FAQ
Own main goal is and has always been to make the best effort possible to get a direct buyer for your property so you can save a lot of money. We have to work within the current market structures and regulatory system:
- The MLS, which is accessible only by Realtors contain your contact information (phone number). The listing is set up for Realtors (buyer agents) to request Appointments via the automatic appointment manager (ShowingTime®); so Realtors with potential buyers will be contacting you directly via any of these 2 methods. If by any chance they don’t follow this instructions and contact our office, we will guide them to use the resources in the MLS. —
- National Association of Realtors, Local Realtor Associations and MLS’s regulations prohibit Real Estate sites and portals(like Realtor.com, Zillow, Homes.com, and others (when a property is listed through a Brokerage) to include the owner’s contact information. These sites must identify the us as the listing firm with our email or phone number in a reasonably prominent location. The phone number (or email) that appears associated with our company is our automatic messaging service and/or contact email (all Portals display this contact information differently). All leads that we receive* will be forwarded to you: if by email, they are just forwarded to you. If by phone call, our system will record the message and forward it to you via e-mail for you to listen to it and follow-up directly.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: When a property is listed in the MLS, Realtors (buyer agents) will be working to try and find a buyer for your property. One of the strategies and methods they use to try and get a buyer is by “buying leads” form the Real Estate Portals (Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, Redfin, Etc). All portals (including Realtor.com) are profit-oriented business enterprises that make money by advertising services and by selling leads to Realtors trying to get buyers to represent.
Most sites assign the lead to the Realtor(s) that has(have) purchased the lead(s) (either by paying for a zip code or a specific area). We have no way of controlling how the Real Estate Portals assign and/or forward the leads they generate. This is why we can’t assure that all the leads will come to us (and to you). What we assure our customers is that ALL leads that come to us will be forwarded to you, the seller (or landlord) as described above.
At SnapFlatFee.com, we prioritize value and affordability. We don’t see ourselves a cheap or less expensive … we charge a “honest” fee for what we provide. I would instead ask why do others charge so much more?
Through our projected expansion and forecasted business volume, we harness significant savings that directly benefit our customers.
Our competitive pricing stems from our efficiency, cutting-edge technology, cloud-based computing infrastructure, automated processing capabilities, minimal physical offices.
Additionally we are a family-owned company that don’t have any financial obligation with shareholders or institutional holding entities. By Flattening our business structure we apply cost-saving to serve you more effectively and at a much lower cost.
Our Broker is fully licensed in all the states where we provide services, and will personally serve as your listing agent. This sets us apart from many competitors who often lack the necessary licensing and operate solely as referral companies.
We’re committed to transparent, cost-effective solutions that prioritize your needs. Experience the difference with SnapFlatFee.com.
Our company is a family-owned business, established in 2003 by our Broker and his wife.
Initially operating as a traditional Full-Service Brokerage, we recognized a gap in the market in 2012. Many customers either didn’t want, didn’t like, couldn’t afford, or simply didn’t need a Realtor. Prior to SnapFlatFee.com, the only access that seller s(and landlords) had to the MLS was through more expensive and rigid brokerage representation.
Therefore, we founded SnapFlatFee.com to offer customers an alternative and the freedom for them to exercise their right to choose.
Our platform allows sellers (and landlords) to save a significant amount of money by avoiding “traditional” brokerage structures, while providing them most of the tools that Realtors® use, while giving them all the control, coordination, pricing, offer negotiation, commisison freedom, scheduling and showings.
We excel in providing “Maximum Exposure” for all of our listed properties, and we take pride in each and every one of them. Our approach begins with listing the property in your local MLS system, ensuring widespread visibility from the outset.
Additionally, your property will gain exposure on a global scale through premier platforms like Homes.com, renowned for its accuracy and reliability in the real estate industry. Furthermore, we extend its reach to hundreds of other reputable real estate search engine sites, including but not limited to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, Movoto, Redfin, Homes.com, and Estately amongst many others
This comprehensive strategy ensures that your property is showcased to over 98% of potential buyers, making it accessible to interested parties worldwide.
