Clever Real Estate Reviews: Is the 1.5% Fee Worth the Hype?

Clever Real Estate is a nationwide agent-matching service that connects sellers with full-service agents from top brokerages. These agents charge a low 1.5% commission for their services— half the typical 3% rate. Buyers can get a cashback of $250 or $500 after closing.

However, these benefits don’t come easily. Buyers must be in eligible states to qualify for the cashback. For sellers, the 1.5% commission only helps if the property is over $200,000. Otherwise, the $3,000 minimum kicks in, which can cost more than 1.5%.

✍️ Editor’s Take: We find Houzeo to be a better option than Clever Real Estate. While both offer savings, Houzeo’s flat fee packages start at just $249, making them a more affordable choice. Buyers also get access to extensive property listings and advanced search tools that can help them find their dream home. Compare Clever Real Estate vs. Houzeo.

Clever Real Estate Reviews

Clever Real Estate has multiple reviews on Google, BBB, and Trustpilot. We’ve calculated a weighted average across all three review platforms to provide a balanced view.

Out of these 4,000+ Clever Real Estate reviews, we’ve found that nearly 99% are positive. Most of them praised the company’s quick and responsive service. This is a good sign as it shows Clever is attentive and easy to work with.

Although the number of negative reviews was fewer, they did highlight some drawbacks:

1. Limited local agent availability
2. No backup for poor agent matches
3. Possibility of lower sale prices
4. No home staging or moving assistance

🚨Important: While doing our research, we found that most of the reviews are from sellers. This makes it hard to judge Clever’s services for buyers.

Positive Clever Real Estate Reviews

✅ Adele matched with an agent who helped them sell their house within 48 hours. Overall, their experience with Clever was smooth and communicative.

✅ Ronald Kurty had an overall positive experience with Clever. However, they found the final costs to be higher than expected. Their experience shows that sellers don’t pay just the 1.5% listing fee. Additional expenses, such as legal fees, can add up.

Negative Clever Real Estate Reviews

❌ G Hernandez’s review highlights the spammy nature of Clever’s outreach. They were contacted via text, claiming they wanted to sell their home, despite never having shown interest. It raises concerns about unsolicited communication and how leads are sourced.

❌ Ron Lev felt misled by Clever’s “full-service” claim. Their takeaway? Not to expect help with staging and HOA. They shared that while they saved slightly on commissions, they ended up doing most of the heavy lifting themselves.

Clever Real Estate: Pros and Cons

We’ve listed down the advantages and disadvantages of using Clever Real Estate based on our research, user reviews, and the company’s terms and policies:

✅ Pros

• Lower Listing Fee: As a seller, you connect with full-service agents who charge only 1.5% of the home sale price. That’s much lower than the average real estate agent commission.
• Full-Service Support: Despite the lower fee, sellers get complete assistance with the sale. Agents assist with key aspects, including pricing, marketing, showings, and closings.
• Responsive Corcierge Team: Many sellers describe Clever’s process as smooth. The company’s concierge team responds quickly and keeps things on track.
• Extra Savings: If you’re a buyer, you could get a cashback of $250 (if you buy with Clever) or $500 (if you buy and sell with Clever). This money can help with moving, furniture, or closing costs.
• Nationwide Coverage: Clever has a wide network of 14,000+ agents. No matter the location, sellers and buyers can be matched with local, vetted agents.

❌ Cons

• Limited Services: Clever agents help with comparative market analysis, pricing, and photography. However, according to reviews, extras like HOA coordination or legal help aren’t part of the package.
• High Minimum Fee: There’s a minimum listing fee of $3,000. This isn’t ideal for homes under $200,000 or fix-uppers.
• Inconsistent Agent Quality: Clever matches you with local agents. All agents may not offer the same service quality.

Clever Real Estate Competitors

Clever Real Estate has three main competitors: Houzeo, Upnest, and Redfin. We have compared them with Clever based on three metrics: savings, flexibility in agent selection, and speed of sale, respectively.

» Jump to: Clever Real Estate vs. Houzeo | Clever Real Estate vs. Upnest | Clever Real Estate vs. Redfin

1. Savings: Clever vs. Houzeo

If you’re looking at savings, Houzeo has the edge. Houzeo charges an upfront fee starting from $249 for selling assistance, irrespective of your home’s price. This means whether you’re selling a $200,000 condo or a $700,000 house, your upfront cost stays low.

Clever agents, on the other hand, charge a 1.5% fee or a minimum of $3,000. It’s a good deal compared to the traditional 3%, but the cost scales with your sale price. On a $400,000 home, for example, Clever’s fee would be $6,000 compared to just $249 with Houzeo.

Additionally, Houzeo allows you to browse through thousands of homes for sale to find your favorites, giving you control over your search. With Clever, you have to hire an agent to manage this process for you, which can extend your search timeline.

2. Flexibility in Agent Selection: Clever vs. Upnest

Clever pre-selects agents and then refers 3 matches to you at a time. While this gives you better matches, your final choice is limited to who they’ve already picked. If you’re looking for more control, UpNest has the advantage.

UpNest doesn’t use a “filter and recommend approach”. Multiple agents from their network look forward to working with you. You get to compare their proposals, experience, and fees before making a decision.

