Houzeo Reviews: Is This FSBO Service Worth It?

Houzeo is a Flat Fee MLS company that helps you list on the MLS without an agent. Your property also gets syndicated to other websites like Trulia, Zillow, Redfin, etc. This increases your chances of securing the top-dollar deal.

Houzeo offers a streamlined selling experience through its cutting-edge technology and user-friendly mobile app. You can effortlessly manage your listing, showings, and offers anytime and on any device.

To avail of these services, you need to select one of their 4 listing packages. Although the packages offer comprehensive features, it’s important to note that there is an additional closing fee.

Now, the question arises – does Houzeo provide the best, ROI, sale price, and selling experience? Or does this flat fee platform fall short of their offerings? Let’s delve into Houzeo’s reviews to find out.

What Is Houzeo?

Houzeo is ranked as America’s best MLS listing service. They aim to simplify home selling for all sellers with their 4 Flat Fee packages. These packages cover everything from marketing to closing.

Houzeo also offers tools such as IntelliList Listing Management System, Houzeo Offers, and Houzeo Showings. These tools give sellers more control over the selling process and ensure maximum transparency.

What Does Houzeo Offer?

Here’s what Houzeo offers to buyers and sellers:

Houzeo for Sellers:

• Transparent Pricing: Houzeo discloses all of their prices on the website. Their basic package starts from $399. Furthermore, there are no hidden fees associated with this company.
• Maximum Exposure: Besides the MLS, your property listing gets syndicated to real estate websites like Realtor.com, Trulia, and Zillow. 
• Online Paperwork: Houzeo provides you with online forms and an e-signature feature. So you avoid the hassle of a manual listing.
• Fast Listing and Updates: You can get your property on the MLS in under 24 hours or even 8 hours with “Rush Service”.
• Manage Showings Online: You can use Houzeo’s dashboard and app to handle showing requests.
• Streamlined Offer Process: You can receive, counter, and compare offers online and request the highest & the best deal in case of multiple offers.

Houzeo for Buyers:

• Extensive Property Database: Houzeo has a separate database of FSBO homes listed nationwide.
• ‘Pros’ Marketplace Access: Houzeo Pros is a directory of seasoned real estate professionals. You can hire, review, and rate the services of home inspectors, appraisers, title agents, and licensed escrow officers.
• Request Showings: Home buyers can schedule property showings through Houzeo. This makes it easy for you to view homes that interest you.
• Closing Cost Estimations: You can use Houzeo’s Closing Cost Calculator to estimate buyer closing costs. This tool helps you budget for home purchases and prevents financial surprises.

Houzeo Reviews

Houzeo has a solid 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 7800+ reviews. Moreover, they have 4.8 stars out of 5 based on 2000+ Trustpilot reviews.

Here is what people are saying about Houzeo:

Houzeo Reviews: Praises

✅ Excellent Customer Support: Barbara Boyle appreciated that Houzeo’s customer support team addressed all their queries. They were quite satisfied with their selling experience with Houzeo.

✅ Ease of Use: Tracy Johnson found Houzeo’s tools intuitive and easy to use. They could list their home themselves without any hassles.

✅ Huge Savings: John Sedarat saved around $10,000 in commissions with Houzeo. They highly recommend adopting the FSBO route for selling homes.

Houzeo Reviews: Complaints

❌ Slow Listing Agent Response: John Heritage loved that Houzeo got them on the MLS as fast as possible. However, they lost two deals due to the listing agent’s slow response.

How Does Listing on Houzeo Work?

Here’s a step-by-step process of how Houzeo lists your property on the MLS:

• Create an Account: To create a Houzeo account, simply provide your name and email address. Alternatively, you can register using your social media accounts like Facebook. and Google.
• Enter Property Details: Provide details like number of bedrooms, baths, square footage area, etc., and your primary contact information. You also need to set a competitive buyer agent commission to attract high-quality leads.
• Select a Houzeo Plan: Based on your requirements, choose one of the 4 Houzeo listing plans.
• Complete Listing Form: Upload photos and describe your property according to your listing package and MLS guidelines respectively.
• Review the Draft Listing: Paperwork includes seller disclosures, listing agreement, MLS data input form, etc. Post this, a copy of your listing sent to you for review. Go through it carefully to avoid any discrepancies later on.

Once you finish the paperwork, Houzeo will list your property on the MLS. You’ll start receiving offers once your listing is active.

Listing Process: Video Description

Here’s what the listing process looks like:

Packages and Pricing

1. Bronze: Best for experienced sellers

Price	Features
$399 + $0 at Closing	– List for 6 Months With 24 Photos – Syndication to Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Redfin, and More – Unlimited Listing Changes – Unlimited Open Houses – Yard Sign (Additional $49) – Showings Calendar and Management – Anytime Cancelling – Houzeo Intellilist

👑 Key Points: Houzeo’s Bronze Package is the most affordable option. It lists your home for approximately 6 months. We feel the Bronze Package is ideal for experienced sellers familiar with MLS listings.

