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Exclusive Menu of Services

real estate concept with US dollars and mini house, shallow dofWhy is it that the internet has practically done away with travel agents and stock brokers, but real estate agents are still charging 6 %? With no broker to broker competition, there’s no need for change, but now, there’s Small Fee Realty. Our exclusive Menu of Services is saving Sellers Thousands. Work with LOCAL REALTORS and get Bigger Results at a Smaller Price.


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So How Does a Flat Fee MLS Listing Work Exactly?” We’ll give you a few scenarios that should help you understand how much you can save and what is expected of you, as the seller, if anything. Or visit our FAQ page for answers to our most commonly asked questions.

Scenario 1:

You are Selling a $200,000.00 home, and decide that you need to be in the local MLS where local qualified buyers are already searching. To save money, you purchase a Flat Fee MLS Listing. Normally you would have to pay about 6% of the sales price of your home to a Realtor at closing in order to get into the MLS, but instead you hire a Realtor with Small Fee Realty. You purchase a 6 month MLS listing for $375, and because you had been trying to sell your home on some National Websites, you already have photos and a pretty good description. You are open to paying a fee to a buyer’s agent if you have to, and are willing to offer $2,000.00 to any agent who brings you a buyer. We enter your listing into the MLS within 24 hrs of receiving your order, and we note that you are willing to pay a $2000.00 Selling fee to a buyer’s agent. We will put a standard sign in your yard and an electronic lockbox on the door so that agents can get into your home to show their clients. You are hoping to secure your own buyer in order to keep from having to pay that $2,000.00 buyer’s agent fee, so you ask your Small Fee Realty Realtor to forward all buyer leads to you.

A few days later, a couple calls our office about your home and wants to see it. We transfer the call directly to you so that you can have the opportunity to sell your own home and save the buyer’s agent’s fee.  They decide they want to make an offer, and because you are entitled to full representation by your Small Fee Realty Realtor, we provide you with the documents needed, help you negotiate a sales price, review the contracts to ensure that your interests are protected and that everything is legal. We then assist with the entire process through to closing when you collect your check. At closing we collect a 0.75% fee for Seller Representation and all documents and services provided. Your total out of pocket expense was  $1,875.00. This is where you jump up and down because you just saved $10,125.00!

Scenario 2:

In this scenario, you are fed up with For Sale By Owner, or your previous Realtor, and are ready for someone else to take over. You sign up for “The Works” Package so that you can receive all of the Premium Services offered by Realtors. You pay a Flat Fee of $900.00, and then sit back and relax. Your job is done… We build a custom sign with pictures and a description of your home, put on your electronic lock box, provide you with flyers for neighbors or friends, put together an ad for the local real estate magazine, provide staging and design advice, and present a full Comparative Market Analysis so that we can determine the best sales price for your home. You have decided to offer a 2.5% commission to the buyer’s agent, so we get all of your information entered into the local MLS as well as the next closest MLS to ensure that you receive maximum exposure.

A Realtor from another local Brokerage shows your home to their buyers. They decide to write an offer. We help you negotiate with the other party to get the best price. Again, we handle everything required to get you to closing and help you manage any issues that may arise during the process. At closing you  pay the 0.75% Seller’s Representation Fee as well as the 2.5% Buyer’s Agent’s Fee for a total of $6,500.00. You ended up paying a total of $7,400.00 to sell your home in the exact same manner you would have with a traditional 6% agent. The only difference is that you saved $4,600.00! And… this is the part where you jump up and down!

Savings

Not quite ready to promote your home in the local MLS… Add your For Sale By Owner property to our page for FREE. Because FSBO properties are not listed in the local MLS, they are not available to be viewed on local brokerage websites by local buyers, but Now you can list your FSBO here so that local qualified buyers can view it; However, we hope that should you decide to list your home in the Local MLS for maximum exposure, you would choose Small Fee Realty’s Flat Fee Listing Service and save thousands in commissions! Just fill out the form below and email your top 5 photos to SmallFeeRealty@gmail.com, and we will get your property posted at no cost to you.

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Got Questions?

Listing your home on the MLS and Realtor.com® is a “must” for any serious seller and our simple process will save you time and money. Give your property maximum exposure to local buyers while saving thousands in commissions!

What Is the MLS?

The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a cooperative database which allows professional Realtors® to share information about real estate for sale. It’s the most powerful marketing tool for a homeowner to sell their home. It’s only available to Realtors® and not to the public. In the past, the only way to get your home on this powerful list was to hire a full commission agent because only licensed real estate agents can list property for sale in the MLS, but the Realtors® at Small Fee Realty are opening up this tool to Home Sellers for a Small Fee instead of a Huge Commission.

Why do I Need to be Listed in the MLS?

Over 80% of homes are sold through the MLS in Arkansas and 4 out of 5 buyers use the MLS to find a home. Selling a home for a Flat Fee on the MLS saves homeowners thousands of dollars in commissions. A Flat Fee MLS listing gives your home the same exposure as homes listed by full-commission Realtors® in the multiple listing service.