3. Speed of Sale: Clever vs. Redfin

Both Redfin and Clever prioritize speed but take different approaches. Clever focuses on pairing you with experienced local agents. These agents know the market well, which can help you sell faster. In fact, some Clever users have sold their homes in under 48 hours.

Redfin, on the other hand, uses salaried agents and relies more on tech. While their tools speed up scheduling, the agents may not be as incentivized as those with a commission-based structure. That can make a difference when you’re on a time crunch.

Methodology

We aim to provide our readers with a comprehensive and accurate understanding of Clever Real Estate. That’s why we have mentioned what goes into each of our key review factors.

Is Clever Real Estate Legit?

Yes, Clever Real Estate is a legitimate service and quite popular, too. According to their website, they’ve helped 23,000+ families buy or sell homes. They have helped sellers save over $150M in real estate fees.

These numbers show that many buyers and sellers trust Clever for their real estate needs. Additionally, we found thousands of Clever real estate reviews on Google, Trustpilot, and BBB. Such a strong online presence adds another layer of credibility to the company.

Clever Real Estate Coverage

Sellers and buyers across the nation are connected with Clever’s vast network of 14,000+ agents, spanning from coast to coast.

Clever Real Estate Services

Clever’s agents offer several services to sellers and buyers:

For Sellers

1. Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) and pricing strategy: Helps you set a competitive price based on recent local sales data.
2. Professional photography and staging advice: Ensures your home looks its best to attract more buyers.
3. Listing on the MLS and hundreds of other websites: Gives your home maximum exposure online.
4. Comprehensive digital marketing: Promotes your listing across digital channels to reach the right audience.
5. Showings and open houses management: Coordinates buyer visits and hosts events to generate interest.
6. Offers, negotiation, and paperwork assistance: Guides you through reviewing, negotiating, and accepting offers.
7. Closing coordination: Manages the final steps to make sure the sale closes smoothly.

For Buyers

1. Instant MLS Alerts: Get real-time updates when new homes hit the market.
2. Home Tours & Showings: Schedule visits and tour properties with your agent.
3. Offer Preparation & Negotiation: Get help drafting strong offers and negotiating terms.
4. Transaction Coordination: Stay on track through inspections, appraisals, and closing.
5. Specialized Local Agent Support: Work with agents who know your target neighborhood inside out.

How Does Clever Real Estate Work?

Here’s what sellers and buyers need to follow:

For Sellers

1. Get Started: Enter your home’s zip code on Clever’s website.
2. Enter Your Details: Provide information about your property, desired selling timeline, home’s value, and contact information.
3. Consult a Representative: A Clever representative will call to confirm your needs and email you tailored agent recommendations.
4. Interview and Choose: Review your agent matches, interview your favorites, and select the best fit for your selling goals.

From this point forward, you and your agent will work together to sell your home. While Clever will no longer be involved in the selling process, you can always contact their concierge team to resolve any queries.

For Buyers

Clever’s services for buyers include essentials like instant MLS alerts, offer preparation, and local agent support. These services are free to avail.

The steps to connect with an agent are similar to those of sellers. However, there’s one additional step- you’ll be asked whether you need help connecting with a mortgage lender. Answer “Yes” or “No” as required.

List With Clever Fees

If you choose to work with Clever Real Estate agents, you would have to pay either 1.5% of your home’s sale price or $3,000, whichever is greater. This means there’s a fixed minimum commission of $3,000 for homes priced under $200,000,

Let us understand Clever’s 1.5% pricing with an example:

Suppose your home sells for $500,000 on the MLS. If you were to sell the traditional way, you would pay a whopping $15,000 (3% of $500,000). However, when you sell with a Clever agent, you pay $7,500, which is half the traditional Realtor’s commission.

Note that the higher your home sale price, the higher commission you pay. Therefore, it’s always wise to know your home value first.

💲Home Worth Calculator: Not sure what is your home’s fair market value? Check it for free here and set the right asking price.

Other Options You Should Consider

• Sell to an iBuyer: Many iBuyers, like Opendoor and Offerpad, purchase hundreds of homes available on the market. iBuyers can be a great option as they offer better value, i.e., 70%-80% of the FMV. The only catch is that your home must meet their strict eligibility criteria.
• Sell to Cash Home Buyers: Individual cash buyers pay cash for homes within 7 to 30 days from when you first approach them. You skip the hassle of home staging, inspections, appraisals, etc.
• Sell For Sale By Owner: For Sale By Owner websites can help you sell your home yourself, saving you thousands in listing agent fees. Many FSBO websites will also help you get listed on the MLS and assist with FSBO paperwork.

Clever Real Estate Reviews: Should You Sell With Them?

Yes, Clever Real Estate is a good option if you want to save on commissions while still working with a full-service agent. Let’s look at their strengths and weaknesses.

The table above shows that Clever Real Estate is a great option if you’re actively involved during the sale. But, they’re not perfect.

Services like legal help or HOA coordination aren’t included, and agent quality can be inconsistent. Why rely on a middleman? Take control of your sale with a Flat Fee MLS service. Get on the MLS for a fraction of the cost, and avoid service quality issues entirely.

» Houzeo Reviews: Check out why 11,000+ home sellers have rated Houzeo, America’s #1 home buying and selling website, 4.9 stars out of 5.

Clever Real Estate Reviews: Frequently Asked Questions