Most American homeowners sell their home about once every 12 years, making it a major life event. Prepare the home, find an agent, list it on the MLS, set up showings, wait for offers, and eventually hand over the keys. The whole process can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve never done it before.
Bob Leclair faced the same challenge, but he didn’t shy away from it. On the contrary, he decided to take more of the process into his own hands by selling his home without a traditional listing agent. He opted for Houzeo’s Flat Fee MLS service and sold not just one but two homes in just 18 months.
The first time Bob sold his house, he was learning the process of selling by owner and needed some assistance. By the second time, he was a pro. And ultimately, across both sales, Bob saved an estimated $27,672 in listing commissions.
In Bob’s own words, “I’ve used Houzeo twice now, once 18 months ago and again recently, and both times the experience was smooth.“
Bob’s story isn’t just about a seller who sold two homes and saved thousands. It’s about a seller who learned he could handle selling his house himself while still having someone to turn to when he needed help.
It Started With a Simple Question: Why Pay 3%?
Before Bob listed his first home, he did what most sellers do when faced with a major financial decision: he ran the numbers.
A traditional listing agent typically charges around 3% of the sale price in commissions. On a $470,000 home, that’s approximately $14,100.
That’s not pocket change. At that level, 3% starts looking like a car payment, a semester of tuition, or a kitchen remodel.
Bob wondered: What if he could list his home on the MLS without giving up thousands of dollars in listing commissions?
That’s what ultimately led him to Flat Fee MLS and Houzeo.
The idea was pretty straightforward: pay a flat fee to get the house on the MLS, then take on some more of the selling process yourself.
For Bob, the potential savings were worth the trade-off. However, there was one thing he didn’t know: could he actually pull off selling his home himself?
Sale No. 1: Bob Was Learning on the Go
On October 29, 2022, Bob chose Houzeo’s Gold plan and listed his first home on the MLS for $469,000.
The Gold plan is tailored for first-time sellers who need extra guidance. Bob had access to a 6-month MLS listing, maximum photos, IntelliList listing management with unlimited updates, seller disclosures, Houzeo Showings, and Houzeo Offers.
That support mattered because Bob was figuring things out as he went. Soon after came the part every seller waits for: the offers.
On November 12, just two weeks after listing, Bob received his first offer: $450,000. It was $19,000 below his asking price. That’s not an offer any seller would want to see.
However, Bob wasn’t disappointed for long. The very next day, on November 13, he received another offer.
It was for $470,000, $1,000 above his asking price.
That had to feel good. Buyers were competing for his house, and the winning offer was more than what he asked for. Bob accepted the second offer and closed the sale on December 15, 2022, just 47 days after listing.
He paid only $429 to Houzeo. At a traditional 3% listing commission, the same sale would have meant approximately $14,100 in commissions. Estimated savings: $13,671
However, the money wasn’t the only thing Bob walked away with. He also gained something that would matter for his next sale: experience. His first experiment had worked. It wasn’t effortless, and Bob was honest about that, “There was some effort involved, but not too bad.“
He learned how buyers responded to his listing. He learned how to manage inquiries and showings. When he hit something he wasn’t sure about, he leaned on Houzeo’s customer support team, and one person stood out: Alex.
Bob described Alex as “extremely helpful” and “invaluable” throughout the transaction. That kind of support gave Bob a safety net without taking away the steering wheel.
18 Months Later, Bob Wasn’t a First-Time Seller Anymore
In March 2024, Bob had to sell another home.
He could have gone for an agent or tried another Flat Fee MLS service. Instead, he returned to Houzeo. This decision says something that a first transaction alone can’t.
Bob already knew what a DIY sale involved. He knew he’d have to handle buyer communication, showings, offers, paperwork, and other parts of the transaction. He also knew exactly where to turn if he needed help.
So this time, he chose Houzeo’s Bronze plan, which is built for sellers who’ve already done this before. He got a 6-month MLS listing with 24 photos, unlimited listing changes, unlimited open houses, IntelliList listing management, and Houzeo Showings.
The difference wasn’t just the plan that Bob chose. It was his familiarity with the process. Bob already knew what to expect and where to turn when he needed help.
