If you're selling your home for sale by owner (FSBO) in Alabama, hiring a flat-fee MLS service can help you increase your listing's visibility without breaking the bank.
The average commission rate for full-service listing agents in the The Yellowhammer State is approximately 3%. Based on the median sale price for Alabama homes, as of November 2019, that translates to about $5,970.
In contrast, typical rates for flat-fee MLS companies in Alabama are in the $89 to $999+ range. The most basic plans can be as low as $50 to $99, while more comprehensive services range upwards of $1,000 to $3,000.
It's important to remember that every Alabama flat-fee MLS service is different. When evaluating offerings, be sure to read the fine print: look at things like the length of the listing term (and how much it costs to extend); whether there's a fee to make changes to your listing; how many photos are allowed; the policy on buyer's agent commission; and more.
>> LEARN more about flat-fee MLS services and how to evaluate them.
To help you make the right choice, Clever has picked some of the top flat-fee MLS services across the state of Alabama.
Top Alabama Flat-Fee MLS Companies in 2020
Crawford Realty Inc
Crawford Realty LLCPrice Range
$550 + $1,500 at closing
Number of Photos
N/A - information not available
Listing Term
6 months
- Crawford Realty LLC is a licensed, Texas real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee MLS listing services
- You set buyer’s agent commission
- Listing is live within 48 hours
- No cancellation fee
- Contract negotiations
- Comparable market analysis (CMA)
$550 + $1,500 at closing - Flat Fee package
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- No cancellation fee
- Contract negotiations
- Comparable market analysis (CMA)
- Lockbox
- Yard sign
Crawford Realty also offers a 1% listing package for the same items included in the Flat Fee package
Pros
- Comparable market analysis (CMA)
- No cancellation fee
- Contract negotiations
Cons
- Transaction fee of $1,500 at closing
- No information available regarding the number of photos on the MLS
As of August 4, 2020, Crawford Realty, LLC has an average rating of 4.9/5 based on 24 reviews across Yelp and Google.
List With Freedom
List With FreedomPrice Range
$89-295
Number of Photos
1 to max allowed on MLS
Listing Term
6-12 months
- List With Freedom is a flat-fee MLS listing brokerage licensed in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee
- Set your own buyer’s commission (List With Freedom recommends 2.5% to 3%)
- Listing is typically live on MLS within 24 hours of approval
- All buyer inquiries are forwarded to you
- Free unlimited listing changes
- Offers a range of additional, a-la-carte services, including professional comparative market analysis (CMA), contract preparation, transaction management services, yard signs, lockboxes, and more
- 14-day refund period BEFORE listing goes live with a $50 fee
- Cancel live listings at any time with no fee
$89 - Silver
| $195 - Platinum
|
Pros
- Make unlimited changes to your listing at no additional cost
- No cancellation fee
- All buyer inquiries are directly forwarded to you
Cons
- Only 1 photo included in base package
- No built-in pricing support or home valuation
As of August 17, 2020, List With Freedom has an average rating of 4.7/5 based on 762 reviews on Trustpilot.
National Flat-Fee MLS Services & Brokers Operating in Alabama
Flat Fee Group
Flat Fee GroupPrice Range
$399-999
Number of Photos
20-50
Listing Term
6 months to until sold
- Flat Fee Group is a national network of independent brokers that offer flat-fee MLS services in Alabama
- Pay no buyer’s agent commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
- Buyer and agent inquiries forwarded to you
- Contracts, disclosures, and addendums included
$399 - Showcase
| $799 - Premium
|
Pros
- Work directly with the broker, not a referral service
- Buyer inquiries forwarded directly to you
- Pay no commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
Cons
- No home valuation included
As of August 5, 2020, Tracy Hood, the Alabama Flat Fee Group broker, has an A+ rating with Better Business Bureau
Flat Fee Realty
Flat Fee RealtyPrice Range
$199
Number of Photos
Listing Term
6 months
- Flat Fee Realty is a nationwide flat-fee MLS referral service, licensed in Connecticut, that connects you with Alabama brokers and agents who will list your home on the MLS for a pre-negotiated rate
- You set buyer’s agent commission
- MLS photo upgrade available for $79
- State disclosures and forms available
- Unlimited listing changes
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Refund available within 30 days of purchase
- $199 - MLS Listing package
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 6 Photos
- Free state disclosures
- Unlimited listing changes
- No cancellation fee
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
MLS photo upgrade available for $79
Pros
- Unlimited listing changes
- No cancellation fee
- Free state disclosures
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Refund available within 30 days of purchase
Cons
- No built-in home valuation or market analysis
- Limited coverage in rural areas
As of August 11, 2020, no third-party reviews exist for Flat Fee Realty. We will update when this information becomes available.
Houzeo
HouzeoPrice Range
$229-399
Number of Photos
6 to max allowed
Listing Term
3-6 months
- Houzeo is a flat-fee MLS referral service that connects you with Alabama brokers and agents who will list your home on your local MLS for a pre-negotiated rate
- Draft your listing, upload photos, set your price, and sign MLS contracts via Houzeo’s online dashboard
- Autofills listing details using publicly available info about your home to expedite the listing process
- Home valuation not included in service
- Does not require that you offer buyer’s agent commission
- Listing is typically live within 24 hours of submission
$229 - Bronze
| $399 - Gold
|
Pros
- Free cancellation anytime (no refunds)
- Freedom to specify any buyer’s agent commission
- Listings typically go live within 24 hours
Cons
- Limited coverage in rural areas
- “Free changes” only apply to listing’s price, status, and property description; $10 for additional changes
As of August 10, 2020, Houzeo has an average rating of 4.8/5 based on 21 reviews on Google.
Alternatives to Flat-Fee MLS in Alabama
The Alabama real estate market is increasing rapidly. According to Zillow, the median home value rose 5.1% over the past year and is expected to see an increase of 4.5% in 2020. To realize your home's full value (or ideally more), it's important to weigh all of your options for selling before making a final decision.
- Flat-Fee Real Estate Agents
- Discount Real Estate Agents
- Low-Commission Real Estate Agents
- 1% Commission Real Estate Agents
- Sell to an iBuyer