Selling a home is not just a decision—it’s a journey, one packed with nuanced choices and potential financial gains or losses depending on how you go about it. For many homeowners, the experience starts with a simple—but critical—question: how do I sell my home and keep more of my money? That question invariably pulls you into the world of real estate commissions. More specifically, the issue centers around who pays realtor commission, and whether it’s necessary to pay the traditional 5%–6% that most agents charge. As a homeowner, understanding your selling options is essential before signing any agreement.
From For Sale By Owner (FSBO) to using a discount broker, or opting for a full-service agent, each route offers a different combination of cost, control, and complexity. Among these, the flat fee MLS listing service has emerged as a standout alternative—particularly for savvy sellers who want maximum exposure minus the broker-size bite out of their final sale price. Flat fee MLS services open doors traditionally accessible only to agents, leveling the playing field for homeowners. Within this subset, beycome has set the gold standard, providing tools and services that help sellers save significantly without compromising effectiveness.
The Home Seller’s Dilemma: Who Pays Realtor Commission?
The typical real estate transaction involves two agents: a listing agent who represents the seller and a buyer’s agent who represents the buyer. It’s widely accepted that the commission—usually between 5% and 6% of the sale price—is paid by the seller at closing. This commission is then split between the two agents involved. So, while buyers may work with an agent at no upfront cost, the fee structure still loops back to the seller. In other words, the seller pays both sides of the deal.
This standard model often represents the largest single transaction expense in a real estate deal. When you sell a $400,000 home using a full-service agent charging 6%, you’re handing over $24,000 just in commissions. Naturally, this prompts a deeper investigation into alternatives—a path that starts with understanding whether such a high cost yields equivalent value. Spoiler: it often doesn’t.
Even for sellers working with a buyer’s agent, it’s possible to negotiate these terms. For those using alternative services like a flat fee MLS, control over commission payout and cost is significantly expanded. This flexibility is crucial if the goal is to optimize net proceeds from a sale.
Exploring Your Options: FSBO, Flat Fee MLS, Discount Brokers, and Traditional Agents
The spectrum of options for selling a home ranges from DIY approaches to full professional management. At one end is FSBO—For Sale By Owner—where the homeowner handles all aspects, from pricing to negotiation and paperwork. While this grants full control and saves commission, it also puts the onus of legal, marketing, and administrative tasks squarely on the seller.
Flat fee MLS services, such as beycome, offer a perfect middle ground. Sellers pay a fixed amount to list their home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), gaining visibility on national platforms like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Trulia. However, they retain full control over the process, including how much commission (if any) to offer the buyer’s agent.
Discount brokers charge lower commission rates—often 1% to 2%—but still take control of much of the process. On the far end of the spectrum are traditional full-service agents who command top-tier fees in exchange for full cradle-to-closing service. The trade-off? Your final profit margin takes a substantial hit for that convenience.
All About FSBO: The Appeal and the Risks
Going FSBO offers full commission savings, which is why it remains an attractive choice. Homeowners price their property, take photos, arrange showings, and negotiate offers. The reward is avoiding agent fees entirely, translating to thousands saved. But the workload is heavy and comes with complexity. Mispriced homes may scare off buyers or undervalue your property outright.
Legal and regulatory compliance also falls squarely on your shoulders. Mistakes can be expensive—even litigious. Marketing is typically limited to yard signs and online classifieds unless you invest time and money listing on major platforms. Without the MLS, visibility suffers. And in a market where exposure directly impacts offers, the risk is too great for many sellers.
Professional photography, staging, and copywriting are also on you. If any link in this process breaks down, the whole campaign can falter. This makes the FSBO route ideal only for highly organized sellers with both time and real estate experience.
How Flat Fee MLS Services Work (and Why They’re Game-Changers)
The concept behind flat fee MLS is straightforward. For a set rate—usually a few hundred dollars—you list your property on the same MLS that agents use. Your listing is automatically syndicated to major real estate platforms like Zillow and Realtor.com, reaching a vast pool of potential buyers. With beycome, the listing process is streamlined and user-friendly, empowering homeowners to manage the sale with confidence and flourish.