We ensure that we maximize the number of pictures allowed by each MLS system.
Our upload function can accommodate up to 40 pictures. However, if you require additional uploads, simply inform us, and we’ll provide guidance on the specific limit set by your MLS.
Please note that the first picture must be an exterior front image of the property. Additionally, images must not contain any text, yard signs, or contact information of any kind.
Pictures that do not adhere to these guidelines will not be uploaded.
You can only upload pictures for which you have Copyrights to.
Absolutely not. Just Don’t Do It.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!
It’s crucial to understand that images and photographs sourced, downloaded or copied from anywhere on The Internet or taken from previous listings are copyrighted and/or restricted by MLS rules and regulations and current Copyrights Federal and State Law.
Including such images in your listing without proper written authorization from the rights owner exposes you (and us) to significant legal risks.
We call it “GOING LIVE”.
Your listing will be swiftly uploaded onto the MLS and Realtor.com within 24 hours of receiving your payment and pictures—often even faster. Additionally, it takes less than 1 additional hour for it to propagate (syndicate) across the Internet ant other Real Estate Portals.
As outlined in the Listing Agreement you’ve signed or will sign, we deduct a minimal amount of 0.25% from the commission offered to the buyer agent (if one is offered). It’s important to note that this deduction doesn’t represent an additional cost for you; rather, it’s subtracted from the commission you might offer.
For instance, if you offer a 3% commission, the buyer’s agent will be paid 2.75%, leaving us with just 0.25% at closing. (We handle this coordination directly with the Title Company or Closing Attorney).
If the buyer does not have a buyer agent or if you don’t offer any compensation, this 0.25% does not apply and there is no other fee to us other than the $99 upfront fee.
When it comes to similar services offered by other companies, it’s essential to recognize that none can match our extensive track record, rich background, unparalleled experience, and outstanding customer satisfaction. Take a glance at our customer reviews, meticulously collected by an independent third-party company from verified and certified customers. These testimonials serve as a testament to the effectiveness, efficiency, and comprehensiveness of our service—everything you need is included.
While conducting your research, ensure you’re comparing apples to apples. Confirm that any competing business is licensed as a Real Estate Brokerage in the state where your property is located.
Be diligent in examining customer reviews, making sure they are substantiated by a third-party company.
Many websites merely act as intermediaries, enticing you to pay upfront before selling your information to a local Broker. This indirect approach often results in increased costs, loss of control, and diminished contact with the actual service provider.
While some competing services belong to reputable licensed Brokers, none can rival our combination of exceptional customer service, top-notch quality, affordability, and user-friendly platform.
We pride ourselves on our simplicity, transparency, and superior efficiency, ensuring that all savings are directly passed on to you, the property owner. However, if you come across a comparable service at a lower price, we’ll list your property for 50% less than that alternative service.
It’s worth noting that certain services out there are so obscure that even we struggle to discern their identity and offerings.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. Should you opt to pay more to another company for an inferior or equivalent service, exercise caution. Ensure that you’re dealing directly with a state-licensed Real Estate Broker. By law, licensed Real Estate Companies must, at the very least, provide their registered company or Broker’s name and/or licenses on their website. Be vigilant: if a website lacks this crucial information.
Remember, it’s recommended to steer clear of websites that ask for payment before you input your information.
We operate under a Single Agency listing agreement with Limited Service, also known as Entry Only, Limited Service, or Flat Fee MLS listing agreement. Essentially, this agreement grants us the authorization to list your property in the MLS. Meanwhile, you retain the right to sell the property to any buyer who comes without a Realtor® as their agent.
This agreement can be canceled at any time without incurring any penalty.
A Full-Service Real Estate Company typically offers a wide range of services that may include various tasks you may not require or prefer to handle yourself, and consequently, shouldn’t pay for.
