Brokerless Reviews: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives (2023)

10 mins read Aug 12, 2024
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Edited By

Carol Coutinho

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Editor
Edited By

Carol Coutinho

Editor, Houzeo
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Carol C. is a versatile editor, expertly refining real estate content with precision and creativity. When not exploring market trends, she is immersed in the enthralling world of the theatre.

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✏️ Editor’s Note: Realtor Associations, agents, and MLS’ have started implementing changes related to the NAR’s $418 million settlement. While home-sellers will likely save thousands in commission, compliance and litigation risks have significantly increased for sellers throughout the nation. Learn how NAR’s settlement affects home sellers.

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Brokerless is a nationwide referral service. Once you buy a listing package, Brokerless will refer you to a local broker who will list you on the MLS. Brokerless' claim to fame is its cheap $99 listing.

Editor’s Rating

4.6

User Rating

1

(1 Reviews)

Write a review

Pros

  • Jack Laufer, the owner of Brokerless, has 17 years of experience.
  • They offer nationwide coverage.
  • Their packages start at just $99.
  • Jack is known for his stellar customer service.

Cons

  • Brokerless is a referral service, so you won't know who your listing agent or their reviews till after you purchase a plan.
  • There may be addtional fees at closing. Read the listing agreement carefully.
  • Brokerless technology is outdated.

Brokerless is a nationwide referral company. This means that once you purchase a listing package, Brokerless will send over your contact details to a local Flat Fee MLS broker who will reach out to you with paperwork to list you on your local MLS.

Brokerless lets you list for as low as $99 upfront. Brokerless is known for this $99 barebones listing. There may be additional fees or a commission at closing, especially in minimum service states.

You won’t know the complete details of the fees till you purchase a package and review the local broker partner’s listing agreement. So, we highly recommend you review all the listing paperwork meticulously before signing.

Brokerless does not offer many essential services. You cannot avail of services like market analysis, pricing assistance, offer review & negotiations, or contract-to-close packages via Brokerless. Your local broker may offer these services though, so be sure to ask.

    ✍️ Editor’s Take: For most home sellers, we recommend Houzeo over Brokerless. Houzeo offers the best combination of comprehensive services, stellar technology, and 5-star customer support. Compare Brokerless vs. Houzeo.

Is Brokerless.com Legit?

Yes. Brokerless Inc. is a legitimate brokerage (Florida License Number: CQ1026651) founded in 2006 by Jack Laufer. The company is headquartered in Weston, Florida.

Brokerless is not a traditional brokerage. They do not list you directly on the MLS. Instead, Brokerless will refer your listing to an agent licensed in your state. This agent will then list you on the MLS. Brokerless will pay them a fee from what you paid once the listing goes live.

Brokerless has been in the real estate industry for over 15 years. However, their technology is outdated. Brokerless does not offer online listing, showing management, offer management, inspection scheduling, or an online dashboard. In addition, Brokerless does not offer pricing assistance, offer review & negotiation, inspection repair response assistance, or contract-to-close assistance. Your local broker might offer these services, so be sure to verify their listing upgrades.

How Does Brokerless Work?

Brokerless acts as a middleman between you and your agent. Once you purchase a plan on Brokerless.com, they forward your contact info and the property information to a broker who is licensed in your state. This broker will then help you list your property on the MLS.

Brokerless depends on your agent for tasks like pricing changes and open house announcements. This approach may lead to complexities and delays.

Brokerless Sign-up Process

The sign-up process with Brokerless.com is straightforward. However, you have to purchase add-ons separately.

  • Select a Package: Choose a plan on the home page of their website.
  • Make Payment: Pay via PayPal or your credit/debit card.
  • Submit Listing Forms: Complete and submit the listing forms via email.
  • Send Photos: Submit the photos via email or upload them to a server so the Brokerless partner broker can download them.

Your MLS listing goes live within 24 to 48 hours of paperwork submission.

Brokerless Coverage

Brokerless offers services in all 50 states of the US. They achieve this coverage through their network of brokers.

Brokerless Services

Brokerless offers 3 flat fee packages, varying in terms of listing period and number of photos. Most of the other services are same.

  • $99 Package: 6-month listing period with 6 photos and free status changes.
  • $149 Package: 6-month listing period with 25 photos and free status changes.
  • $188 Package: 12-month listing period with 25 photos and open house alerts.

» What’s My Home’s Value: You can know your home’s market value with Houzeo’s free Home Worth Estimator. It helps you estimate the amount you will get upon sale.

