Flat fee MLS listing services are not all alike. Choose a company that is locally owned and license. A national flat fee company will re-sell your listing to a local broker and will cost you more.
Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) May 22, 2006 -- Initially one would think that they are all equal, but in actuality they are very different.
Flat fee real estate listing costs vary from company to company as do the services they provide.
Some fees cover a specific period (i.e. 6 months), while other companies listings last until the property in question sells. Some companies offer a flat fee program cost that is all inclusive (i.e. listing plus consultation, yard signs, lock boxes, web listings, digital photos, etc.). While other companies offer small upfront fees with “ala carte” services.
In other words, the fee only includes the listing, any thing else is on a per service fee basis. Listing fees generally vary from $399 up!
Most flat fee real estate listing companies feature the MLS (multiple listing) feature, few of them make it clear that FMLS charges a service fee for these listings, which is payable at closing, that is not included in any initial “flat fee” program. However, the FMLS service fee is nominal (0.12% of the sales price) for example, on a property that sells for $l00,000.00 the fee would be $120.00 ($100,00.00 x 0.0012 %).
Unlike traditional real estate programs, one of the best features of some flat fee real estate listings programs is that the seller retains the option to show and sell their property themselves and if they sell their property to a buyer not working with an agent, they pay no commission at all! Unfortunately, some flat fee real estate listing companies do not give the seller the option of representing themselves to the potential buyer and, when they represent the seller in the transaction, they tack on an extra charge.
The flat fee real estate listing programs offer a viable alternative with a lot of flexibility and a wide range of options for the person who feels comfortable selling their property themselves. Even though fees and services differ from company to company, the flat fee option provides maximum exposure for the marketing and selling of property, without paying the traditional real estate commissions.
When choosing a flat fee company, make sure that they are a local and licensed company, in Georgia. Beware of national lead generation flat fee companies. These companies promise a MLS flat fee in every state, but, they usually charge more and they routinely resell your lead to a local broker, licensed in the state of Georgia.
Flat fee real estate listing programs are all about choices…and the choices are up to you. Just choose wisely, do your homework, pay for what you get, get what you pay for and don’t make assumptions.
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