Why pay 5% or more to a full-commission Realtor® when the only thing you really need is great marketing exposure for your property? For a one-time flat fee, Small Fee Realty gives you access to the number one selling tool used by licensed professionals without being tied to a long-term contract.

Why does it cost $375? Is that the only fee?

Flat Fee MLS listings cost as little as $375, and you pay Small Fee Realty nothing more to list your home. When a buyer is ready to make an offer, we will provide all of the documents, negotiations, and help you overcome any issues that may arise during the process. These services along with our fiduciary duties to our clients make up “Seller Representation”. There is a 0.75% commission due at closing for representation.

Traditionally a seller’s agent will take a 6% commission, keeping 3% and giving 3% to the buyer’s agent. With Flat Fee MLS you pay the flat fee and 0.75% as a “seller’s agent fee” instead of the standard 3% to list your home on the local MLS. If an agent brings you a buyer you will owe them the 3% buyer’s fee (or whatever fee you choose when you list).

Is it Difficult to Sell without an Agent?

Although our agents place the listing on the MLS for you, the calls and buyers will be referred directly to you unless you choose to allow buyer’s agents to show your home to their buyers. If you allow buyer’s agents, Small Fee Realty can still refer leads to you, if you choose.

What If I Don’t Have the Money to Pay Upfront?

We understand that some sellers hire a traditional agent, not because they want to pay more for the same services, but because they don’t have the money needed to pay for a flat fee listing upfront. We have an option for you too. When you choose to sell your home with our premium selling package, “The WORKS”, you have the option to defer your payment until closing. You pay only $29.99 per month until your home sells, and then the full payment of services is taken from your proceeds at closing. So if it takes 3 month to sell your home, you would pay an extra $89.97, but that’s a small price compared to a 6% commission! “The WORKS” package entitles you to every service we offer, which is more than most traditional agents provide for a full 6% commission. So, don’t worry, even if you can’t pay now, you can still get your home listed now and save thousands!

What is the Role of the Listing Agent?

Only licensed real estate agents can place homes in the MLS. Our Realtors® will prepare the paperwork and place your home in the MLS and give you full representation throughout the process of selling your home.

Who Handles the Paperwork?

All the necessary listing forms will be provided by your Realtor®. They can be emailed, faxed, or  completed online. Once your order is placed, the information will be received by your Realtor® who will contact you to review the listings details. All of the paperwork necessary to create a legally binding sales contract, property disclosures and any other addendums will be provided by and reviewed by your Realtor® throughout the selling process.

Are There Any Seller’s Agent Commissions?

Not until your property is sold. You will pay a flat listing fee to your Realtor and  0.75% Seller’s Represenation fee at closing.

Are There Buyer’s Agent Commissions?

Sometimes. If an agent sees a listing and brings a buyer, you must pay the buyer’s agent a commission if you accept the offer. You decide how much commission to offer as part of the MLS listing process. The commission you’re willing to pay is stated on the MLS listing beforehand. It is NOT negotiated on an agent by agent basis. We recommend offering a commission between 2 – 3% since your listing will be competing with others for agent’s attention, but again the amount is up to you. You can offer a flat fee to the buyer’s agent as well.

What if I Find a Buyer Myself? Do I pay a buyer’s agent commission?

No.  If you sell the home yourself, you essentially save any money you were planning to pay to a Buyer’s Agent.

Whose Phone Number is on the MLS?

The MLS listing and sign will display the agent’s contact information. When the listing agent receives inquiries about your property, the interested parties will be directed to you to set up showings and discuss details about your property. Realtor.com does not allow seller’s phone numbers to appear in their listings.

How Soon Will My Listing Appear on the MLS After I Sign Up?

Our Realtors will send the required forms within a few hours in most cases. Once these forms are signed (we utilize electronic signatures from your phone or computer, so there is no need to print, scan or email) and returned to us, the listing will be in the MLS in 24 – 48 hours (excluding weekends). Orders placed on Monday can easily be listed by Tuesday or Wednesday. Once listed in the MLS it takes Realtor.com about 2 – 5 business days to upload a listing to their site. This is an automatic upload and can’t be speed up.

How Many People Will See My Listing?

Just like any agent-sponsored listing, a flat fee MLS listing will receive free national exposure on the Realtor.com® website with color photos and description. The website is open to the public and is one of the most heavily trafficked real estate websites on the internet. Only properties listed in the MLS can appear on Realtor.com. In addition, MLS listings are featured on Zillow, Trulia, Yahoo!®, MSN® and other real estate websites that attract millions of potential buyers. The best part is that your listing will now be available on local Real Estate Brokerage sites where most of our local buyers are already searching for homes.

What about Photos?

You may choose to purchase Professional Photos with your order, but otherwise, upload digital photos of the exterior and interior of the house. If necessary, hard copy photos can be scanned but will slow down the process. The photos need to be saved in a .jpg file, ideally 640 x 480 pixels. Email the photos to your agent. The number of photos allowed on the MLS can vary by area.

What is the MLS Listing Length?

The flat fee MLS listing period is 6 or 12 months and can be extended in 6 month increments until your property sells.  Listings can be withdrawn from your local MLS at any time by request.