FAQ

At SnapFlatFee.com, we prioritize value over mere affordability. Through our expanding 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, absence of physical offices, and robust partnerships.

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 to seller (and landlords) had to the MLS was through expensive brokerage representation (offering 2 commissions: one for the listing agent and one for the buyer’s agent).

Therefore, we founded SnapFlatFee.com to offer customers an alternative. Our platform allows them to save a significant amount of money by avoiding “traditional” commissions structures, providing them with all the tools that Realtors use, while giving them all the control, coordination, pricing, offer negotiation, commisison structure, 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 Realtor.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 Zillow, Trulia, Movoto, Redfin, Homes.com, and Estately.

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 shot 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.

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 our partner 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 offered commission. It’s important to note that this deduction doesn’t represent an additional cost for you; rather, it’s subtracted from the commission you’ve offered.

For instance, if you offer a 3% commission, the buyer’s agent will be presented with 2.75%, leaving us with just 0.25% at closing. (We handle this coordination directly with the Title Company or Closing Attorney).

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 (all our licenses are under our Broker’s name: Jorge Zea). It’s crucial because most states strictly prohibit unlicensed entities from “soliciting” listings. By law, licensed companies must prominently display their brokerage name on their website.

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. In some cases, these intermediary services may even operate illegally under state license laws.

While some 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 20% 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, it could be a referral service or a scam, potentially operating illegally under state law. Remember, it’s vital to steer clear of websites that ask for payment before you input your information. Your diligence and discernment are paramount in navigating the real estate landscape effectively and securely.

We operate under a Limited Service Listing Agreement, 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 and offer a commission on your behalf (as determined by you) to other Realtors. Meanwhile, you retain the right to sell the property to any buyer who comes without a Realtor as their agent, thus saving the entire commission.

This agreement can be canceled at any time without incurring any penalty. You would only be responsible for paying the commission if a buyer (or tenant) is presented by a Buyer’s agent. However, if you sell your property without the involvement of a Real Estate Agent representing the buyer, then you owe NO commission.

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 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. 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.

Never allow a jealous Realtor to undermine your confidence in your choices.

When a Realtor attempts to discredit our services by asserting “you get what you pay for” in a bid to label us as “cheap,” we swiftly challenge them to justify why their services warrant a 6% commission of the property’s sales price. What is it that they do to justify such a outlandish paycheck.

More often than not, they struggle to provide compelling answers. There is little room for them to attempt differentiate a full-service Brokers form our Limited Service, Flat Fee, Entry-Only MLS listing service. Some may boast about having an extensive database of ready buyers (which is rarely the case) but fail to produce results. Others tout services such as professional photography and hosting open houses, which can easily be undertaken by you (the owner) or at a fraction of the cost.

In reality, many realtors understand that the real money lies in accumulating listings, as much of the legwork is delegated to the buyer’s broker. While securing listings may appear straightforward, the reality is that it’s a fiercely competitive process that demands considerable effort.

No, they cannot. Once your property is listed by us, it is off-limits for any Realtors’ solicitation. Stand your ground and politely instruct them to contact us, “Your listing Broker.” They already have the contact information in the MLS.

Soliciting property listings from owners of already listed properties is a direct violation of the current National Association of Realtors code of ethics (Article 16). You can cite this code if they attempt to solicit your listing. Rest assured, our Broker has extensive experience in this matter, having served on the Ethics Grievance Committee for the Board of Realtors.

Furthermore, certain MLS services and state Licensing authorities have regulations and/or laws that prohibit licensed agents from interfering with established listing agreements. We have seen Listing Brokers successfully win lawsuits for Tortious Interference filed against Brokers soliciting their listings.

If this situation arises, please kindly request that the Realtor to send you the solicitation or offer of service via email and forward it to us. We will handle the matter accordingly.

Sometimes sellers opt for this route, and that’s perfectly acceptable. First and foremost, please inform us if you are considering switching to a Full-Service Broker. 

Before making any decisions, reach out to us. We have an extensive database of reputable Brokers with whom we collaborate and whom we can confidently recommend to you. If you choose to list your property with our preferred Realtor and subsequently sell it through them, we’ll offer you a credit at closing starting at  $2,000 (much more, depending on factors such as property type, location, and commission structure) . This credit can be applied towards your closing costs.

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 discount 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—namely, you as the seller—who reaps the greatest benefits, including significant cost savings and 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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