You save a whopping $7,368 when selling a median-priced $245,600 home in West Virginia. But how? With a discount real estate broker in West Virginia, you can skip the hefty 3% listing agent commission. This allows you to list your home for as low as 1% or a flat fee and save thousands of dollars!
That’s not it! These brokers help you list your property on the MLS giving maximum exposure as 43% of buyers search properties online. In addition, discount brokers offer affordability with full service making them ideal for cost-conscious sellers.
Rankings: Top 5 West Virginia Discount Real Estate Brokers
As West Virginia’s real estate market continues to rebound post-Hurricane Idalia, home sellers are exploring ways to cut costs. With rising repair and insurance premiums, sellers want to retain more of their home sale profits.
One effective way to do this is to sell with a discount real estate broker in West Virginia. They offer lower commission rates and services compared to traditional Realtors. We’ve ranked the top 5 discount brokerages in the Mountain State for you to choose from.
Rank | Discount Real Estate Broker / Company | Listing Fee | Additional Charges | Max Savings | 100% Online | Mobile App |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | List With Freedom | $149 Flat Fee | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
2. | I Sold My House | $399 Flat Fee | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
2. | UpNest | 4.3% Commission or as decided by the agent | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
3. | ColdWell Banker | 2.5% - 3% Commission | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
5. | Ideal Agent | 2% Commission | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
What Are the Types of Discount Real Estate Brokers?
West Virginia sellers can choose from two main types of discount real estate brokers. Each of these cater to the unique needs of the home sellers:
- Flat Rate Discount Brokers: Also known as Flat Fee MLS companies, they charge a fixed upfront fee to list your home on the MLS. A Flat Fee MLS service costs between $399 to $4,000. These services offer maximum exposure for a low fee.
- Fixed Percentage Discount Brokers: These discount Realtors charge a fixed percentage of the home’s sale price. Typically, this percentage is lower than the traditional 3%. Depending on the broker, these rates may vary from 1% to 2.5%.
Reviews: 2 Best Flat Rate Discount Real Estate Companies in West Virginia
1. List With Freedom
List With Freedom is a MLS listing service provider. It offers 3 packages for home sellers:
- Gold Package ($89): This package allows you to list your house for 6 months. You can upload only 6 photos with unlimited changes. Add-on services like open houses and upload home virtual tours are charged separately.
- Platinum Package ($195): Sellers prefer this package. It allows you to upload maximum photos with unlimited changes.
- Platinum+ Package ($395): You can list your house for 12 months with maximum photo uploads. This package covers online showing service with no additional charge.
- Additional Services: For both Gold and Platinum packages, sellers can opt for a Personal Transaction Coordinator Service for $395, open houses at $25 each, and a virtual tour for $40. The Platinum+ Package includes all these features in its base price.
👉 Our Take: List With Freedom can be a decent choice for experienced sellers who do not require any assistance.
List With Freedom is one of the oldest Flat Fee MLS service providers. It offers certain advantages:
- Unlimited Listing Changes: You can make an unlimited number of modifications to your listings with any of their packages.
- Buyer Leads Forwarded: All buyer leads are directly forwarded to you with no agent involvement. This means you can avoid back and forth of any information and directly negotiate with the buyer.
- Quick Listing: It allows faster house syndication to real estate websites compared to other brokerages.
List With Freedom has certain shortcomings:
- Additional Costs: List With Freedom charges a 0.25% to 0.5% compliance fee. Gold and Platinum packages charge additional fees of $25 and $40 for open house and virtual home tours respectively.
- Limited Support: It primarily operates as a self-service platform, offering minimal customer support. Sellers needing hands-on guidance may find this insufficient.
- Negotiation Challenges: Sellers may find it difficult to negotiate offers without the guidance of an experienced agent.
List With Freedom has a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
» List With Freedom Reviews: Read the customer’s feedback before choosing them.
Jim Tyminski established ListWithFreedom in 2005. It offers its services across all the US states. ListWithFreedom offers a quick and simple listing process.
You can only list your house on MLS. It does not provide any pricing or negotiation assistance.
2. I Sold My House
I Sold My House provides flat fee MLS listing services across the nation. It offers 4 packages:
- Flat Fee Packages – $299 and $399: ISoldMyHouse.com offers 2 flat fee packages known as ‘Get Listed’ and ‘Get Sold’ respectively. It offers you an MLS listing, buyer leads, and FSBO listing on ISoldMyHouse.com.
- FSBO Packages – 3% Commission: This package offers all home-selling services at a discounted commission. It includes services like professional photographs, a yard sign, a lock box, and many more.
