4.6
Editor's Rating0
User Rating (0 Reviews)UpNest is a free online platform that connects you with top real estate agents nationwide. You receive personalized proposals to review and compare. This helps you find the perfect agent for your home sale.
Pros
- You get agent recommendations for free.
- You get 3 to 5 competitive agent proposals.
- They have nationwide coverage.
Cons
- You might not be able to negotiate commission rates.
- You pay around 6% commission similar to a traditional broker.
UpNest is a free online agent-matching service. They connect you with real estate agents across the US. Based on your requirements, you receive proposals from the agents in your city. You can review and compare the offers to select the best agent for your needs.
However, UpNest agents are free to set their commissions and usually charge a standard 3% listing commission. UpNest charges agents 30% of their commissions as a referral fee. This may affect the agent’s willingness to negotiate commission rates with you.
-
✍️ Editor’s Take: We recommend selling with Houzeo over UpNest. Houzeo helps you save up around 2.5% commission. Instead of the traditional listing agent commission, you only have to pay a nominal flat fee. Compare UpNest vs. Houzeo.
Is UpNest Legit?
Yes, UpNest is a legitimate real estate brokerage. Simon Ru founded the company in 2013. In June 2022, Move Inc., the parent company of Realtor.com, acquired UpNest. Subsequently, UpNest is branded as “UpNest by Realtor.com”.
Moreover, UpNest is in partnership with leading brokerages such as Keller Williams, Compass, etc. However, it’s worth noting that UpNest isn’t accredited by the BBB and holds a B+ rating.
How Does UpNest Work?
The process to sell your property with UpNest is as follows:
- Submit Basic Details: Submit your personal and property details on the company’s website. This includes your preferred selling timeline, expected price, property type, etc.
- Confirm Your Request: You will receive a call from an UpNest advisor to verify your request.
- Receive Recommendations: Within the next 24 hours, you will get 3 to 5 no-obligation proposals from nearby agents. These proposals will appear on your UpNest dashboard.
- Compare Proposals: These proposals are comprehensive and include marketing plans, suggested listing prices, and commission rates. You can review the proposals to make the decision.
- Collaborate With the Agent: If the proposal meets your expectations, you can start working with the desired agent. From there, you’ll move forward with the home-selling process.
Your agent will provide you with services similar to those offered by any other full-service broker. Once you begin the process with the agent, UpNest’s role concludes. They do not intervene at any stage of the transaction.
How Much Does UpNest Cost?
UpNest does not charge any fee to offer recommendations. However, they charge a referral fee to their agent. This fee is 30% of the 6% commission. If you choose to sell with UpNest’s agent, typical commissions are still between 5.5% and 6%.
For a property of $450,000, you’ll end up paying $24,750 to $27,000 to the agent. On top of that, you’ll also incur 3% to 4% or $13,500 or $18,000 for other closing costs. So, you’ll only get $411,750 to $405,000.
Therefore, the potential savings with UpNest can be minimal, given you are paying the same traditional commissions. Other UpNest competitors may offer better opportunities to save. Before making decisions, it’s important to know your home’s current market value.
» What’s My Home’s Value: You can know your home’s market value with Houzeo’s free Home Worth Estimator. It helps you estimate the amount you will get upon sale.
Coverage
UpNest provides services across the United States through its extensive network of competitive agents.
UpNest Customer Reviews
The company has a 4.6 out of 5-star rating based on 302 UpNest Google reviews. They also have a 3.1 out of 5-star rating on BBB from 19 reviews.
Most customer reviews of UpNest.com praise their services. Some UpNest complaints mention inconsistent experiences with their agent.
UpNest Reviews: Positive
✅ Shelly had a great experience selling their home with UpNest. They were impressed by the list of realtors provided.
UpNest provided a list of great local realtors. I selected one that was just right for me, and was able to sell my home in no time!
Source: Google
✅ Roger P. was pleased as the agents worked seamlessly to help them sell and buy a new home. They appreciated how UpNest’s agents guided them through each step with helpful ideas.
Our agents worked so well together to help us sell and buy our new house. Guided us through all the aspects of the process and patiently aided us every step of the way. Lots of good ideas.
Source: Google
UpNest Reviews: Negative
❌ Ryan was frustrated with UpNest as they created more confusion than benefits. They felt a discrepancy between the promises made to consumers and Realtors. Ryan advises finding an agent on your own and interviewing several before making a decision.
