BREAKING NEWS: Post the NAR Settlement, West Virginia discount real estate brokers can save you almost the entire 6% commission. That translates to saving up to $15,042 in commission on an average $250,700 West Virginia home.
Whether you’re selling a house in Charleston or Princeton, the best discount real estate brokers in West Virginia will help you save on the 3% listing agent commission. And an additional up to 2.5% to 3% on the buyer agent commission! That’s a cool $15K on an average West Virginia home.
Rankings: Top 5 West Virginia Discount Real Estate Brokers
We’ve listed the top 5 discount real estate brokers in the Mountain State based on how much you can save on an average $250,700 home.
| Rank | Discount Real Estate Broker / Company | Listing Fee | Additional Charges | Max Savings | 100% Online | Mobile App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | List With Freedom | $149 Flat Fee | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 2. | I Sold My House | $399 Flat Fee | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 2. | UpNest | 4.3% Commission or as decided by the agent | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 3. | ColdWell Banker | 2.5% - 3% Commission | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| 5. | Ideal Agent | 2% Commission | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Types of Real Estate Discount Brokers in West Virginia
There are two types of West Virginia discount real estate brokers:
- Flat Rate Discount Brokers: Also called Flat Fee MLS companies, these discount realty services let you list your home for a fixed upfront fee. A Flat Fee MLS West Virginia listing service costs between $399 to $4,000.
- Fixed Percentage Discount Brokers: These discount Realtors charge a fixed percentage of the home’s sale price. Typically, it is anything lower than the traditional 3% fee: 1%, 1.5%, 2% or 2.5%, etc.
Reviews: 2 Best Flat Rate Discount Real Estate Companies in West Virginia
1. List With Freedom
NO PRICING ASSISTANCE
Listing Fee: $89 Onwards3.9/5
List With Freedom is a MLS listing service provider. It offers 3 packages for home sellers:
- Gold Package ($89): This package allows you to list your house for 6 months. You can upload only 6 photos with unlimited changes. Add-on services like open houses and upload home virtual tours are charged separately.
- Platinum Package ($195): Sellers prefer this package. It allows you to upload maximum photos with unlimited changes.
- Platinum+ Package ($395): You can list your house for 12 months with maximum photo uploads. This package covers online showing service with no additional charge.
- Additional Services: For both Gold and Platinum packages, sellers can opt for a Personal Transaction Coordinator Service for $395, open houses at $25 each, and a virtual tour for $40. The Platinum+ Package includes all these features in its base price.
👉 Our Take: List With Freedom can be a decent choice for experienced sellers who do not require any assistance.
List With Freedom is one of the oldest Flat Fee MLS service providers. It offers certain advantages:
- Unlimited Listing Changes: You can make an unlimited number of modifications to your listings with any of their packages.
- Buyer Leads Forwarded: All buyer leads are directly forwarded to you with no agent involvement. This means you can avoid back and forth of any information and directly negotiate with the buyer.
- Quick Listing: It allows faster house syndication to real estate websites compared to other brokerages.
List With Freedom has certain shortcomings:
- Additional Costs: List With Freedom charges a 0.25% to 0.5% compliance fee. Gold and Platinum packages charge additional fees of $25 and $40 for open house and virtual home tours respectively.
- Limited Support: It primarily operates as a self-service platform, offering minimal customer support. Sellers needing hands-on guidance may find this insufficient.
- Negotiation Challenges: Sellers may find it difficult to negotiate offers without the guidance of an experienced agent.
List With Freedom has a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
» List With Freedom Reviews: Read the customer’s feedback before choosing them.
Jim Tyminski established ListWithFreedom in 2005. It offers its services across all the US states. ListWithFreedom offers a quick and simple listing process.
You can only list your house on MLS. It does not provide any pricing or negotiation assistance.