- Cash Buyer: ISoldMyHouse.com has a wide network of pre-approved cash buyers. The potential home buyers may receive an obligation-free cash offer.
👉 Our Take: ISoldMyHouse.com can be a cost-effective option for experienced sellers who are comfortable handling the selling process themselves. However, first-time sellers might find it less helpful due to the limited guidance offered.
ISoldMyHouse.com offers the following advantages:
- Experienced Broker: Kris Lippi, the owner of ISoldMyHouse.com, is an experienced real estate broker. His experience and knowledge can help you sell your house faster.
- Strong Customer Support: ISoldMyHouse.com has excellent reviews from sellers who have used their services. Quick responses and guidance at each stage highlight their strong customer support.
- Cash Buyer Option: You can sell your house as-is to a pre-qualified cash buyer. This option allows you to close quickly without paying any closing costs.
ISoldMyHouse.com has a few drawbacks:
- Limited service: ISoldMyHouse.com’s basic packages offer limited services like listing your house on the MLS. You’ll likely need to handle things like pricing, marketing, showings, and negotiations yourself.
- Not ideal for inexperienced sellers: The FSBO process can be complex, and ISoldMyHouse.com’s basic packages lack the guidance some sellers might need.
- No Buyer Support: ISoldMyHouse.com is not a buyer-focused platform. It does not offer any significant benefits to home buyers.
ISoldMyHouse.com has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Better Business Bureau.
» ISoldMyHouse.com Reviews: Learn from their reviews before choosing its services.
ISoldMyHouse is a great choice in the 8 states it covers. Kris Lippi, the Broker Owner of ISoldMyHouse is an experienced Flat Fee broker with thousands of transactions.
However, in the remaining 42 states and Washington D.C., ISoldMyHouse.com is only a referral service.
Reviews: 3 Best Fixed Percent Discount Brokers in West Virginia
3. UpNest
UpNest offers agent-matching services. Here’s how it works:
- No Upfront Cost: UpNest connects you with top local real estate agents at no upfront cost. Agents will discuss commission rates, fees, and potential discounts directly with you.
👉 Our Take: With UpNest you get multiple real estate agent options to choose from. However, agents’ commission rates and qualifications can vary significantly, and the quality of service may depend on the broker you select.
Here’s what UpNest offers:
- Multiple Agent Proposals: Get 3–5 commission quotes from top local agents. Compare options easily without contacting agents yourself.
- Quick Turnaround: Receive agent matches within 24 hours of signing up.
- Transparent Pricing: View all commission rates and potential savings upfront. There are no hidden fees or pressure to commit.
- Nationwide Coverage: It offers service throughout the US. It connects you with the local agent who has current market insights.
Here are some of the downsides of working with UpNest:
- No Guaranteed Savings: UpNest does not offer guaranteed savings. Instead, each agent sets their own listing fee.
- No Control Over Agent Selection: UpNest shows you commission quotes from selected agents. As a result, you might miss out on other qualified agents who are part of their network.
UpNest has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google.
» UpNest Reviews: Is UpNest actually saving you money in 2024? Read to find out.
UpNest connects you with agents in your area by utilizing technology and market data. They partner with top agents from leading national brokerage firms across the U.S.
However, your savings are not guaranteed. Your ability to negotiate would be the key factor in the deal. In other words, you may end up paying more commission, or discount rates won’t go low as you expected.
4. Coldwell Banker
Coldwell Banker offers a variety of free tools to the seller. It includes tools like a home value estimator, moving meter tool, local market data, and fast cash offer alternatives.
- 2.5%-3% Commission: Coldwell charges a traditional brokerage fee. It offers services like renovations, home staging, technology support, etc at no upfront cost. You may negotiate your offer with their agent to get a discount.
👉 Our Take: Coldwell Banker has a huge team of professional agents. They assist you at all the stages of your real estate transaction. However, we suggest reading the customer reviews before proceeding.
Coldwell Banker provides the following advantages:
- Local and Experienced Agents: Agents with local expertise help you learn more about the current housing market state. You can then price your house right.
- Seller’s Assurance Program: It offers benefits like home staging, renovations, and technology support at no upfront cost. You pay for this expense only after your house is sold.
- Home Financing: Coldwell Banker assists buyers with home financing options. This includes down payments, mortgage prequalification, loan approval, etc.
Coldwell Banker provides the following disadvantages:
- Poor Customer Feedback: Customers have mentioned issues regarding commission percentage and unprofessionalism.
- Undisclosed Commission: Coldwell Banker does not offer fixed packages like other discount brokerages. They don’t disclose pricing options until you consult with them, and without strong negotiation, you could pay more than necessary.