👍 What We Like👎 What We Don't Like
✅ Free disclosure forms❌ Marginal improvements in packages
✅ Market exposure on Zillow and Realtor.com❌ No tool for listing management
❌ No assistance in negotiations
❌ No comparative market analysis

👉 Our Take: We do not recommend Brokerless to most home sellers. Their plans are not comprehensive and lack many essential services. Moreover, you may have to purchase add-ons separately which increases the overall cost.

Additional Services

Brokerless offers some additional services to customize their plans.

Add-onsCost
25 photos$50
Open house alerts$50
2nd MLS category$99
Showing time tool$75
    👉 Important: Brokerless does not disclose the number of open house announcements they allow for $50.

Brokerless Reviews

Brokerless has a 4.7 out of 5-star rating on Google based on 40 reviews. They also have a 4.5 out of 5-star rating on Better Business Bureau based on 8 reviews.

Brokerless Positive Reviews

✅ Tina appreciated the smooth process with Brokerless.

Tina RUSASubmitted 2022

Super company. Was very attentive to getting my home advertised and sold within 2 days. Thank you for all the time you spent with me, a first time seller. My house sale went so smoothly. Thank you again!

Source: BBB

✅ John was happy with the services and praised Jack Laufer for his professionalism and responsiveness.

John LinUSASubmitted 2023

Jack is possibly the most knowledgeable and useful flat fee broker when it comes to listing placements. You can trust him to know exactly which mls coverage is needed to yield the best outcome. More importantly, he’s hands down the most responsive broker out there.

Source: Google

Brokerless Negative Reviews

❌ Lori felt that the staff of Brokerless was rude to her, and hence she chose not to work with them.

Lori SUSASubmitted 2021

I called this brokerage and spoke to the gentlemen. He rushed me in a condesending patronizing way. I was rushed to get out much information and not able to speak. I will not use this company after being told to get my ducks in a row before calling with questions again. BTW, all my ducks are in a row. I’m a former realtor and would never speak to a potential customer / client the way he spoke to me.

Source: BBB

❌ Jeff found the owner to be unprofessional. He also highlighted the unresponsiveness of their staff.

Jeff BurnettUSASubmitted 2023

Not a good experience at all. By all means use another company. Plus they don’t want to talk to you after they have gotten your money. The owner is super unprofessional. And when you look at other comments you can see the same pattern. If I could give below a 1 start I certainly would.

Source: Google

Brokerless Reviews: Pros and Cons

Let’s evaluate the pros and cons of Brokerless to see if they are an ideal choice for you.

👍 Pros

Here are some of the benefits that Brokerless offers to home sellers.

  • Nationwide Coverage: Brokerless offers services in all 50 states and D.C. through their affiliated brokers.
  • Experienced CEO: Jack Laufer, Brokerless’s president and owner, has almost 17 years of experience in the industry.
  • Contact Info Available to Buyers: Interested buyers can contact you directly through the MLS listing.

👎 Cons

During our research, we found certain limitations with Brokerless.

  • Outdated Technology: Brokerless technology is relatively weak. You will lack the ability to manage listings, counter offers, and request the highest and best offer.
  • Dependency on Third-party Brokerless relies on a third-party agent to manage listings which may delay the process.
  • Lack of Essential Services: Brokerless doesn’t offer services like market analysis, negotiations, closing assistance, etc.

Brokerless Competitors

» Jump to: Brokerless vs. Houzeo | Brokerless vs. Flat Fee Group | Brokerless vs. FSBO.com

1. Brokerless vs. Houzeo

Brokerless’ plans seem affordable, but you may have to pay a hefty price for some vital services. These services include an online showing management platform, open house announcements, etc.

On the other hand, Houzeo’s Silver plan includes essential services like listing and showing management platforms. Moreover, Houzeo’s mobile app makes home selling easy and efficient.

BrokerlessHouzeo
Listing fee$188$399 flat fee
Customer rating4.7 stars (40 reviews)4.9 stars (5,450 reviews)
Coverage50 states47 states + Washington D.C.
Unlimited listing changes
Showings management
Offer management
Counter an offer
Request highest and best offer
Home inspection dashboard

2. Brokerless vs. Flat Fee Group

Flat Fee Group is a network of brokers who provide MLS listing services. They have near-nationwide coverage. Flat Fee Group offers some benefits over Brokerless.

Flat Fee Group openly discloses the broker associated with them. They are transparent about their pricing and also offer agent support in most states.

3. Brokerless vs. FSBO.com

FSBO.com is one of the oldest For Sale By Owner listing service providers. The base fees of FSBO.com and Brokerless are similar. However, FSBO.com only lists your property on their platform. So, your property won’t receive visibility on the MLS.