These services often encompass listing the property in the MLS (much like we do), showing the property or installing a lockbox, scheduling appointments, receiving and reviewing offers, negotiating with potential clients and other brokers, acting as a liaison with attorneys and title companies, and representing you at the closing table to collect their commission.
The significant savings you gain from utilizing our Entry Only Flat Fee MLS service stem from the fact that many of the tasks typically handled by the listing broker will be managed by you. These tasks mainly include scheduling appointments and exchanging information with the buyer’s agent and the Title Company. By taking on these responsibilities yourself, you can enjoy substantial cost savings while still effectively marketing your property.
While these activities are easy, straightforward and can often be managed independently by most individuals, it’s strongly advisable to seek legal and tax advice, particularly given the significance of real estate transactions. Therefore, we STRONGLY recommend that you seek legal and tax advice for ALL Real Estate transactions 8even if agents are involved) to ensure a smooth and successful process.
SnapFlatFee.com’s fundamental principle is this: Always engage an attorney and a tax advisor for every real estate transaction, regardless of whether licensed agents are involved. Most real estate agents are not qualified as attorneys or CPAs, and thus cannot, and most likely will not, provide legal or tax advice.
Here at SnapFlatFee.com, we adhere to this principle, recognizing our limitations and refraining from offering legal or tax advice.
It’s crucial for your protection and peace of mind to seek guidance from professionals who specialize in these areas.
We strongly advise always involving an attorney in any real estate transaction, even if there are Realtors involved.
Realtors are not qualified to provide legal advice, so having an attorney ensures that all legal aspects of the transaction are properly addressed.
Additionally, we recommend seeking guidance from a CPA for accounting and tax advice to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and maximize financial efficiency.
Yes, they are legal! The legality of innovative practices in real estate brokerages, such as our Flat Fee MLS listing service, has been extensively debated. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) not only approves such creative practices but actively encourages alternative and innovative brokerage approaches that bring benefits to customers. In fact, the Federal Government has even taken legal action against some states that attempted to restrict Limited Service and Flat Fee Real Estate practices.
We firmly believe in the ability and right of the free market to regulate itself through healthy competition. This is precisely why we offer the best and simplest service at the most competitive price in the market. When a free market environment fosters smart competition, it’s the consumer— sellers and buyers—who reap the greatest benefits, including significant cost savings, freedom to choose and can demand excellent service.
Customer satisfaction is paramount to us, and we take pride in offering the best customer service in the industry.
To ensure transparency and authenticity, our reviews are collected and verified by a reputable third-party company called “Shopper Approved”. This independent agency verifies that reviews are genuine, valid, and from current or past paying customers. It’s worth noting that Shopper Approved is one of the few companies approved by Google for the collection and verification of ratings and reviews from actual paying customers.
While some competitors may display comments on their websites, these are often provided and uploaded directly by them, raising questions about their authenticity. In contrast, our reviews undergo rigorous verification to guarantee their legitimacy.
You can view our reviews on our website by clicking “reviews” from our main menu. For added reliability, we recommend checking them directly on the Verification Collection Agency’s website at: Shopper Approved – SnapFlatFee.
Reporting the status of your property listing is of utmost importance as it enables us to keep the MLS database up-to-date. It is crucial that you keep us informed about any developments regarding your property. Specifically, we require immediate updates when you have an Executed Contract and when the Transaction is Closed.
To provide us with this essential information, simply navigate to the “Changes” option in the main menu of our website and fill out the simple form. Your cooperation in keeping us informed ensures that your listing remains accurate and current in the MLS database.
After extensive experience, we’ve determined that yard signs are not an effective marketing tool. Instead, they often serve as advertising space for agents to promote themselves and attract more listings.
As a result, we do not sell or provide yard signs with our listings. However, if you require a yard sign, please inform us, and we’ll provide you with our logo file. You can then order a sign online from various companies, incorporating our logo and your contact information to create a personalized sign. Please note that For Sale by Owner signs are not permitted when the property is listed in the MLS.
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