Quick answer: To choose a flat fee MLS® service in Ontario, compare five things: which MLS® systems your listing reaches, how buyer enquiries get to you, what the total cost is, what’s included versus extra, and what past sellers say. ListedBySeller.ca services start at $16.49/month (12-month package, $197.93 + HST), with no commission.
Flat fee MLS® services can look alike at first glance. Most promise a listing on REALTOR.CA® for a set price. The differences show up in the details: where your listing actually appears, what happens when a buyer calls, and which “extras” turn out to cost more. This guide gives you a simple checklist to compare any service, then shows how ListedBySeller.ca handles each point.
What you’re actually buying with a flat fee MLS® listing
A flat fee MLS® listing puts your home on the MLS® system that agents search and on REALTOR.CA®, where most Canadian buyers start looking. You pay a set fee instead of a percentage of your sale price. In return, you run the sale yourself: you set the price, book showings, answer questions and negotiate offers.
That trade-off works well for many Ontario sellers, but only if the service behind the listing does its job. Here’s what to look at before you sign up.
The checklist: 6 things to compare
1. Which MLS® systems will your listing appear on?
Ontario has many local real estate boards, and agents tend to search the MLS® system their board uses. A listing on REALTOR.CA® alone is helpful, but you also want your home in front of the agents who serve your area. Ask any service exactly which boards are included and what it costs to add others.
How ListedBySeller.ca fits: every package includes your listing on REALTOR.CA® and on the PropTx MLS® system, which covers 14 agent boards, at no extra charge. These include the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, Central Lakes (including Durham, Quinte, Northumberland, Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes), London and St. Thomas, Niagara, Kingston & Area, Ottawa, Oakville Milton & District, and One Point (formerly Lakelands, Guelph & District, Huron Perth, and Grey Bruce Owen Sound), along with several boards in Eastern and Northern Ontario. If you need a board outside that list, an interboard upgrade is available on 3-, 6- and 12-month packages for an additional fee that varies by board.
2. How do buyer enquiries reach you?
This is the question many sellers forget to ask. MLS® rules mean your own phone number can’t appear on your REALTOR.CA® listing. So when a buyer calls the number on the listing or clicks “Email Realtor,” someone has to pass that lead to you. If it’s done by hand, leads can sit in an inbox.
How ListedBySeller.ca fits: buyers can reach you three ways, and all three are included in every package:
- By phone: a live receptionist answers listing calls 24/7, takes the caller’s details and sends them to you by system email.
- By email: when a buyer clicks “Email Realtor” on REALTOR.CA®, their details are forwarded to you automatically, 24/7, typically within about 5 minutes.
- Through your property webpage: your REALTOR.CA® listing links to a property webpage that shows your contact details, plus extra photos, videos and links.
3. What does it really cost, from start to finish?
Look past the headline number. Check whether the price includes tax, whether you pay monthly or up front, and whether there are fees to change or cancel your listing. Also check whether a commission is owed when you sell.
How ListedBySeller.ca fits: there’s no commission and no additional fees for the listing itself, and there are no fees for listing changes or for cancelling. You don’t have to offer a commission to buyer agents either. You can choose to offer a cooperating commission as an incentive, but you only owe one if you sign a commission agreement with a buyer’s agent. Full package prices are in the pricing section below.
4. What’s included, and what’s extra?
Two services at a similar price can include very different things. Make a list of what you’ll actually use: photo limits, open house postings, a feature sheet, agreement templates and so on.
How ListedBySeller.ca fits: every package includes the same features. The only differences are length and price. You get:
- A listing on REALTOR.CA® and 14 agent MLS® boards
- Up to 40 photos on REALTOR.CA® and our website
- Unlimited open house postings on REALTOR.CA® at no extra fee
- A property webpage and printable feature sheet
- Syndication to other property sites, which may include HouseSigma, Point2Homes, Kijiji, Rentals.ca, HomeFinder and Ovlix
- Free real estate sale and lease agreement templates, plus a link to a free e-signing service
- 24/7 live receptionist and automated lead forwarding
5. How easy is it to manage your own listing?
You’ll likely want to adjust your price, swap photos or add an open house while you’re listed. Find out whether you can do that yourself, and whether each change costs extra.
How ListedBySeller.ca fits: the listing process is fully automated and can be completed online at any time. Once you’re listed, you can make changes whenever you like through the online listing management page, at no extra cost.
6. What do other sellers say?
Reviews tell you how a service behaves when something needs fixing. Look for a solid number of reviews on an independent site, not just a few hand-picked quotes.
How ListedBySeller.ca fits: ListedBySeller.ca is rated 4.9 stars from 97 Google reviews. Two sellers put it this way:
“I have used this service on 3 occasions. It is easy to use and a great value. Have had success using listedbyseller. Will continue to use in the future.”
Kim K., Google review
“The process is smooth and they are responsive with any questions/concerns. I would use their services again.”
Alan, Google review
Read our Google reviews. Every seller’s experience is different.
ListedBySeller.ca pricing
ListedBySeller.ca services start at $16.49/month with the 12-month package. All packages include the same features.
| Package | Price (plus HST) | Works out to |
|---|---|---|
| Month to month | $74.99 per month, cancel anytime | $74.99/month |
| 2 months | $98.99 | $49.50/month |
| 3 months | $124.97 | $41.66/month |
| 6 months | $149.97 | $25.00/month |
| 12 months | $197.93 | $16.49/month |
Optional add-ons
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Custom For Sale/Rent sign (18″×24″, double-sided, with stand) | $75 |
| Custom open house signs (four 12″×18″, double-sided, with stands) | $99 |
| Property pricing report (comparative market analysis by a licensed real estate professional) | $99 |
| Agreement preparation (offers, waivers, amendments and releases, plus a title search for your legal description) | $199 |
| Professional photos (30 enhanced photos, up to 4,000 sq. ft.) | $159.99 + tax |
| Ultimate (unlimited enhanced photos, cinematic video, Matterport 3D tour) | $259.99 + Matterport fee + tax |
| Ultimate + floor plan (everything in Ultimate, plus a floor plan with dimensions) | $359.99 + Matterport fee + tax |
Matterport 3D tours include a 30-day free trial. After the trial, each tour renews at $12.99/month plus tax. Floor plans come only with the Ultimate + floor plan option.
How to pick the right package length
Think about your timeline honestly. If your home is priced well and your local market is busy, a shorter package may be enough. If you’d rather not feel rushed, or you’re selling in a slower season, a longer package costs less per month. Because there are no cancellation fees, the month-to-month option suits sellers who want flexibility.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay a commission when my home sells?
No. You pay your package fee, and there’s no additional fee or commission for the listing.
Do I have to pay the buyer’s agent?
Only if you agree to. You can offer a cooperating commission to attract agents and their buyers, but you’re under no obligation unless you sign a commission agreement with that agent.
Can I list a rental property too?
Yes. ListedBySeller.ca markets properties for sale or for rent on REALTOR.CA® and the MLS®.
Can I change my listing after it’s live?
Yes. You can update your listing and add open house dates online at any time, with no fees for changes or for cancelling.
Ready to compare for yourself?
Use the checklist above with any service you’re considering. When you’re ready to list your Ontario home on REALTOR.CA® and 14 agent MLS® boards without paying a commission, see our packages and get started at listedbyseller.ca.