The promises made to consumers and the promises made to Realtors don’t match up and then UpNest sticks themselves in the middle causing even more issues. While there are some success stories (look at the feedback) there are more problems. You are better off finding a good agent on your own. Highly recommend interviewing 3 to compare and contrast and see who makes you feel the most comfortable.
Source: Google
❌ Karen H. was dissatisfied with the service as they promised savings but failed to deliver. They do not recommend it, citing waste of time and lack of value.
They offered me no savings. Also, they sent messages saying they did when they didn’t. They were a waste of time for me.
Source: Google
UpNest Pros and Cons
✅ UpNest Reviews: Pros
Here are the pros and cons of Upnest:
- No-Obligation Services: If you don’t like any of the connected agents, you can walk away. You won’t incur any costs.
- Curated Agent Recommendations: UpNest provides you with 3 to 5 top-tier agents within 24 hours. This potentially helps you save time and make an informed decision.
- No Direct Cost: UpNest does not charge buyers or sellers for their services. Their agent recommendations are 100% free.
- Nationwide Coverage: UpNest has collaborated with agents across the United States. This allows you to connect with agents who have local market expertise.
❌ UpNest Reviews: Cons
- Unpredictable Service Quality: Your experience depends on the agent you are connected with. UpNest’s credibility doesn’t assure the service quality you get.
- Low Scope to Negotiate Commissions: Agents who secure clients through UpNest pay a referral fee. This may impact their willingness to negotiate commissions.
- No Savings: UpNest doesn’t offer any savings through their service. Ultimately, you end up paying a similar amount as you would with a traditional broker.
UpNest Competitors
» Jump to: UpNest vs. Houzeo | UpNest vs. Homelight | UpNest vs. Ideal Agent
1. Comprehensiveness of Packages: UpNest vs. Houzeo
UpNest and Houzeo, are both tech-centric platforms that simplify your real estate journey. However, the approach of both companies is different.
UpNest helps you locate an agent who charges up to 3% listing commission. On the other hand, Houzeo helps you list on the MLS without an agent for a nominal flat fee. With Houzeo, you also get the support of a virtual agent at the crucial steps of a home sale.
| Listing Fee | ||
| Customer Rating | ||
| Coverage | ||
| Mobile App | ||
| Unlimited Listing Updates | ||
| Showings Management | ||
| Offer Management | ||
| Counter an Offer | ||
| Request Highest and Best Offer |
2. Speed of Sale: UpNest vs. HomeLight
UpNest is a RE marketplace where agents compete for your listing and offer discounted services. The company charges a 30% referral fee on the agent’s commission after the sale. They recommend agents within 24 hours after you submit your personal and property details.
HomeLight follows a similar model but takes 33% of the agent’s commission as a referral fee. However, they recommend agents in minutes after you submit your information.
3. Pricing: UpNest vs. Ideal Agent
UpNest helps you match with top real estate agents nationwide. You receive 3 to 5 agent proposals after submitting your property details. However, you’ll pay around 3% commission similar to a traditional broker.
On the other hand, Ideal Agent matches you with just one agent. They have near nationwide coverage. However, with Ideal Agent, you only pay a 2% listing commission which helps you save more.
Other Options You Should Consider
- Sell to an iBuyer: Many iBuyers, like Opendoor and Offerpad, purchase hundreds of homes available in the market. iBuyers can be a great option if you want to sell your house fast.
- Sell to Cash Home Buyers: Individual companies that buy houses for cash make all-cash offers, usually within 24 to 48 hours. Cash buyers let you skip the hassle of listing on the MLS, inspection, appraisal, etc.
- Sell For Sale By Owner: For Sale By Owner websites will help you list and sell a house by owner and save thousands in listing agent commission. Many FSBO websites will also get you listed on the MLS and help you with FSBO paperwork.
UpNest Reviews: Are They Worth It?
If you’re comfortable with the 3% listing agent commission, UpNest is ideal to expedite your search. As it doesn’t charge any fee, there’s no harm in getting recommendations. However, interview the agents diligently before moving forward with the sale.
But, if you want to save on commissions, UpNest might not be a viable choice. UpNest’s agent charges the standard 6% commission. Additionally, negotiating these commissions down would be difficult as the agent has to pay a referral fee.
We recommend you use a Flat Fee MLS listing company like Houzeo to sell your home. You can get your home on the MLS by paying a nominal fee. Moreover, Houzeo’s dashboard helps you manage listings, showings, and offers effectively.
» Houzeo Reviews: Here’s why 10,000+ home sellers have rated Houzeo 4.9 stars out of 5 on Google and Trustpilot.
Reviews
(0 Reviews)
