89% of buyers used real estate agents or brokers to buy homes. Additionally, 85% of sellers believe agents can secure a higher sale price for their homes. This highlights the value of professional help, but these services come with a steep cost.
Real estate companies charge a 5-6% commission on the sale price, which can amount to $24,000 for a $400,000 home. With such hefty fees, these companies must provide value that justifies the cost.
People rely on real estate companies for their market knowledge, negotiation skills, and ability to handle complex paperwork. Whether you’re considering a full-service brokerage or a tech-driven platform, here are our top picks in the Lone Star State.
Top 6 Virginia Real Estate Companies:
-
For Home Sellers
- Houzeo: Best Technology
- RE/MAX: Expert Assistance
- Century 21: Best for Marketing Properties
-
For Home Buyers
- Coldwell Banker Realty: Best for Local Market
- Berkshire Hathaway: Best for First Time Buyers
- Homes.com: Best for Commercial Properties
3 Best Real Estate Companies for Home Sellers in Virginia
Here are the top 3 real estate companies in Virginia that help sellers maximize their savings.
1. Houzeo
100% ONLINE
Listing Fee: $249Houzeo is a high-tech platform that streamlines listings, updates, and online showings/offers. Choose from 3 Flat Fee MLS packages to simplify your home sale.
- Silver Package – $249 + 0.5% at Close: You can upload 24 photos, and your listing term will be 6 months. You can also make unlimited changes to your listing.
- Gold Package – $299 + 1% at Close: You can post the maximum number of photos, avail licensed broker assistance, get access to seller disclosures, and a premium yard sign.
- Platinum Package – $349 + 1.25% at Close: You get virtual full assistance from a licensed broker and a 12-month listing term.
Houzeo is America’s #1 Flat Fee MLS service because of these reasons:
- Max Exposure: Your home listing is syndicated to popular real estate websites like Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, etc., increasing its visibility.
- Quicker Sale: Houzeo’s Homes For Sale page showcases your home to thousands of buyers, which may result in a faster sale.
- 100% Online: You can list your home, manage offers, and close deals, all at your fingertips with a powerful mobile app.
- 5-star Customer Service: You have access to listing support and chat services 6 days a week.
- No Hidden Fees: What you see is what you pay. Houzeo mentions all of its fees upfront on its website.
There are no dealbreakers with Houzeo.
» Is Houzeo Legit? Discover why so many homeowners are choosing Houzeo to list their properties.
Houzeo is rated an impressive 4.9 out of 5 stars by thousands of home sellers on Google and Trustpilot. Homeowners also praise the Houzeo Mobile App, which helps them list, manage, and close their home sales seamlessly—right from their phones.
» Houzeo Reviews: Rated “Excellent” by 11,000+ happy home sellers.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Houzeo’s Gold Plan for most home sellers. It gives you maximum exposure, highest savings, and access to Houzeo technology features. A licensed broker will also assist you with pricing your home, offer negotiations, inspection, and closing.
2. RE/MAX
Global Real Estate Brand
Up to 6% CommissionRE/MAX operates on a commission model. Here’s how it helps home sellers:
- Agent Expertise: You connect with agents who have a deep understanding of local markets. You also get to negotiate the agent fees you’ll be paying (max 6%).
- Global Network: Your home gets exposure because of the company’s extensive global network of over 135,000 agents in more than 115 countries and territories.
For home buyers, RE/MAX is beneficial in these ways:
- Online Search Tools: With the RE/MAX website and mobile app buyers can look for home listings, save searches, and take virtual home tours.
- Agent Assistance: Buyers can connect with RE/MAX agents who assist with finding properties, navigating the purchase process, and negotiating deals.
- Local Market Knowledge: The agents you connect with are experts whose local market knowledge helps you make the right home-buying decisions.
The key features of RE/MAX are:
- Personal Agent Guidance: RE/MAX assigns a personal agent to you. This agent guides you as per your requirements and local market trends.
- Pricing Assistance: Your agent evaluates your home and gives a CMA Report to price it competitively.
