Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before listing your home with FlatFeeDIY. Still have questions? Contact us.
What is a flat-fee MLS listing?
It is a way to put your home on the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) by paying a one-time flat fee to a licensed broker, instead of giving up a 3% listing-side commission at closing. Your home appears on the same MLS that traditional listings use, and syndicates to Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia, Redfin and other portals.
Do I still have to offer commission to the buyer's agent?
No, this is your decision. Many sellers still offer 2–3% to a buyer’s agent because most buyers are represented and their agent expects compensation. You set the buyer-agent compensation during the listing wizard — including offering nothing. Whatever you offer is paid only out of your sale proceeds at closing, not to FlatFeeDIY.
What happens when the home sells?
You and the buyer (or their agent) negotiate and sign a purchase contract. Your partner broker can review the contract on request. At closing, escrow handles the disbursements. FlatFeeDIY does not collect any commission at sale — only the one-time listing fee you paid up front.
Who actually holds my listing on the MLS?
A licensed real-estate broker in your state, partnered with FlatFeeDIY. Their MLS membership and license are what permits your home to be in the MLS at all. You sign an MLS listing agreement directly with that broker as part of checkout. Their name, license number and MLS affiliation are displayed before you sign.
How long is the listing term?
The Basic package is 6 months. Standard and Premium are 12 months. You can renew with a one-time add-on, or cancel at any time without penalty (refund policy depends on whether the listing has gone live).
How long until I get an MLS number?
Typically 1–2 business days after you complete checkout. Your partner broker reviews the data, places the listing on the MLS, and the MLS assigns the MLS number. You receive an email and dashboard notification with the MLS number and a link to the public listing.
Can I cancel my listing?
Yes, anytime, with no penalty. Cancellations before the listing has gone live are eligible for a full refund of the listing fee. After the listing is on the MLS, refunds are pro-rated based on time elapsed and work already done (sign installed, photos taken, etc.) per our refund policy.
Which portals will my listing appear on?
The local MLS distributes your listing to its syndication partners. Most listings appear on Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia, Redfin, Homes.com and dozens of regional sites within 24–72 hours of going live. Specific syndication coverage depends on the local MLS’s data-distribution agreements.
What is the broker’s relationship to me?
The partner broker is your listing broker for the duration of the listing — legally required by the MLS. They provide the MLS placement, basic compliance review and the disclosures required by your state. The day-to-day work of marketing and showing the home is done by you, unless you purchase add-ons (e.g. Concierge Showings, Contract Review) that engage the broker for more services.
What do the add-ons actually cover?
Photography sends a local professional photographer to take 25–30 HDR photos. Video Tour produces a 60–90s walkthrough. Yard Sign ships a branded sign with rider, with optional install. Lockbox ships a combo or electronic lockbox. Concierge Showing answers showing requests on your behalf 7 days a week. Contract Review has a broker walk through a buyer’s offer with you. Pricing for each is on the pricing page.
What are the photo guidelines?
Most MLSes require horizontal-orientation photos at minimum 1024 pixels wide. Each photo must show real interior or exterior conditions — no marketing overlays, watermarks, or third-party logos. We accept JPG and PNG up to 12 MB each. The photo manager in your dashboard validates this automatically as you upload.
Can the listing be changed after it’s live?
Yes. Standard and Premium packages include unlimited listing changes — price changes, status changes, photo updates, description edits, etc. Basic includes three free changes; additional changes are $19 each. Submit changes through your dashboard; they appear on the MLS within one business day.
What if my home is in HOA or has special disclosures?
The wizard collects HOA name, fees, and what they include. State-specific disclosures (e.g. California TDS, Texas Seller’s Disclosure, Florida flood zone, NY PCD) are required where applicable and built directly into the wizard for your state.
Do I need to be in the state to list a property there?
No. The property must be in the state, but you (the owner) can live anywhere. We’ve helped sellers list from across the country, overseas, or even via family member with power of attorney.
Is FlatFeeDIY itself a real-estate brokerage?
No. FlatFeeDIY is a technology platform that connects sellers with state-licensed partner brokers. We do not hold a real-estate brokerage license and we do not collect any sale commission. All brokerage services are provided by independently-owned partner brokers under your written listing agreement with them.
How do you make money if you don’t take commission?
We charge a one-time, transparent listing fee — the price shown on the pricing page. A portion of that fee goes to the partner broker who places and manages your listing; FlatFeeDIY keeps the platform portion. Add-ons you purchase pay for the services they describe (photographer, sign, etc.).