2. I Sold My House
Experienced Broker
Listing Fee: Starting at $2994.7/5
I Sold My House provides flat fee MLS listing services across the nation. It offers 4 packages:
- Flat Fee Packages – $299 and $399: ISoldMyHouse.com offers 2 flat fee packages known as ‘Get Listed’ and ‘Get Sold’ respectively. It offers you an MLS listing, buyer leads, and FSBO listing on ISoldMyHouse.com.
- FSBO Packages – 3% Commission: This package offers all home-selling services at a discounted commission. It includes services like professional photographs, a yard sign, a lock box, and many more.
- Cash Buyer: ISoldMyHouse.com has a wide network of pre-approved cash buyers. The potential home buyers may receive an obligation-free cash offer.
👉 Our Take: ISoldMyHouse.com can be a cost-effective option for experienced sellers who are comfortable handling the selling process themselves. However, first-time sellers might find it less helpful due to the limited guidance offered.
ISoldMyHouse.com offers the following advantages:
- Experienced Broker: Kris Lippi, the owner of ISoldMyHouse.com, is an experienced real estate broker. His experience and knowledge can help you sell your house faster.
- Strong Customer Support: ISoldMyHouse.com has excellent reviews from sellers who have used their services. Quick responses and guidance at each stage highlight their strong customer support.
- Cash Buyer Option: You can sell your house as-is to a pre-qualified cash buyer. This option allows you to close quickly without paying any closing costs.
ISoldMyHouse.com has a few drawbacks:
- Limited service: ISoldMyHouse.com’s basic packages offer limited services like listing your house on the MLS. You’ll likely need to handle things like pricing, marketing, showings, and negotiations yourself.
- Not ideal for inexperienced sellers: The FSBO process can be complex, and ISoldMyHouse.com’s basic packages lack the guidance some sellers might need.
- No Buyer Support: ISoldMyHouse.com is not a buyer-focused platform. It does not offer any significant benefits to home buyers.
ISoldMyHouse.com has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Better Business Bureau.
» ISoldMyHouse.com Reviews: Learn from their reviews before choosing its services.
ISoldMyHouse is a great choice in the 8 states it covers. Kris Lippi, the Broker Owner of ISoldMyHouse is an experienced Flat Fee broker with thousands of transactions.
However, in the remaining 42 states and Washington D.C., ISoldMyHouse.com is only a referral service.
Reviews: 3 Best Fixed Percent Discount Brokers in West Virginia
3. UpNest
Negotiable FEES
Listing Fee: Varies as per the agent4.7/5
UpNest offers agent-matching services. Here’s how it works:
- No Upfront Cost: UpNest connects you with top local real estate agents at no upfront cost. Agents will discuss commission rates, fees, and potential discounts directly with you.
👉 Our Take: With UpNest you get multiple real estate agent options to choose from. However, agents’ commission rates and qualifications can vary significantly, and the quality of service may depend on the broker you select.
Here’s what UpNest offers:
- Multiple Agent Proposals: Get 3–5 commission quotes from top local agents. Compare options easily without contacting agents yourself.
- Quick Turnaround: Receive agent matches within 24 hours of signing up.
- Transparent Pricing: View all commission rates and potential savings upfront. There are no hidden fees or pressure to commit.
- Nationwide Coverage: It offers service throughout the US. It connects you with the local agent who has current market insights.
Here are some of the downsides of working with UpNest:
- No Guaranteed Savings: UpNest does not offer guaranteed savings. Instead, each agent sets their own listing fee.
- No Control Over Agent Selection: UpNest shows you commission quotes from selected agents. As a result, you might miss out on other qualified agents who are part of their network.
UpNest has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google.
» UpNest Reviews: Is UpNest actually saving you money in 2024? Read to find out.
UpNest connects you with agents in your area by utilizing technology and market data. They partner with top agents from leading national brokerage firms across the U.S.
However, your savings are not guaranteed. Your ability to negotiate would be the key factor in the deal. In other words, you may end up paying more commission, or discount rates won’t go low as you expected.