- Extensive Marketing: RE/MAX agents use tools like the RE/MAX Hustle video editor to produce high-quality home-tour videos with just a few clicks.
The major dealbreakers of RE/MAX are:
- High Commissions: Agents typically charge traditional commission rates. These rates are higher than discount brokerages and flat fee listing services.
- Varied Quality of Service: The quality of service agents provide isn’t uniform. Try to meet brokers across branches to find what suits you.
- Manual Processes: RE/MAX provides traditional services more than tech-oriented solutions. This makes the real estate transactions slower.
- Timeline Lapses: Some RE/MAX customers complain about their agents with context to delays in communication and missed deadlines.
RE/MAX has a rating of 1.7 out of 5 on Consumer Affairs. However, note that these reviews could differ widely from agent to agent and branch to branch.
For sellers, RE/MAX provides comprehensive support which is backed by the agent's regional expertise. Buyers, too, have thousands of MLS listings to filter through. Nevertheless, the company's primary focus remains agent-driven services over purely tech-oriented solutions, making the process slow.
RE/MAX LLC is part of RE/MAX Holdings and has more than 135,000 agents in over 100 countries. It is known for its large network and expert seller assistance.
RE/MAX has a high market share in residential and commercial real estate. Clients also have access to market data and valuation tools and a user-friendly search platform.
3. Century 21
Brand Recognition
3% - 6% CommissionCentury 21 is a traditional real estate brokerage with a franchise model. For sellers, it offers:
- Traditional Commission Model: You can negotiate the Realtor fees to some extent and have it split between the listing and buyer’s agents.
- Comprehensive Marketing: Your agent’s service includes pricing strategies, professional photography, listing on the MLS, and managing showings.
- Seller Ready Program: Some franchises provide this program that offers a line of credit for home improvement and staging, repayment due at closing.
For home buyers, Century 21 provides:
- Local Agent Expertise: You are paired with a local agent who offers extensive knowledge of the area and guides you from pre-qualification to closing.
- Global Reach: As a globally recognized brand, Century 21’s network gives you access to a vast number of listings and resources.
- Full-Service Support: Your agent assists with all aspects of the purchase, from property search to negotiating the offer and contract.
Here are some advantages of choosing Century 21:
- Strong Brand Recognition: As a globally recognized brand, Century 21 offers trust, reliability, and good experiences related to real estate transactions.
- Full-Service Experience: The company provides a professional real estate experience through their agents who assist you on every step of the way.
- Vast Network: Century 21 offers wide coverage and local expertise through its massive network of independent brokerages and thousands of agents.
Here are some disadvantages of choosing Century 21:
- Higher Fees: Century 21 does not really offer commission rebates for buyers or discounted listing fees for sellers, which means higher costs for consumers.
- Service Variation: The company is a franchise network and so, the quality of service can vary from one office or agent to another.
- Lack of Transparency on Costs: Fees and commission structures are not publicly listed. So, you need to negotiate with the local agent properly.
Century 21 has a rating of 1.2 out of 5 stars from 100+ reviews on Consumer Affairs.
Century 21 offers sellers comprehensive support, including professional marketing, pricing analysis, and a wide-reaching listing network to maximize exposure. For buyers, affiliated agents provide full-service assistance from the initial search and property showings to expert negotiation and transaction management.
Century 21 is one of the most popular real estate companies based in New Jersey. Founded in 1971, it operates in over 80 countries with a team of more than 140,000 agents.
Additionally, Century 21 has an online platform for property searches, virtual tours, and market analysis tools. However, as a large franchise, the quality of service can vary between individual offices and agents.
Best Real Estate Companies for Home Buyers in Virginia
Here are the top home-buying companies in Virginia to help you find your dream home.
1. Coldwell Banker Realty
MOST SUCCESSFUL INVESTORS
Based in New JerseyColdwell Banker Real Estate LLC is an American full-service real estate brokerage.
- No Service Fee: As a buyer, you do not have to pay any fee to avail services of Coldwell Banker.
