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A flat fee listing (flat fee MLS® listing) is when a licensed brokerage posts your home on the MLS® System and REALTOR.ca for one fixed price, not a percentage commission. You set the price, handle showings and negotiate offers yourself.
If you’ve searched for a flat fee MLS listing, you’ve probably noticed that the term gets used loosely. This guide explains what it really means in Ontario, what you get for the fee, how it compares with a full-commission agent, and who it suits best. At ListedBySeller.ca, pricing starts as low as $16.49 a month with our 12-month plan ($197.93 for 12 months, plus HST).
What is a flat fee MLS listing, in plain English?
The MLS® System is the database real estate boards run for their members. Buyers’ agents search it every day, and most of its listings also appear on REALTOR.ca, where the public browses homes. Only a licensed brokerage that belongs to a board can put a property on it. A homeowner can’t sign up directly.
A flat fee MLS listing bridges that gap. A brokerage places your property on the MLS® System for a fixed fee and leaves the rest of the sale to you. In Ontario this posting-only arrangement is often called a mere posting. Ontario’s regulator, RECO, notes in its consumer information guide that brokerages don’t all offer the same services, and some sellers sign an agreement just to have their property advertised on a listing service.
How is a flat fee different from a full-commission listing?
With a traditional listing, you pay the listing brokerage a percentage of your sale price, and the agent runs the sale for you. With a flat fee listing, you pay one set amount no matter what your home sells for, and you do the hands-on work yourself.
- Cost: a percentage commission grows with your price. A flat fee doesn’t.
- Pricing: a full-service agent advises on price. With a flat fee, you set it, with optional help.
- Showings and offers: a full-service agent books showings and negotiates. With a flat fee, buyers’ agents contact you and you negotiate directly.
- Exposure: both put your home on the MLS® System and REALTOR.ca, so buyers searching online see it either way.
For the numbers behind percentage commissions, see how much real estate commission is in Ontario.
Is a Flat Fee MLS Listing Worth It in Ontario?
For most Ontario sellers who are comfortable handling showings and offers, yes. You pay one fixed fee instead of a percentage listing commission, so the saving grows with your sale price. On an example $800,000 sale, the listing side costs $197.93 + HST on our 12-month plan, compared with $20,000 + HST at a 2.5% listing commission.
| Example: $800,000 sale | ListedBySeller.ca 12-month plan | Traditional listing (2.5% listing side) |
|---|---|---|
| Listing-side fee | $197.93 + HST | $20,000 + HST (2.5% of $800,000) |
| Listing-side fee with 13% HST | $223.66 | $22,600 |
| Buyer’s agent (co-op) commission | You set any amount you like; many offer 2% to 2.5% | Whatever the seller offers; many offer 2% to 2.5% |
| On the MLS® System and REALTOR.ca | Yes | Yes |
| Who handles showings and offers | You | Your listing agent |
| Listing-side difference | About $19,802 less before HST ($22,376 with HST) | — |
It’s less likely to be worth it if you can’t take calls during the day, don’t want to negotiate, or want an agent to price and market the home for you. See Who is a flat fee MLS listing best for? below.
What’s included in a ListedBySeller.ca flat fee listing?
Every package has the same features. You only choose how long you want to be listed. Highlights include:
- Your listing on REALTOR.ca and the PropTx MLS® System, which covers boards including Durham, London, Woodstock, Mississauga and Halton
- Up to 40 photos on your listing
- A 24/7 live receptionist who answers calls about your property
- Free open house postings and free changes to your listing
- Free real estate sale and lease agreement forms
Pricing starts as low as $16.49 a month with our 12-month plan ($197.93 for 12 months, plus HST). See every package on our pricing and services page, or read our breakdown of flat fee MLS pricing in Ontario.
Optional add-ons
- Pricing help: a comparative market analysis (CMA) for $99, so you can set your price with real local data.
- Agreement preparation: $199 to have your agreement of purchase and sale prepared.
- Professional photos: see our photo services.
- Other boards: if your home is outside our included boards, our interboard upgrade can add another board’s MLS® System.
Not every board is included. Stratford (Matrix 360) and Chatham-Kent (which runs its own MLS® System) aren’t part of the basic plan. If you’re not sure about your area, contact us before you sign up.
Will my home show up on REALTOR.ca?
Yes. Once your listing is on the MLS® System, it’s sent to REALTOR.ca, the site most Canadian buyers use to search for homes. That’s the biggest difference between a flat fee MLS listing and a private sale using only lawn signs and classified ads. Our guide to listing on REALTOR.ca as a private seller walks through what buyers see.
Do I still pay the buyer’s agent?
Many buyers work with an agent, and that agent’s brokerage usually expects to be paid by the seller through a cooperating (co-op) commission. With a flat fee listing, you decide the amount. You can set any amount you like, and many sellers offer 2% to 2.5%. Whatever you choose is written into your listing and your agreement, so buyers’ agents know the terms before they book a showing.
For more detail, read do I have to pay the buyer’s agent if I sell privately.
Who is a flat fee MLS listing best for?
It tends to work well if you:
- Are comfortable talking with buyers’ agents and answering questions about your home
- Can keep the home tidy and be flexible for showings
- Want to make your own decisions on price and offers
- Would rather keep the money a percentage commission would cost
It’s less suited to sellers who can’t be reached during the day, don’t want to negotiate, or are selling a very unusual property where expert pricing advice is essential. Our honest take on whether flat fee MLS is worth it in Ontario covers the trade-offs in more depth.
How fast can my listing go live?
Listings go live in about two days after you submit them. Before your listing can go live, we need a copy of your photo ID and your property tax bill to confirm ownership. Once it’s live, buyers’ agents can find it on the MLS® System and buyers can see it on REALTOR.ca.
Ready to list?
If you’re selling in Ontario and want your home in front of the same buyers that agents reach, a flat fee MLS listing is a simple way to do it. Pricing starts as low as $16.49 a month with our 12-month plan ($197.93 for 12 months, plus HST). Start your listing at listedbyseller.ca, or call us if you’d like to talk it through first.
Frequently asked questions
What is a flat fee listing?
A flat fee listing, also called a flat fee MLS listing, is a service where a licensed brokerage places your home on the MLS System and REALTOR.ca for a fixed price instead of a commission. You handle pricing, showings and offers yourself, usually with your own lawyer.
Is a flat fee MLS listing worth it in Ontario?
For most sellers who are comfortable handling showings and offers, yes. On an example $800,000 sale, our 12-month plan costs $197.93 plus HST on the listing side, compared with $20,000 plus HST for a 2.5% listing commission. The co-op you offer a buyer’s agent is separate: you can set any amount you like, and many offer 2% to 2.5%.
How much does a flat fee MLS listing cost with ListedBySeller.ca?
Pricing starts as low as $16.49 a month with our 12-month plan ($197.93 for 12 months, plus HST). Every package includes the same features.
Is a flat fee MLS listing the same as a mere posting?
In Ontario they usually mean the same thing: a brokerage posts your property on the MLS System for a set fee, and you handle the rest of the sale.
Does a flat fee listing appear on REALTOR.ca?
Yes. Listings placed on the MLS System are sent to REALTOR.ca, where buyers search for homes.
How much commission do I offer a buyer’s agent?
You can set any amount you like. Many sellers offer 2% to 2.5%. The amount is written into your listing so buyers’ agents know the terms.
Which Ontario areas are covered?
Our basic plan includes the PropTx MLS System, which covers boards including Durham, London, Woodstock, Mississauga and Halton. Stratford and Chatham-Kent aren’t included. Contact us if you’re unsure about your area.