4. Coldwell Banker
LOCAL YET NATIONAL
Listing Fee: 2.5%-3% of Sale Price1.3/5
Coldwell Banker offers a variety of free tools to the seller. It includes tools like a home value estimator, moving meter tool, local market data, and fast cash offer alternatives.
- 2.5%-3% Commission: Coldwell charges a traditional brokerage fee. It offers services like renovations, home staging, technology support, etc at no upfront cost. You may negotiate your offer with their agent to get a discount.
👉 Our Take: Coldwell Banker has a huge team of professional agents. They assist you at all the stages of your real estate transaction. However, we suggest reading the customer reviews before proceeding.
Coldwell Banker provides the following advantages:
- Local and Experienced Agents: Agents with local expertise help you learn more about the current housing market state. You can then price your house right.
- Seller’s Assurance Program: It offers benefits like home staging, renovations, and technology support at no upfront cost. You pay for this expense only after your house is sold.
- Home Financing: Coldwell Banker assists buyers with home financing options. This includes down payments, mortgage prequalification, loan approval, etc.
Coldwell Banker provides the following disadvantages:
- Poor Customer Feedback: Customers have mentioned issues regarding commission percentage and unprofessionalism.
- Undisclosed Commission: Coldwell Banker does not offer fixed packages like other discount brokerages. They don’t disclose pricing options until you consult with them, and without strong negotiation, you could pay more than necessary.
It has a rating of 1.3 out of 5 stars on Consumer Affairs.
Coldwell Banker has been serving the real estate industry since 1906. A large network of brokers and sales associates is spread across 40 countries.
It offers a mobile app that makes the online listing process easy. However, it has average customer feedback.
5. Ideal Agent
Agent Matching Service
Listing Fee: 2% of Sale Price5/5
Ideal Agent is an agent matching company. It offers a single listing package for sellers:
- 2% Commission: Ideal Agent charges a 2% commission to the listing agent, which is lower than traditional rates (typically 2.5 – 3%). On an average home price of $400,000, you will be charged $8,000.
👉 Our Take: The 2% listing fee is competitive, however, the buyer’s agent still gets a 2.5 – 3% commission, bringing the total commission to around 4.5 – 5%. The savings are notable but not as significant as flat-fee brokers.
Ideal Agent stands out with several attractive offerings:
- Top Agents: The platform only works with experienced agents from major brokerages like Keller Williams Realty and RE/MAX.
- National Network: Coverage extends across the U.S., making it a versatile option for sellers nationwide.
It’s important to be aware of these potential drawbacks:
- Limited Savings: Despite the reduced listing commission, the total commission cost isn’t drastically different from standard agents.
- Agent Pool: In less populated areas there may be fewer agents to choose from, limiting flexibility.
Ideal Agent has a rating of 5 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
» Ideal Agent Reviews: Does Ideal Agent benefit you in the 2024 market?
Ideal Agent is an agent matching service that bridges sellers and buyers with licensed real estate agents in their locality.
They offer a dedicated concierge but have weak technology. Customers who have worked with them prior have complained about hidden charges as well.
Discount Real Estate Brokers West Virginia: How Much Will You Save?💲
West Virginia discount brokers can help you save almost the entire 6% commission, depending on your home’s worth.
If you choose a 6% full-service Realtor, you’d pay $15,042 to sell an average $250,700 house in the Mountain State. But, if you choose a flat-rate broker company, you save thousands. With Houzeo’s Gold plan, you only pay $1,753 and save $13,290!
NAR Settlement Saves Sellers Thousands in Commission
The NAR Settlement went into effect on August 17, 2024. Buyer agent commissions can no longer be offered on the MLS. This means sellers will save thousands! But it also means there’s a lot more compliance and litigation risks.
Here’s what this means for you:
- Sellers Can Save Thousands in Commissions: You will likely be paying much less than the traditional 3% buyer agent commission. That’s because buyer agent commissions will be negotiated twice: Once when buyers engage Buyer Agents and again when sellers review offer contracts.