👉 Our Take: Coldwell Banker is great for buyers because of its long-standing experience and wide property selection. It is especially helpful for those looking to invest in popular areas or unique properties.
Key features of Coldwell Banker include:
- Experts in Negotiations: Coldwell Banker’s agents are skilled and have considerable experience in negotiating the best deal for you.
- Lender Assistance: It helps you to find a lender for pre-qualification according to your affordability.
- Home Search: With MLS and other tools, agents find your ideal home based on your preferences and budget.
- Finance Assistance: It helps with down payments, mortgage prequalification, and getting your finances ready to buy a house.
- Strong Agent Network: Your agent can find many property options for you as they have good connections with other real estate agents.
Red flags of Coldwell Banker include:
- Less Flexibility in Negotiation: The company’s established policies might offer less flexibility in negotiating commission rates.
- Inconsistent Agent Quality: While many agents are experienced, the quality of service can vary depending on the specific agent assigned.
- Lapses in Transactions: Customer complaints include delays in transactions and unresponsive agents.
Coldwell Banker is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars from 200+ reviews on Trustpilot
Coldwell Banker, based in New Jersey, has been a trusted name in real estate for over a century. It offers services for various property types, from residential homes to investment properties.
Coldwell Banker offers market analysis tools to help clients make informed decisions. It also provides virtual tours and detailed online listings. However, their extensive network can sometimes lead to less personalized service.
2. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
💫 Luxury Listings
Based in Minneapolis, MNBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices is a real estate brokerage franchise in the US. Headquartered in Minneapolis with over 44,000 real estate agents and 900 offices, BHHS makes over $136 billion annually in residential real estate transactions.
- No Service Fee: As a buyer, you can register with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices for free of cost.
👉 Our Take: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices provides its services to all kinds of home buyers whether you are a first-time home buyer or a luxury home buyer.
» Selling a House: Things you need to know!
Key highlights of BHHS include:
- Search Tool: BHHS provides you with a search tool so you can browse through a variety of homes available in the market.
- Assistance in Paperwork: The agents handle all paperwork for you in relation to buying a house.
- Market Knowledge: BHHS agents provide practical knowledge and guidance based on years of local market expertise. With in-depth property and community information, they help you finalize your dream home.
- Mortgage Calculator: They provide a mortgage calculator by which you can figure out the monthly payments of a home mortgage loan, based on your desired home’s sale price.
- Start to Close Assistance: BHHS agents are experienced in handling all phases of the purchase process, including home inspections.
Few red flags we found about Berkshire Hathaway include:
- Inconsistent Agent Quality: Since BHHS franchises are independently owned and operated, agent experience differs from one location to another.
- Poor Reviews: Customers have complained about delayed transactions and a lack of communication from the agent’s end.
Berkshire Hathaway has a rating of 2.5 out of 5 from 60+ reviews on Best Company.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. It is known for dealing with high-end luxury properties. It also provides buyers with access to property features, and amenities to help them choose the best home.
Moreover, their email updates keep you informed about new homes available. However, the high-quality service may come with a higher commission fee.
3. Homes.com
Online Home Buying Site
Based in VirginiaHomes.com is free to use for homebuyers and renters. However, real estate agents can pay to advertise their listings on the website.
- No Service Fee: Homes.com does not charge buyers any fee for its services.
👉 Our Take: Homes.com is a valuable resource for homebuyers and renters. The website provides extensive property listings and tools for home searches.
Here are some advantages of choosing Homes.com:
- Extensive Listings: Homes.com aggregates listings from a various sources. This gives users access to a wide range of properties.
- Snap and Search Feature: It allows you to take snapshots of the home you like. Later, the app will match the snapshot with similar homes in your area.
- Advanced Search Filters: You can filter your search results based on various options, such as price, location, features, and amenities.
- Saved Searches: You can save your searches and receive email alerts when new listings that meet your criteria are added to the website.
- User-friendly Interface: The website is easy to use and navigate, even for first-time homebuyers.
Here are some red flags of Homes.com:
- Sells Leads: Homes.com sells home buyer and seller contact info to real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and lenders.