It has a rating of 1.3 out of 5 stars on Consumer Affairs.
Coldwell Banker has been serving the real estate industry since 1906. A large network of brokers and sales associates is spread across 40 countries.
It offers a mobile app that makes the online listing process easy. However, it has average customer feedback.
5. Ideal Agent
Ideal Agent is an agent matching company. It offers a single listing package for sellers:
- 2% Commission: Ideal Agent charges a 2% commission to the listing agent, which is lower than traditional rates (typically 2.5 – 3%). On an average home price of $400,000, you will be charged $8,000.
👉 Our Take: The 2% listing fee is competitive, however, the buyer’s agent still gets a 2.5 – 3% commission, bringing the total commission to around 4.5 – 5%. The savings are notable but not as significant as flat-fee brokers.
Ideal Agent stands out with several attractive offerings:
- Top Agents: The platform only works with experienced agents from major brokerages like Keller Williams Realty and RE/MAX.
- National Network: Coverage extends across the U.S., making it a versatile option for sellers nationwide.
It’s important to be aware of these potential drawbacks:
- Limited Savings: Despite the reduced listing commission, the total commission cost isn’t drastically different from standard agents.
- Agent Pool: In less populated areas there may be fewer agents to choose from, limiting flexibility.
Ideal Agent has a rating of 5 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
» Ideal Agent Reviews: Does Ideal Agent benefit you in the 2024 market?
Ideal Agent is an agent matching service that bridges sellers and buyers with licensed real estate agents in their locality.
They offer a dedicated concierge but have weak technology. Customers who have worked with them prior have complained about hidden charges as well.
How Much Will You Save With a Discount Real Estate Broker in West Virginia?
You could save up to $5.641 when selling a median-priced $245,600 home with a Flat Fee MLS service in West Virginia.
However, if you pay a standard 3% commission fee, you’d have to pay a whopping $7,368 to your listing agent. But, with Houzeo’s Gold plan, you will only pay $499 with a 0.5% charge at closing.
Details | Traditional Realtor (3%) | Houzeo’s Flat Fee |
Median Sale Price | $245,600 | $245,600 |
Listing Fee | $7,368 | $1,727 |
Savings | $0 | $5,641 |
Pros and Cons of Discount Realtors in West Virginia
Discount real estate brokers in West Virginia offer a great way to save. While this cost-saving option sounds good, it’s important to weigh both the pros and cons:
✅ Pros
- Lower Fees: You’ll pay less than a traditional 3% Realtor. And get access to all the features and tools for a much lower fee.
- Full-Service Support: Discount real estate agents in West Virginia offer all basic home-selling services. This includes assistance with how to price your home, marketing, paperwork, and negotiations.
- MLS Access: Discount brokers help you list your home on the MLS in West Virginia, providing exposure to a maximum no. of buyers.
❌ Cons
- Hidden Fees: Some discount brokerages in West Virginia may charge hidden fees for additional a la carte services. You must do your research and opt for the best discount Realtors in WV.
- Inconsistent Service: Some discounted brokers in West Virginia handle multiple clients at once, so personalized attention may be limited. They do this to make up for the reduced commission rate.
- High Cancellation Fees: A few of the discount brokers may impose a significant withdrawal fee if you cancel your agreement within a specific time frame.
Alternatives to Discount Real Estate Brokers in West Virginia
Here are some other options to consider for selling a house in West Virginia:
- For Sale By Owner Companies: In a FSBO sale, you have to handle every step from listing to paperwork. You can choose For Sale By Owner websites in West Virginia that provide MLS access.
- Cash Buyers: Cash buyers in West Virginia, including iBuyers, investors, and home flippers, actively search on the MLS for the listed properties.
- Full-Service Realtor: If you can’t handle the process yourself, you can opt for the traditional home-selling method. But, you’ll have to pay a 3% commission fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best discount real estate brokers in West Virginia?
The top discount real estate brokers in West Virginia are Houzeo.com and I Sold My House. However, Houzeo stands #1 with its 4.9-star rating based on thousands of customer reviews compared to I Sold My House's 4 reviews.
How much is the real estate agent fees in West Virginia?
On average, traditional agents in West Virginia charge a whopping 3% of the sale price as commission. On the other hand, discount real estate brokerage firms in West Virginiacharge a flat fee or a fixed percent of 1%.
How do I find a discount real estate broker near me in West Virginia?
To find a discount Realtor near you, check online reviews and ratings of local discount brokers. Houzeo can list your home on the MLS within 24 to 48 hours and lets you review and compare offers, manage showings everything with mobile app.