Iowa’s Biggest Real Estate Companies (2023 Updates)

Houzeo is a 100% online home-selling platform. It is the best way to sell your home fast and save thousands in commission.

For Home Sellers: Houzeo offers 4 FSBO MLS listing packages for home sellers.

• Bronze Package – $99: This package offers Houzeo listing only for 6 months with maximum photos. You pay a $49 refundable fee for a yard sign and receive your refund after sending a selfie with it.
• Silver Package – $379: This includes everything that home sellers typically look for.
• Gold Package – $379+: It is Houzeo’s signature MLS package and includes all the technology Houzeo is known for Houzeo Showings, Houzeo Offers, and DigiTransact.
• Platinum – $349+: It includes the assistance of a licensed broker to help you with negotiations, disclosures, and closing.
• Add-ons: Houzeo offers custom add-ons like ShowingTime, lock boxes, and yard signs. The Houzeo “For Sale” yard sign is America’s most popular For Sale By Owner Sign. It costs only $49, but you can get it for free if you send us a selfie!

 Mobile App: List your property, manage showings, and review & compare offers at your fingertips with Houzeo’s App!

👉 Our Take: We recommend the GOLD plan. You’ll have access to Houzeo tech, making managing showings and offer negotiations easy!

» Houzeo Reviews: Check out what FSBO sellers have to say about listing with Houzeo.com.

Houzeo is Florida’s #1 real estate company because of 8 reasons:

• Near Nationwide Coverage: Houzeo covers 47 states + DC.
• No Listing Agent Commission: With Houzeo, you only pay a small flat fee to get access to the MLS and all the Houzeo tech.
• 100% Online: Easy listing, fast changes, online showings, and online offers.
• Max Exposure: Listings get syndicated to Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia, Redfin, and 100s of other real estate sites.
• Fast Listing: Rush listing option gets you listed within a business day with Houzeo Concierge. This is best to sell your house fast.
• Real Estate On the Go: Houzeo Mobile App mimics most functionality of the Houzeo web platform, including Offers and Showings.
• 5-Star Customer Service: Superb support that minimizes Houzeo complaints.
• No Hidden Fees: There are no Houzeo hidden fees.

» Is Houzeo Legit: Learn more about Houzeo.com’s locations and services.

There are no dealbreakers with Houzeo.

» Houzeo Reviews: Check out what FSBO sellers have to say about listing with Houzeo.com

Houzeo has a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot.

RE/MAX is a network of franchised brokerages that are independently owned and operated. It has a global footprint with a presence in over 110 countries.

• Traditional Agents – 5% to 6% Commission: RE/MAX is a traditional brokerage. Normally, traditional agents charge an average commission of 5%-6% as they guide and assist you through the entire selling process.

👉 Our Take: RE/MAX  is a well-known real estate brokerage. However, each office is independently owned and operated, so the experience and the quality of service may vary by office.

» Top Real Estate Brokerages in the USA: Check out our list of top brokerages for 2023

Key features of RE/MAX are:

• Personal Agent: RE/MAX agents guide you throughout your entire selling process and keep you updated on its progress.
• Pricing Your Home: Agents at RE/MAX will conduct an in-depth evaluation and a CMA of your property to price your home competitively.
• Extensive Marketing: Agents at RE/MAX use cutting-edge tools and implement multiple marketing strategies to ensure maximum exposure to your property.

The major dealbreaker of RE/MAX is

• Poor Customer Reviews: RE/MAX has multiple customer complaints regarding timeline lapses and unresponsive customer service.
  

RE/MAX has a rating of 2.7 out of 5 on Consumer Affairs.

Redfin is America’s #1 discount real estate brokerage. It offers services in 100+ real estate markets across the country in 49 states.

• Redfin Full-Service Agent – 1.5% Commission: This is a full-service package. This includes pricing assistance, listing paperwork, negotiation support, etc.
• Redfin Concierge – 2.5% Commission: The “Concierge” plan includes everything from the Full-Service package. Additional services include professional cleaning and home staging.
• Redfin Premier Agent – 1.5% Commission: This package is exclusively for luxury properties and includes everything that comes with the Full-Service package.

Mobile App: Yes

👉Our Take: When you opt for Redfin, you can save a considerable amount on the commission fees. Although Redfin tries to provide its service 3x faster than the traditional method, it limits its ability to provide personalized service.

