Are Listing Agents Worth 2.5 – 3%? (Part 1)

Our co-founder is turning back to you, the consumer. It is why we exist…

This one is for the consumers.

Let’s be honest: when you look at a 2.5 – 3 percent listing-side commission, your first
thought is probably “What exactly am I getting for that?”

Good question. Let’s break it down.

1. Determining the Listing Price

This one matters—a lot. Price right, and you’re off to the races. Price it wrong, and
you’re chasing the market downhill with price cuts and frustration.

For my Breck cabin, I interviewed four agents.
Their suggested prices?

$850 K
$995 K
$1,094,900
$1.2 M

That’s a $350,000 spread. So much for the “professional pricing advantage.”

The most recent comp sold for $1.01 M, and mine is superior—so I landed at an even $1.1 M. (Yes, I asked ChatGPT whether to go $1.1 M or $1,099,900; it said $1.1 M.)

Pro Consumer Tip

Before you ever sign a listing agreement, research your market yourself.

Use Realtor.com’s Just Sold tab for comps.
Check your active competition through portal photos.
There are probably tools and apps that can approximate a professional comparative market analysis (CMA).

And here’s the key: interview multiple agents before signing. Get their price opinions first. Combine those numbers with your own research, and you’ll be just as informed as they are—without giving away 2.5%.

➡️ No agent needed here.

2. Getting Your Home on the MLS

Yes, you need MLS exposure—but you don’t need a full-priced agent to get it. A low-cost broker can post your listing for you (consumers can’t access MLS directly).

Writing the listing description? Easy.

Just highlight your home’s best features and drop the text into ChatGPT to make it shine:

“sun-filled living room,” “chef’s kitchen,” “turnkey mountain retreat.” Done in five minutes.

The hardest part? Photos.

I had professional shots but needed them converted to JPEGs—ChatGPT handled it in five minutes.

Pro Tip

Always use professional photography. Phone pics scream DIY and cost you far more in lost buyer interest than a photo package ever will.

➡️ Still no agent needed here either.

So Far…

In just these first two “biggies”—pricing and listing—you can handle a lot on your own.
And that’s the point.

Agents can provide value, but if they want to justify 2.5 – 3%, they must bring far more to the table than a listing price opinion and MLS access.

Are Listing Agents Worth 2.5 – 3%? (Part 1)