2. Silver: Best for DIY sellers

Price	Features
$399 + 0.5% at Closing (Min $999)	– Everything in the Bronze Package – List for 6 Months – Premium Yard Sign – MAX Number of Photos – Houzeo Mobile App – Seller Disclosures

👑 Key Points: The Silver Package costs the same as the Bronze but includes a percentage-based fee at closing. It allows more photos and offers management. However, it may not suit first-time sellers needing more guidance.

3. Gold: Best for most sellers

Price	Features
$429 + 0.5% at Closing (Min $999)	– Everything in the Silver Package – Licensed Broker Assistance – Contract to Close Consulting – Houzeo Offers – Personal Concierge – Call Forwarding Service

👑 Key Points: Houzeo’s Gold Package is perfect for repeat sellers. It has features like a personal concierge, professional dashboard, personal broker assistance, etc. These tools help you expedite and streamline your home-selling process.

4. Platinum: Best for first-time sellers

Price	Features
$449 + 1% at Closing (Min $999)	– Everything in the Gold Package – Virtual Full Service with a Licensed Broker – 12-Month Listing – Rush Service (Within 12 Hours at $99) – Max Exposure with Additional MLS

👑 Key Points: The Platinum Package while expensive, is also Houzeo’s most comprehensive plan. With the help of a virtual full-service broker, you can easily navigate complex home sale transactions.

Savings With Houzeo

Houzeo works on a Flat Fee MLS model. They list your property without the 3% agent commission. For a $500,000 sale with a traditional agent, you’d pay $15,000 in commissions. With Houzeo, the fee ranges from $399 to $449 plus the closing fee according to the package, saving you about $9,551 to $14,601.

However, please note that you can’t avoid paying the standard buyer agent commission of around 3% with Houzeo.

Houzeo Pros and Cons

Here are the pros and cons of Houzeo:

👍Pros

Here are some definite upsides of choosing Houzeo as your FSBO platform:

1. Easy Online Dashboard: With Houzeo’s online dashboard, you can view, manage, and make changes to your listing easily.
2. Mobile App Accessibility: You can access your listings through Houzeo’s mobile app. It allows you to manage your showings and offers on the go.
3. Broad Service Coverage: Houzeo provides nationwide coverage. You can avail of their services from anywhere you want.
4. Comprehensive Online Marketplace: Houzeo collaborates with agents, appraisers, inspectors, and photographers through Houzeo’s Pros.

👎Cons

Despite its obvious advantages, there are some caveats attached to listing with Houzeo.

1. Higher Prices: Houzeo’s MLS packages come at a higher price than most competitors. For instance, the base packages of most competitors start at almost $100. Houzeo’s, on the other hand, starts at $399. But Houzeo’s offer is more compelling.
2. Restrictive Refund and Cancellation Policy: You’ll only get a refund within the first 14 days of purchase. If you sign a listing agreement or have a live listing within the first 14 days, you won’t get a refund. You will also be charged a $50 non-refundable deposit.

Houzeo Alternatives

When you choose an FSBO platform, it’s important to consider and compare all the available options. Here’s how Houzeo compares to its top competitors:

1. Beycome

Beycome’s Basic Flat Fee MLS plan ($99) is quite affordable. It includes services like unlimited listing changes and maximum photos. However, Beycome’s packages aren’t available across the USA. In fact, their services are available in only 10 states.

2. FSBO.com

FSBO.com’s offerings start at $99.95 and are available nationwide. But this only includes a Redfin.com listing and not an MLS listing. For an MLS listing, you’ll have to pay $399.95.

With FSBO.com, you get connected to a local real estate agent and don’t have access to many advanced tech tools. You will have to manage your listing, update information, and respond to inquiries yourself.

3. Homecoin

Homecoin provides an affordable MLS listing service with its $95 base listing fee. You get coverage across 22 states and access to free services like home value reports and comparable sales.

However, you should know the additional costs of optional services like signposts and lockboxes. These add-ons could substantially increase your total expense beyond the initial flat fee.

Houzeo Reviews: Is Houzeo Really Worth It?

When it comes to technology and innovation, Houzeo has no equal in the segment. Its intuitive platform and comprehensive services make FSBO much easier for sellers.

However, Houzeo’s packages are slightly costlier compared to its alternatives. Moreover, it has a pretty restrictive refund policy. But it does disclose all its prices upfront, helping you avoid the risk associated with hidden fees.

All in all, based on Houzeo reviews, this flat-fee company still provides better value than its competitors. You get access to an intuitive platform, know all the costs upfront, and can access its services all over the country.

Houzeo Reviews: FAQs