When you're selling a home, you have two options: hire a real estate agent to handle the sales process for a hefty commission or list the home "for sale by owner" (FSBO).
Nearly 20% of home sellers choose the FSBO option, and about 2 of 3 successfully complete a sale without the assistance of an agent, while saving a bundle in agent commissions - about $11,000 on average. While the FSBO route has its benefits, it is highly recommended to understand what you're getting into before you put your home up for sale on your own or decide to list with a "flat-fee" brokerage.
Types of FSBO and Flat Fee Companies in Georgia
- FSBO: You manage your own sale — without the help of an agent to handle pricing, photography, paperwork, and negotiations.
- Flat-Fee MLS: This is similar to FSBO, however your property gets listed on the local multiple listing service.
- Discount Broker: This option is comparable to an MLS listing, but you get the help of an agent for a reduced commission rate.
If you’re still interested in finding more about FSBO, Flat-Fee MLS or Discount Broker listing options in Georgia, keep reading. We've prepared a list of the best options, whether you're located in Atlanta, south Georgia or the the north Georgia mountains.
Ranking of the Top 6 For Sale By Owner, Flat Fee and Discount Brokers
6) Fizber
Fizber has been around for 15 years and is known as the tech-oriented FSBO platform that offers handy additional features, such as advanced marketing, 3D virtual tours, online brochures, and other marketing materials that can help you sell your property like a true professional.
While Fizber's free listing option is too limited for most, they do offer three paid listing options that range in price from $95 to $395 per listing. By upgrading your listing to a paid package, you can take advantage of Fizber's marketing collateral, yard signs, and sales documentation.
5) FSBO.com
FSBO.com has been in operation since 1997. They have built a known web domain that has staying power with one of the largest volumes of online traffic.
FSBO.com offers two service tiers. Their basic listing option includes a year long customizable listing, complete with unlimited photo uploads. Their upgrade package is $399 and gets your home listed on the MLS.
4) Zillow
Zillow is the largest real estate portal and also has the most mobile app and website traffic. In fact, most of the other providers offer a mobile app.
That said, Zillow offers zero listing support. Sellers looking to list their home for sale on Zillow can expect to get a Zillow listing and a "Zestimate," which is Zillow's home valuation tool. If you're looking for extras, such as contract guidance or negotiation support, Zillow's platform likely isn't your best option. One downside is that listing on Zillow does not allow your listing to be distributed via the local MLS.
3) Homecoin
Homecoin is available in California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
It offers one of the lowest rates, only $95. All additional services are sold á la carte. Homecoin does not offer tiered service plans or premium options such as broker support.
Homecoin is ideal for experienced FSBO sellers who know exactly what services they need and for those that are seeking a bare-bones offering with no agent support. If you want a lock box or yard sign, Homecoin does not offer these type of add-ons.
2) USRealty
USRealty claims to have assisted over 25,000 owners in selling their home to date. They offer four listing service options, starting with a free service and increasing in price to $249.
All packages include 6 months of listing exposure on the MLS, as well as auto population of your listing to Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com, which is necessary because of USRealty relatively low site traffic.
Their higher tier package is ideal for the homeowner who would like assistance with every step of the listing and sale process. It includes a yard sign and even a broker review of any offers received.
1) SimpleShowing
Based locally in Alpharetta, SimpleShowing charges $0 up front and a 1% listing fee at closing. In 2022, sellers saved $9,300 on average by listing with SimpleShowing instead of a large, national brokerage like ReMax or Keller Williams.
The 1% Listing Fee includes:
- listing on the MLS and 50+ real estate sites
- professional photos
- digital marketing of your listing
- dedicated real estate agent
- pricing/home valuation help
- contract and negotiation management
Conclusion
Selling FSBO or through a low commission brokerage like SimpleShowing may be a wise decision if you already know the rough value of your home, you're an experienced seller, or if you live in a hot area where homes are selling quickly. Learn more about discount brokerages and how they differ from FSBO providers.
To get an idea of how much your Georgia home might be worth, check out our free home valuation tool.