out a questionnaire online. You’ll provide some basic info, such as your property address and selling timeline or where you're looking to buy.
2. Review your initial agent matches via your customer dashboard. Each agent profile will include their years of experience, track record. and services offered. You’ll also see their listing fee and how much of a commission rebate they offer to buyers, if any.
3. 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.
4. Choose which agents you want to interview through your customer dashboard.
5. Sign with your preferred agent, request additional agent matches from UpNest, or simply walk away.

Note that UpNest will feature agents who have more completed profiles and who are more proactive on UpNest higher in your search results. 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.

Selling with UpNest

When selling your home with UpNest, you’ll work with a full-service real estate agent with the added benefit of a potentially lower commission rate — although most realtors seem to offer a standard rate of about 2.5%. With a full service agent, you can generally expect the following services:

• Comparative market analysis (CMA)
• Pricing guidance
• Staging advice
• Professional photography
• Complete MLS listing
• Yard 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

While UpNest expects its agents to offer full service and support, each agent can submit their own proposal, so make sure to ask your UpNest agent what services included in your listing agreement.

Buying with UpNest

Buyer's agents who work with UpNest provide the following traditional real estate services for buyers:

• Property search and recommendations: Your agent will help you search for properties based on your criteria, schedule showings, and provide expert advice on potential homes. This service is included in the agent’s commission.
• Negotiating offers and contracts: The agent will assist in negotiating the purchase price, handling the paperwork, and guiding you through the contract process. This is typically included in the commission, but some agents may offer additional services like offering expert advice on investment properties or unique contractual clauses for an extra fee.
• Coordinating inspections, appraisals, and closing: Your agent will help arrange home inspections, appraisals, and facilitate communication between all parties to ensure the closing process goes smoothly.

Buyers’ agents’ profiles on UpNest display a “commission refund” (buyer rebate) if they offer one.

Not all agents offer rebates, though, and rebates are prohibited in Alabama, Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Tennessee.

» MORE: Here’s how to get a home buyer rebate in your state

Can I save money with UpNest?

Unlike our other top discount real estate broker picks, UpNest doesn’t offer guaranteed commission savings. Instead, each agent has the freedom to set their own rate — typically in the 2.5–3% range.

Realtor commissions are typically the largest of a home seller's closing costs, with an average of 5–6% of a home’s sale price going toward agent fees. On a $400,000 house, total agent commissions translate to roughly $20,000–24,000.

Since UpNest is free to use, there’s no harm in signing up to see if it matches you with agents who charge a lower listing fee. But don't make a decision until you've explored your options — especially given the variety of highly-rated real estate companies that offer lower commissions without compromising on service.

UpNest news and updates

In August 2024, realtors from six states filed a class action lawsuit against Move, Inc. (Realtor.com's parent company), alleging the sale of fake leads through Realtor.com, ListHub, and UpNest. The lawsuit also accuses the National Association of Realtors (NAR) of being complicit in the fraudulent practices. Plaintiffs seek damages and refunds for the misleading sales.[1]

In June 2022, UpNest was acquired by Realtor.com for an undisclosed amount.[2]

In 2018 and 2019, UpNest was recognized on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 list as a fast-growing private company.[3] It was also ranked within the top 400 fast-growing private companies in 2018 and 2019 by Inc. Magazine.[4]

Bottom line: Is UpNest worth it?

UpNest is worth looking into if you’re seeking to compare real estate agents and find competitive commission rates. The platform connects you with local agents who are free to set their own listing commissions, so you can potentially save on fees while working with experienced professionals.

However, it’s important to compare UpNest'with competitors that may offer lower commission rates off the bat — especially given that many agents belong to multiple referral platforms. Other agent matching networks, like Clever and Ideal Agent, may offer a better value.

Ultimately, finding the right agent for you will depend on your preferences — including the level of service, experience, and local market expertise you need to support your home buying or selling experience.

Related articles

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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.

How to Find 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.

Methodology

The Real Estate Witch team evaluated UpNest 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 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.