- Seller Priority #1 Will Be Paperwork (to Mitigate Compliance & Litigation Risks): Buyer agents mitigate all types of risks. From seller disclosures, offer contracts, contingencies, inspections, repair requests, appraisal, and closing – Buyer agents keep the paperwork tight. Their state licensing authorities, Realtor associations, and MLS’ audit paperwork compliance. Without buyer agents, sellers will have to learn and adapt. Or risk expensive litigation.
- Negotiations Can Now Feel Like Haggling: Buyer agent commissions will now be part of offer contracts and buyer agency agreements. Buyers may ask sellers to include commissions in the form of seller concessions. That means home buyers and sellers alike will be negotiating commissions. Sellers will need expert licensed brokers to help them with these negotiations.
- Buyer Agent Commissions Can Be Offered Offline: Buyer agent commissions can still be offered outside of the MLS. They just cannot be advertised on the MLS.
Discount Realtors in West Virginia: Pros and Cons
Even though cheap Realtors in West Virginia will save you thousands in commissions, you should consider the advantages and disadvantages of hiring one:
Pros ✅
- Sell Home for a Discounted Fee: You’ll pay less fees for a discount real estate listing in West Virginia than a 6% Realtor. Even if you only want to list your West Virginia home on MLS, you pay a much lower fee than the typical 3% listing agent fee.
- Receive Full-Service Realtor Services: Discount real estate agents in West Virginia will provide the basic services that any traditional agent would. This includes assistance with pricing your home, marketing, paperwork, and negotiations.
Cons ❌
- You May Become a Victim of Hidden Fees: Some discount brokerages in West Virginia may charge hidden fees or sell essential services a la carte. Beware of shady discounted agents who lure you in with significantly low fees. Do your research and look at the best discount realtors in WV.
- Unreliable Service Quality: Discounted real estate brokers in West Virginia handle multiple clients at once to make up for the reduced commission rate. They may not be able to provide personalized assistance all the time.
- High Cancellation Fees: An WV discount real estate broker can charge a minimum withdrawal fee within a specified period. Remember to carefully review the terms and conditions of the contract before signing.
Alternatives to Discount Real Estate Agents in West Virginia
Here are some options if you do not want to opt for a discount Realtor in West Virginia:
- Sell Your Home For Sale By Owner: In a FSBO sale, you’ll have to opt for “DIY” marketing strategies like using FSBO signs, word of mouth, open houses, etc. But your listing won’t be on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and Homes.com! Meanwhile, FSBO websites in West Virginia will help you list on the MLS and increase exposure.
- Sell Your House to Cash Buyers: Almost all cash buyers in West Virginia scour the MLS for West Virginia homes for sale. This includes iBuyers, investors, and home flippers.
- Sell With a Full-Service Realtor: If you are not interested in saving your equity, you can hire a full-service, in-person Realtor in West Virginia. You’ll end up paying a full 5% to 6% commission. That’s $15,042 on a $250,700 home gone!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best discount real estate brokers in West Virginia?
List With Ideal Agent and I Sold My House are the top discount real estate brokers in West Virginia. Both provide an incredible combination of savings and technology. However, I Sold My House has only 4.7 reviews while thousands of sellers have rated Ideal Agent as 4.9 out of 5.
» Houzeo Reviews: Find out why 15,000+ home sellers love Houzeo.
How much is the real estate agent fees in West Virginia?
On average, traditional agents in West Virginia charge 5% to 6% of the sale price as commission. On the other hand, discount real estate brokerage firms in West Virginia charge 1% to 3%.
How do I find a discount broker near me in West Virginia?
You could choose a discount broker, or list your home using Houzeo. With Houzeo, your home will be listed on the MLS within 24 to 48 hours.
Can you negotiate Realtor fees in West Virginia?
Yes, you can! Infact, post the NAR Settlement, you can now also negotiate buyer’s agent commissions.