Best Flat Fee Companies Near You

If the limited services of Brokerless don’t excite you, here are the top flat fee companies that serve your state.

RegionStates/CitiesStates
NortheastStates Connecticut | Maine | Massachusetts | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New York | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | Vermont
NortheastCities Boston, MA | Long Island, NY | Rochester, NY | Syracuse, NY | Pittsburgh, PA
MidwestStatesIllinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Michigan | Minnesota | Missouri | Nebraska | North Dakota | Ohio | South Dakota | Wisconsin
MidwestCities Chicago, IL | Peoria, IL | Indianapolis, IN | Kansas City, KS | Grand Rapids, MI | Minneapolis, MN | Kansas City, MO | St. Louis, MO | Cleveland, OH | Cincinnati, OH | Appleton, WI | Milwaukee, WI | Madison, WI
SouthStates Alabama | Arkansas | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maryland | Mississippi | North Carolina | Oklahoma | South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | Virginia | Washington D.C. | West Virginia
SouthCities Birmingham, AL | Huntsville, AL | Jacksonville, FL | Miami, FL | Naples, FL | Tampa, FL | Palm Beach, FL | Atlanta, GA | Louisville, KY | Charlotte, NC | Greensboro, NC | Raleigh, NC | Wilmington, NC | Asheville, NC | Oklahoma City, OK | Tulsa, OK | Greenville, SC | Columbia, SC | Charleston, SC | Knoxville, TN | Austin, TX | Dallas, TX | El Paso, TX | Houston, TX | San Antonio, TX | Fort Worth, TX | Richmond, VA | Hampton Roads, VA | Ashland, KY | Lexington, KY
WestStates Alaska | Arizona | California | Colorado | Hawaii | Idaho | Montana | Nevada | New Mexico | Oregon | Utah | Washington | Wyoming
WestCitiesSeattle, WA | Phoenix, AZ | Los Angeles, CA | Bakersfield, CA | Denver, CO | Colorado Springs, CO | Las Vegas, NV | Albuquerque, NM

Other Options You Should Consider

  • Sell to an iBuyer: iBuyers purchase homes needing minimal repairs in as-is condition. They can be a great option if you want to sell your house fast.
  • Sell to Cash Home Buyers: Individual cash home buyers make all-cash offers, usually within 24 to 48 hours. They also let you skip listing on the MLS.
  • Sell For Sale By Owner: For Sale By Owner websites help you list and sell a house yourself, saving thousands in agent commissions. Many FSBO websites will

Should You List With Brokerless?

Brokerless services are not comprehensive. You can not avail of services like assistance in pricing, negotiations, and closing. Moreover, Brokerless also falls short of providing an optimal digital experience.

For an efficient home sale, you need a reliable listing partner like Houzeo. Houzeo’s packages include essential services like listing changes and open house announcements. You don’t have to purchase add-ons separately for these services.

Moreover, with Houzeo’s user-friendly dashboard, you can manage the entire sale online. Their dashboard allows you to compare offers and request the highest and the best offer. Lastly, you can do everything on the go with Houzeo’s mobile app.

» Houzeo Reviews: Check out why more than 5,000 home sellers have rated Houzeo 4.9 stars out of 5 on Google reviews and Trustpilot.

📞 Need Help? Schedule a FREE Consultation


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Brokerless Reviews: FAQs

1. What is Brokerless?

Brokerless Inc. is a nationwide referral company that offers Flat Fee MLS listing services through their affiliated brokers. However, you may have to pay more than the price listed on their website.

2. Is Brokerless.com legit?

Yes. Brokerless.com is a legitimate MLS listing service provider. They are not licensed brokerage and offer services through other brokers. Learn more about Brokerless.com.

3. What are the major complaints of Brokerless?

Brokerless' complaints revolve around their unresponsive and unprofessional staff. Further, these complaints highlight the rude behavior and lack of willingness of their customer support.

4. How to get an MLS listing without a realtor?

To list on the MLS without a realtor, you need to hire a listing service like Houzeo. Houzeo lists your property under 24 hours and helps you save thousands on agent's commission.

5. Can you list For Sale By Owner on the MLS?

Yes. You can list on the MLS For Sale By Owner through an MLS listing company. You don't need an agent for that. This approach helps you save on commission and provides the complete control over listing.

Flat Fee Listing Services Near Me

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Reviews

1.0

(1 Reviews)

  • Mr. President

    Verified Reviewer

    10th Feb 2024

    Jack Laufer is Very rude and condescending.

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