Sale No. 2: This Time, Bob Knew the Ropes
On March 14, 2024, Bob listed his second home for $480,000. This time, he didn’t have to spend weeks waiting. Just 13 days after listing, Bob received an offer.
Not something below the asking price. $480,000. Full asking price.
He accepted the offer and closed the sale on April 25, 2024, just 42 days after listing.
The Bronze plan cost him $399. A traditional 3% listing commission on the same sale would have been approximately $14,400. Bob’s estimated savings: $14,001.
The second time, too, Bob didn’t have to work alone. Even though he needed less guidance this time, Alex and the Houzeo support team were there when questions came up.
Two Sales, One Number That Matters
| Transaction Details | First Home | Second Home |
|---|---|---|
| Home Sale Price | $470,000 | $480,000 |
| MLS Listing Activation | October 29, 2022 | March 14, 2024 |
| Sale Closing Date | December 15, 2022 | April 25, 2024 |
| Days to Sale | 47 days | 42 days |
| Houzeo Plan Purchased | Gold | Bronze |
| Listing Fee | $429 | $399 |
| Traditional Commissions (3%) | $14,100 | $14,400 |
| Savings with Houzeo | $13,671 | $14,001 |
Total estimated savings: $27,672
In his testimonial, Bob mentioned saving “around $25,000“, but sale-by-sale math puts his estimated savings over $27,000.
Either way, Bob kept thousands of dollars in his pocket across his two home sales. Plus, the first experience worked well enough to bring him back for a second sale.
What $27,000 Looks Like Outside a Spreadsheet
$27,672 is a big number, and it can sound impressive on paper, but beyond that, it can still feel abstract. Here are some things most people actually spend that much on.
| What $27,000 Could Cover | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| 5% down payment on a $550,000 home | $27,500 |
| Full kitchen remodel | $25,000–$40,000 |
| Closing costs on a new home | $11,000–$22,000 |
| One year of private school tuition | $12,000–$28,000 |
| New roof | $9,000–$16,000 |
| Six months of emergency savings | $20,000–$25,000 |
What It Actually Asked of Bob
Selling without a traditional listing agent doesn’t mean the seller gets to sit back and wait for the closing document to be handed over.
Bob had to be involved. He responded to buyer questions, managed showings, reviewed and negotiated offers, handled paperwork, and coordinated with the title company. Those are real responsibilities, and Bob never claimed otherwise.
What he did say was: “There was some effort involved on my end, responding to buyers, handling paperwork, that kind of thing, but not too bad.“
That’s the trade-off. You take on more of the process. In return, you keep more of the money. Bob wasn’t looking for a completely hands-off home sale. He was willing to put in some work if it meant keeping more of the proceeds.
In Bob’s Own Words
I’ve used Houzeo twice now, once 18 months ago and again recently, and both times the experience was smooth. Alex was extremely helpful and invaluable through both transactions. There was some effort involved on my end, responding to buyers, handling paperwork, that kind of thing, but not too bad. Between the two sales, I estimate I saved around $25,000 compared to what I would have paid in commission with a traditional agent. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Houzeo again.
Source: Google
Two Sales Later, Bob’s Verdict is Simple
For Bob, $27,000 in savings was the obvious win, but the confidence was an additional bonus. He summed up his experience in a way that captures both journeys: “I’ve used Houzeo twice now, once 18 months ago and again recently, and both times the experience was smooth.“
He made it clear that the process required some effort from him, but it was manageable. More importantly, when he needed help, he knew Alex and the Houzeo support team were there. At the end, he said, “I wouldn’t hesitate to use Houzeo again.“
That’s what makes Bob’s story more compelling than a single successful transaction. The first time, he tested whether he could sell his home himself with Houzeo’s Flat Fee MLS service. The second time, he came back knowing he could.
The first sale gave Bob the confidence. The second proved it.
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How We Source Customer Stories
This customer feature is based on verified user testimonials and transaction records from sellers who listed through Houzeo. Our team reviews customer feedback alongside actual listing and sales details to present real seller experiences and help homeowners make informed decisions about their home sale.