This method introduces control and transparency into what is too often a murky fee structure. Sellers decide what commission (if any) they want to offer to a buyer’s agent. They field inquiries, arrange open houses, and handle negotiations, or they can add optional services depending on their comfort level.
Statistics back the approach. beycome sellers save an average of $13,185 per transaction while accessing the same buyer audience as full-service listings. Over 18,000 homes have closed using its platform, and more than $213 million in commissions have been saved. Those are not abstract figures—they are demonstrable outcomes from homeowners just like you taking control of the process.
Comparing Flat Fee MLS to Discount Brokers: What’s the Difference?
Discount brokers often reduce their commission percentage—but the percentage still scales with the property value. While better than the traditional model, these fees can still accumulate quickly. A 2% commission on a $500,000 home is still $10,000. And while discount brokers may offer semi-customized service levels, they often still retain a say in your final pricing strategy and who handles the showings.
Flat fee MLS, in contrast, gives you maximum autonomy. You’re not outsourcing for a discount—you’re restructuring how value is created. With beycome, you get legal forms, contracts, and guidance while retaining total transaction control. This hybrid empowerment model removes friction, restores seller agency, and maintains affordability.
There’s no upselling, confusing bundles, or fine print. Sellers stay in charge from listing to offer acceptance and beyond. So while flat fee MLS is simple, it is also comprehensive—and growing more robust with each transaction closed.
Who Pays Realtor Commission When Using a Flat Fee Service?
Even when using a flat fee MLS platform, sellers can still offer a buyer’s agent commission. This is optional but often encouraged to boost interest. Typically, this amount is set upfront in the listing—often 2% or 2.5% of the sale price. But because the listing side is covered by the flat fee already paid to the MLS service, sellers avoid doubling their expenses as with traditional brokers.
The key takeaway is flexibility. You decide if and how much commission makes strategic sense based on your market conditions. In competitive markets, that buyer agent incentive can lure in serious offers. In slow markets, it can be negotiated or reduced. The power is ultimately yours—which is why flat fee MLS platforms like beycome are gaining so much traction.
If you’re wondering who pays realtor commission, know this: with beycome, it doesn’t have to be you—at least not all of it. You dictate your spending thresholds and optimize for retained equity without jeopardizing exposure or professionalism.
Why beycome Sets the Standard in Flat Fee MLS Services
When choosing a flat fee MLS provider, not all services are created equal. beycome leads this category for clear reasons. First, its platform was designed specifically around user empowerment—intuitive dashboards, legal support, and transparency end to end. Every listing is not just posted but actively positioned for success.
A beycome home sells every 30 minutes, and their system has closed more than 18,000 homes. So this is not a fringe strategy—it’s one that works at industrial scale. Thousands of 5-star reviews echo that sentiment, offering social proof that beycome delivers both value and results.
Beyond performance metrics, it’s also about philosophy. With beycome, sellers are viewed as the expert on their property—not a commission target. This alignment is rare and speaks directly to why so many sellers have chosen this route and never looked back.
If you’re ready to move forward and want the exposure of the MLS without handing over tens of thousands, strong consideration should be given to beycome’s Flat Fee MLS service. If you’re still evaluating your home’s worth, take advantage of the free tool to Calculate Your Home Value quickly and accurately.
Ready to Sell Smarter? Choose beycome
If you’re navigating the selling process and want to break away from outdated commission models, beycome offers a high-performing, cost-effective solution. Whether you’re exploring the For Sale By Owner route, seeking more exposure for less, or finalizing your strategy, beycome is built around your success. Unlike traditional agents demanding thousands up front, beycome empowers you to make informed decisions that protect your investment—and your equity.
It’s not just software; it’s a commitment to real estate done better. With more than $213 million in seller commission savings, beycome doesn’t just compete—it redefines what’s possible. So if you’re ready for a smarter way to sell your home, start today with beycome’s full-service flat fee MLS. Your home, your control, your savings.