- Listing Accuracy: Homes.com aggregates listings from multiple sources, potentially leading to inaccuracies or outdated information.
- Limited Agent’s Information: It does not provide direct contact information of listing agents. Instead, users have to submit a contact form through the website.
Homes.com has a rating of 1.6 out of 5 stars from 100+ users on Trustpilot.
Homes.com was founded in 1999 and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. It also covers all the 51 states of the U.S.
Homes.com offers a mortgage calculator, advanced search filters, and save search features that attract a large number of homebuyers. Additionally, its partnerships with local MLS organizations increase the value of its listings.
Best Real Estate Companies to Work for in Virginia
When you choose a real estate company to work for in Virginia, it’s important to consider how the commission is split. Most real estate agents get paid a commission which is then divided between the agent and the brokerage.
For example, if you sell a $300,000 home with a 6% commission split equally between buyer and seller agents, you’d get 3% or $9,000. With a 60/40 split, you’d receive $5,400 before taxes. Some brokerages now offer salaries and benefits, so it’s worth exploring various options.
Here’s a comparison of top real estate brokerages in Virginia:
| Brokerage | Commission Split | Best For |
| Keller Williams | 70/30 | Agents seeking higher commissions and more educational resources. |
| RE/MAX | 95/5, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40 (capping system) | Agents who want customized commission splits and desk fees. |
| Century 21 | 50/50, 70/30 + 8% franchise fee (capping system) | Agents who want brokerage brand recognition. |
| Coldwell Banker | 50/50, 60/40, 70/30 (capping system) | Agents who need marketing, lead generation, and other tools. |
| Compass | 50/50 | Agents who want access to a wide range of online resources and tools. |
What to Consider When Choosing a Real Estate Brokerage to Work For?
- Franchise vs. Independent Choices: Franchises like RE/MAX and Keller Williams offer a nationwide presence and provide more support and training. Independent real estate firms offer more freedom but may have fewer resources.
- Company Reputation: Research the brokerage’s market presence and reputation. A reputable company can help with lead generation.
- Support and Resources Offered: Some brokerages provide mentorship programs and free advertising, while others offer minimal support. You can also visit company events to get a feel for the work culture.
- Scope for Specialization: Consider the brokerage’s niche and how it aligns with your interests and local opportunities in Virginia’s real estate market.
How to Choose the Best Real Estate Company in Virginia?
You can choose the best real estate companies based on these factors:
For Sellers:
- Strong Technology: A company’s website should have robust technology that can make selling a house more efficient. Also, look for features like virtual tours, professional photos, and user-friendly interfaces.
- Responsive Customer Service: Having good customer service can help you with smooth real estate transactions. Find a company that aligns with your preferences and also has helpful customer service.
- Maximum Exposure: Find a company that will give maximum exposure to your property, especially if you want to list for sale by owner. This could also include an MLS listing, social media advertisement, and customizable yard signs.
For Buyers:
- Property Listings: Opt for a company that has MLS access, so you can easily browse all Virginia real estate listings and find the perfect home in your favorite area.
- Buyer-Friendly Tools: Look for a company with useful online tools. It will help you compare houses, learn about neighborhoods, and also figure out how much your mortgage payment could be.
- Experienced Agents: Seek a company with agents who have experience with buyers. They should be able to guide you through every step, from looking at houses to finally buying one.
Are Real Estate Companies in Virginia Worth It?
Yes! Real estate companies in Virginia are worth it. Top companies offer advanced technology, a large network of agents, and maximum savings. This is where Houzeo stands out as a smart choice for sellers in Virginia.
Houzeo offers a flat fee listing service that saves sellers thousands of dollars in commissions. With user-friendly tools, it is ideal for homeowners looking to sell their homes quickly.
Eager to Know How Houzeo Works?
We have got you covered. Check out how you can list your property on the MLS with Houzeo.
» Need More Clarity? Read these exclusive Houzeo reviews and learn why Houzeo is Virginia’s best home buying and selling website.
