Why Flat Fee MLS Versus A Traditional Realtor!

Why Flat Fee MLS Versus A Traditional Realtor

Selling your home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. For decades, the standard option has been hiring a traditional real estate agent who charges a 5–6% commission. But more and more homeowners in Michigan are choosing Flat Fee MLS instead — and for good reason.Here’s a clear, honest breakdown to help you decide which option is truly better for you.What Is Flat Fee MLS?

With our Flat Fee MLS service, you pay one low upfront fee (usually a few hundred dollars) to have your home listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and all major real estate websites (Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, etc.).You keep full control of the sale, showings, and negotiations.

When your home sells, you only pay the buyer’s agent commission (typically 2–3%), which is already standard in most traditional sales anyway.What Is a Traditional Realtor?

A traditional realtor lists your home on the MLS and handles everything for you — marketing, showings, negotiations, paperwork — in exchange for a commission of 5–6% of the sale price.On a $400,000 home, that’s $20,000 – $24,000 in commissions.Flat Fee MLS vs Traditional Realtor – Side-by-Side Comparison

1. Massive Cost Savings
   You keep thousands of dollars that would have gone to double agent commissions.
2. Full Control
   You decide the showing times, price adjustments, and which offers to accept.
3. Same Exposure
   Your home still appears on Zillow, Realtor.com, and everywhere else — because it’s on the MLS.
4. No Pressure
   You’re not locked into a long exclusive listing agreement with an agent who may push you to sell faster or lower.
5. Modern Buyers
   Today’s buyers do most of their research online. As long as your home is on the MLS with good photos and a virtual tour, it gets seen.

• “You get what you pay for” — Not true. Many flat fee sellers close successfully and save big.
• “Homes don’t sell as fast” — Exposure is the same. Price and condition sell homes, not the listing type.
• “It’s only for FSBOs” — False. You still get full MLS exposure and can work with buyer’s agents.

• You’re comfortable being more involved in the process (typically there is little more involvement than a traditional real estate listing)
• Your home is in good condition and priced correctly
• You want to save $10,000–$25,000+
• You want maximum control over your sale

Ready to Sell Smarter?
At Flat Fee Michigan, we make selling simple, transparent, and affordable. You get full MLS exposure, professional photos, a virtual tour, and expert support — without paying a traditional 6% commission.Save thousands. Keep more of your equity.Call or text us today at (734) 649-4903 or visit our Listing Plans page (/listing-plans) to see exactly what’s included.

Call or email me anytime with any questions you may have.
Thank you,
Jeff Kermath / broker / owner
734-649-4903
jeff@flatfeemichigan.com

Already Listed & Thinking of Cancelling to List with a Local 6% Agent? Read This First!

The Flat Fee MLS Listing you have with Kermath Realty is the same MLS listing you would have with any agent. There is little else that can be done to sell your property. In fact most survey’s show that better than 95% of all homes sell this way. Have faith, this works.   

I can tell you after being a licensed Michigan broker since 2005 and listing 6,654 homes (as of October 2026) this is true. If your home is not selling it is price or condition.  Think about this for a moment… In southeast Michigan for example there are over 12,000 licensed agents. What are the odds of your listing agent bringing the buyer? Slim to none…  Most listing agents know this. They’ll put on a nice presentation then take your paperwork back to the office and have their staff input your listing NO DIFFERENT than what we do.

To be clear, once a home is listed in the local MLS it automatically datafeeds to hundres of sites, zillow, trulia, realtor.com and all real estate sites like Keller Williams, Coldwell Banker, C21 and all of the rest. It is an automatic feed.

Here is the math. After a home is listed in the mls :

• If no or only a few showings, = home is way over priced.
• If several showings = still over priced.
• Many showings, say 5 to 10 in the first week = priced close.

Here is my theory on selling:   Look at a new listing like a bell curve in class. There are tons of people, agents and buyer’s searching for homes. When a home hits the market as a new listing it will trigger showing as people have their criteria set up. So, initially there should be a ton of showings if your home is priced right.  If after a few weeks or a month no offer then it is most likely over priced.

Now, there are variables like the price (expensive versus say first time home buyer), time of year plays into the equation too. However, for the most part, if no offer then price must be reduces or there is something about the home unappealing like high power lines, things that need to be done to the home perhaps, paint, carpet or a number of other things.

So, if you’ve been listed for a period of time with no offer the home needs to have a price reduction. 

The million dollar mistake:  ” I spoke to another Realtor and they told me all of these other things can be done to sell”.  Baloney! They are feeding you B.S. and you’re vulnerable to it.  It’s far better to reduce the price with us than relist and pay double the commission! As price is reduced we are found in more searches. More searches = more showings. More showings = the offer at some point. Have faith, this works!

You’ve invested time and money with us at Kermath Realty, it works period.  So, if you’re having doubts I’m happy to talk to you but this works period. If some other agent has convinced you to withdraw and list with them then hold them accountable. Ask them what they’ll do for all of that commission!

Your listing with us matters! It is important to us that you have a great experience.

We are here to help.

Thank you,
Jeff Kermath
broker / owner
Email me if you’re having second thoughts or questions please.