If you’re thinking about selling your home as an FSBO, you’ve probably heard about Flat Fee Group.
Flat Fee Group operates nationwide, which makes it one of only a handful of flat fee companies that anyone in the country can use. This widespread coverage has made FFG somewhat of a household name, especially among FSBO sellers. But before you entrust this real estate company with your most significant asset, first read the Flat Fee Group reviews.
Why Care About Flat Fee Group Reviews?
Pricing and services aside, the best way to evaluate a business is through its reviews.
The reviews give you an unbiased perspective of the company, which makes them the most accurate depiction of the level of service you can expect when using the flat fee listing service, in this case, Flat Fee Group. If you pay special attention to the reviews you can find online, scrutinizing for elements that expose details about the business, rather than simple compliments or complaints, you could avoid a catastrophe or stumble upon your next favorite flat fee service.
Unfortunately, it’s challenging to gauge the consensus among the hundreds of Flat Fee Group reviews necessary to determine if the company is good. Why? Well, because Flat Fee Group partners with brokers in each state. That means if reviews are good for one state, they’re only applicable in that state. But — if reviews are to be believed — most likely you’ll get stuck with a poor communicator and subpar brokerage when using FFG.
Positive Flat Fee Group Reviews
We’ve separated the reviews into positive and negative to help you navigate the pros and cons of using Flat Fee Group. These reviews are based on the feedback of several users across dozens of states, so they’re a well-rounded characterization of the company.
Communication
There are instances where sellers with Flat Fee Group have complained about limited communication with their broker delaying the sale. However, overall communication seems to be the company’s strong suit.
Expertise
It appears as though FFG has garnered a reputation for partnering with brokers that have five years+ real estate experience. This experience gives the estate agents a better understanding of the local market, making it easier for them to give you advice on how to price and list your home, a service that many sellers have grown to appreciate.
Negative Flat Fee Group Reviews
But, it’s not all good reviews. The average rating for Flat Fee Group ranges between 3.5 to 4 stars out of 5. This may seem like an overwhelmingly positive rating. However, there is a negative pretext or undertone: there are more than a few negative reviews.
Holding Listing Hostage
Several reviews have referenced failure to cancel the service when requested, essentially holding the property hostage. However, a recent critical review of FFG alludes to the company’s history of failing to cancel the agreement in greater detail. The review lambasts the company for how they “lie, hold your listing hostage and do whatever they can in order to not help you sell a house.”
Unprofessionalism
Many of their brokers have also been called out for being unprofessional. The unprofessional acts range from ignoring calls to far more questionable practices that delay the sale.
Difficulty Selling
Sellers have also reported an inability to sell their properties after listing on Flat Fee Group. It seems this is the case for homeowners who don’t meet the mold of their typical client who is either facing foreclosure or who is listing a rental.
Alternatives to Flat Fee Group
The fluctuating Flat Fee Group reviews make it understandable that a seller may consider turning to alternatives. FSBO.com and Houzeo.com also offer nationwide coverage but have far more positive reviews.
FSBO’s critical reviews are generally limited to using the not-user-friendly website and the inability for buyers to easily browse the site, which many sellers believe limits the number of serious offers they get.
Houzeo is another alternative, reaching an average rating of 4.9. This is a considerable boost from FSBO.com’s and FFG’s average rating.
Reading Houzeo reviews, you can tell that clients are both impressed and pleasantly surprised by the number of processes you can complete on the digital platform.
Critical Houzeo reviews generally center around areas where the business can improve their website or mobile app, suggestions that it seems the business incorporates to improve their user experience.
You can compare features and pricing to find a great bargain, but unless you examine the reviews, putting your home on a flat fee MLS becomes a gamble.
A learning experience that could cost you thousands and is avoidable if you dedicate at least 15 minutes to read through both the positive and negative reviews.
