Flat Fee MLS FAQ – Everything You Need to Know Before You List

A Flat Fee MLS listing service allows For Sale By Owner (FSBO) sellers to list their homes on the MLS without paying a 5–6% Realtor commission, helping you save thousands in real estate fees while maximizing your home’s online exposure.

• For a low, one-time flat fee, your property is listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) — the same database used by licensed Realtors® — and is automatically syndicated to Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, Trulia, Homes.com, and hundreds of local real estate agent and brokerage websites. This ensures your home is seen by millions of active buyers, investors, and buyer’s agents nationwide, giving you the same marketing power as traditional agents at a fraction of the cost.
• With a Flat Fee MLS listing, you stay in control:
• Set your own buyer’s agent commission (0%–3%)
• Manage showings and negotiate directly with buyers or agents
• Keep more of your equity while enjoying the same nationwide exposure as homes listed by full-service agents

Whether you’re selling a single-family home, condo, townhouse, multi-family property, or land, a Flat Fee MLS service is the most cost-effective way to get maximum visibility and sell faster without sacrificing your profit.

All Flat Fee MLS listings are automatically syndicated to the most popular real estate websites — including Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia, Redfin, Homes.com, and hundreds of local brokerage websites powered by your MLS. By listing your home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), your property instantly appears on the same online platforms used by licensed Realtors® nationwide, ensuring maximum visibility and nationwide exposure for your For Sale By Owner (FSBO) property.

This broad online syndication means your home is marketed directly to millions of active buyers, investors, and buyer’s agents across the country. Whether someone is searching on Zillow, browsing Realtor.com, or checking listings on their local agent’s website, your property will always be front and center, dramatically increasing your chances of selling faster and for top dollar — all while avoiding traditional 5–6% Realtor® commissions.

With a Flat Fee MLS listing, you get the same online exposure as full-service listings at a fraction of the cost, giving you complete control of your FSBO sale while keeping more equity in your pocket.

Every listing with DIYFlatFee.com includes a dedicated call-forwarding number. Buyers and buyer’s agents can reach you in several ways:

Option 1 – Direct Buyer Lead Call-Forwarding Number (Included with Every Listing)

Your dedicated number is displayed on major sites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Homes.com. All buyer and agent inquiries are instantly routed to your phone, so you never miss a showing request or lead.

Option 2 – If You Purchased the ShowingTime Upgrade

Buyer’s agents can schedule directly through the MLS using the built-in scheduling tool (ShowingTime). You’ll receive both text and email notifications for each request.

Option 3 – Through Your DIYFlatFee.com Listing

Buyers and their agents can also schedule showings directly through your DIYFlatFee.com listing.

Option 4 – Seller Contact Displayed in the MLS

Your contact information (phone, email, or both) may be displayed directly in the MLS. In this case, buyer’s agents can reach out to you without going through a third-party system.

Your Options on Any Request

No matter how a showing request comes in, you can choose to:

Accept

Reschedule

Decline

1) How are offers submitted?

All buyer agents and unrepresented buyers must submit offers through the listing broker or affiliate broker’s designated offer portal or email. This ensures all offers are properly logged and compliant with MLS and state regulations.

2) What does the seller receive after an offer is submitted?

You’ll receive the full offer package through the broker’s secure workflow or e-signature platform for review and signing. You can also download or print a copy for your records.

3) What should I review in an offer?

Purchase price

Contingencies (inspection, appraisal, financing)

Closing date

Special terms or attachments

Make notes on anything needing clarification or revision.

4) What are my options after reviewing an offer?

Accept – Sign as written.

Reject – Decline the offer.

Counter – Discuss changes with the buyer’s agent, then have them resubmit through an approved e-signature or document system.

Once the offer is fully executed, you must:

Provide a copy of the signed contract to your affiliate broker or platform coordinator.

Notify your broker or update your listing to “Pending” within the required timeframe.

⚠️ Compliance Reminder: MLS rules require listings to be updated to Pending after acceptance, typically within 24–72 hours. Late updates can result in fines charged to the seller.

5) Why must all offers go through the broker or designated portal?

Centralizing offers ensures proper recordkeeping, protects you under state and MLS compliance standards, tracks deadlines, and maintains an audit-ready file for closing.

Commissions:

Sellers are not required to offer a commission. Buyer’s agent compensation is no longer displayed in most MLSs, and buyers are responsible for their own agent’s commission. The listing broker does not negotiate compensation.

*Some MLSs still display offers—your affiliate broker can confirm and guide you.

Closing Fee:

In certain states, a small Closing or Compliance Fee may apply — typically ranging from 0.10% to 1.00% of the final sale price — depending on the state’s Broker of Record and local MLS requirements.

This fee is only charged when required by the affiliate broker to cover transaction management, offer oversight, and compliance review through closing.

If your state does not require an additional fee, you will pay nothing beyond your flat listing fee.

All costs are clearly disclosed in your listing agreement before your property is activated on the MLS.

We believe in total transparency — every fee and state-specific requirement will be posted on your state’s homepage for full visibility.

If you elect to cancel your MLS listing within seven (7) calendar days of purchase and prior to your property being activated on the MLS, we will refund your listing fee minus a non-refundable $50.00 processing fee.

After seven (7) days, or once your property has been listed and activated on the MLS, no refunds will be issued under any circumstances. By proceeding with your listing, you acknowledge and agree that our services are deemed fully performed and rendered upon MLS activation, regardless of:

• Whether your property sells,
• The duration your property remains active on the MLS, or
• Any changes to your selling plans or intentions.

Broker’s Right to Terminate

The listing broker expressly reserves the right, at their sole and absolute discretion, to terminate the listing agreement at any time and for any reason by providing the seller with forty-eight (48) hours’ written notice. Grounds for termination include, but are not limited to:

• Irreconcilable differences of opinion,
• Persistent breakdowns in communication,
• Seller’s refusal to comply with brokerage policies, MLS rules, or applicable state/federal regulations,
• Misrepresentation of property details, or
• Any other circumstance that, in the broker’s sole judgment, renders continuation of the listing relationship impractical, unproductive, or detrimental.
• In the event the broker elects to terminate the listing agreement pursuant to this provision, the seller shall be entitled to a full refund of the upfront listing fee, and the agreement shall be deemed null, void, and of no further force or effect.

Limitation of Liability

By proceeding with this agreement, the seller acknowledges and agrees that DIYFlatFee.com, its broker, agents, affiliates, employees, and representatives shall not be held liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from, relating to, or resulting from:

• The broker’s decision to terminate this agreement;
• The removal or withdrawal of the listing from the MLS;
• Missed opportunities, lost profits, or any claimed damages tied to the termination; or
• Any perceived reputational, financial, or transactional impact resulting from the broker’s exercise of rights under this policy.

Under all circumstances, the broker’s total cumulative liability to the seller shall not exceed the total amount of listing fees paid by the seller under this agreement.