» Redfin Reviews: The Reality of 1% Fees, Pros & Alternatives

Here are some advantages of choosing Redfin:

• Advanced Technology: Redfin is primarily known for its advanced tech platform and mobile app.
• Full-Service Agents at Low Commission – 1.5%: Redfin’s full-service package is priced at 1.5%. It saves you thousands of dollars compared to the traditional 3% listing commission.
• Detailed Paperwork: Redfin provides the necessary paperwork and an elaborate listing agreement with a marketing plan.
• Nationwide Coverage: Redfin covers 80+ markets in the US.
• Easy Deal Closings: Redfin agents help with negotiations and guide you throughout your home-selling process. It will make your closing easy and faster.

In our research, we found some red flags of Redfin, that could make your experience less satisfactory.

• Lack of Personalized Services: Customers have often complained that Redfin agents are not able to give personalized service, as they serve a high volume of clients.
• Poor Customer Reviews: Customers have complained that agents are often unreachable and unprofessional.
• Slow Listing Process: According to Redfin’s listing agreement, a Redfin property takes 18 days to list on MLS. Services like Houzeo will list you on the MLS within 24 to 48 hours.
• Limited Agent Selection: As per customer reviews, Redfin lacks an array of agents. This means you get an agent assigned automatically without having any choice in the matter.
• Agents are Less Incentivized: Unlike traditional agents who work for commission, Redfin agents get a fixed salary. This can demotivate them from offering you services apart from Redfin’s defined services.

Redfin has a rating of 3.5 out of 5.0 on Consumer Affairs.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is one of the largest real estate companies in America. Owned by Anywhere Real Estate Inc., this full-service brokerage has over 3,000 offices in 49 countries and territories.

• No Service Fee: As a buyer, you pay nothing to avail services of Coldwell Banker. 

👉 Our Take: Coldwell Banker has been recognized as a real estate leader. Their Full-Service Marketing System shows that they are professional and committed to providing quality service to their customers.

Key features of Coldwell Banker:

• Experts in Negotiations: Coldwell Banker’s agents are skilled and have considerable experience in negotiating the best deal for you.
• Assistance in finding a lender: They help you find a local lender to get you pre-qualified for your desired home by determining whether you can afford to purchase the home.
• Home Searching: With access to the MLS and other tools, the agents narrow down the best home for you as per your wants, needs, and budget.
• Financing: From down payments to mortgage prequalification, Coldwell Banker can help you make sure you have your financial ducks in a row when preparing to buy a house.
• Strong Agent Network: Owing to strong connections with other real estate agents, your agent can find you multiple potential property options.

Red flags of Coldwell Banker include:

• Inconsistent Agent Quality: Several clients of Coldwell Banker have complained of a lack of trust in the agents they had dealt with.
• Lapses in Transactions: Customer complaints include delays in transactions, laid-back attitude, misrepresentations, and the unresponsiveness of agents.

Coldwell Banker is rated 3.0 out of 5 stars on Consumer Affairs.

Zillow is the largest real estate marketplace in the United States and has more than 40 million unique users every month.

• Buyers’ Agency Agreement: Typically, the buyer’s agent is paid by the seller from the proceeds of the sale transaction. However, if the seller does not pay the buyer’s agent then the buyer is responsible to pay the agent in accordance with the buyers’ agency agreement.

👉 Our Take: Despite Zillow garnering a name for being one of the largest real estate websites, we suggest you tread carefully after conducting the necessary due diligence.

Here are some advantages of choosing Zillow:

• Biggest Database: It has 135 million homes in its database. That makes Zillow the best website to start your home search on.
• Advanced Search: It has saved your search criteria with its “save search” feature. It has more than 20 filters to narrow down your ideal property based on the preferences of price, beds and baths, home type, and many more.
• Paperwork Assistance: Zillow agents can help you with all the paperwork that comes with purchasing a home.
• Negotiation Specialists: It’s agents have expansive market knowledge and will negotiate the best deal for you.
• Financial Resources: Zillow’s certified loan officers can help buyers pre-qualify for a home loan. In addition, Zillow provides buyers with tools such as a mortgage calculator, affordability calculator, and refinance calculator.
• Mobile App: Yes.

Zillow has some major drawbacks that a user should be aware of.

• Poor Customer Reviews: Poor customer reviews and record-breaking debacles, as seen on Trustpilot.
• Incorrect Information: Customers looking to buy a house have complained about inaccurate and misleading information about properties listed on Zillow.

Zillow has a rating of 2.7 out of 5 stars on ConsumerAffairs.