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A flat fee MLS listing in Ontario works in a few steps: you choose a package and submit your property details, provide photo ID and a property tax bill, and your listing goes live on the MLS® System and REALTOR.ca in about two days. You then handle showings and offers, and your lawyer holds the deposit and closes the sale.
Thinking about a flat fee MLS listing but not sure what actually happens after you pay? Here’s the whole process, from sign-up to the day you hand over the keys. If you’re still deciding whether this route is right for you, start with our guide on whether flat fee MLS is worth it in Ontario.
What do I need before I start?
Gather these before you sign up and the process moves quickly:
- Photo ID for each owner on title
- Your property tax bill, which confirms ownership and the property details
- Good photos of your home, inside and out
- Room sizes, lot size, taxes and the features buyers care about
- An asking price, or a plan to get pricing help
For a full document list, see what paperwork you need to sell privately in Ontario.
How does a flat fee MLS listing work, step by step?
Step 1: Choose your package
Every ListedBySeller.ca package has the same features. You only pick how long you want to be listed. Pricing starts as low as $16.49 a month with our 12-month plan ($197.93 for 12 months, plus HST). You can compare all terms on our pricing and services page.
Step 2: Set your price
Price is the decision that matters most. Look at recent sales of similar homes nearby, not just active listings. If you’d like help, our pricing service gives you a comparative market analysis (CMA) for $99.
Step 3: Submit your listing details and photos
Enter your property details, write a clear description, and upload your photos. Bright, well-composed photos make a big difference online. Our tips for property photos can help, or you can book our professional photo services.
Step 4: Verify ownership
Before your listing can go live, we need your photo ID and your property tax bill. This protects you and buyers by confirming that the person listing the home is the owner.
Step 5: Your listing goes live in about two days
Once everything is in, your listing goes live in about two days. It appears on the PropTx MLS® System, which covers boards including Durham, London, Woodstock, Mississauga and Halton, and on REALTOR.ca. If your property is served by another board, ask about our interboard upgrade. Stratford (Matrix 360) and Chatham-Kent (its own MLS® System) aren’t included in the basic plan, so contact us if you’re in one of those areas.
Step 6: Handle inquiries and showings
Buyers’ agents and buyers will reach out to book showings. Our 24/7 live receptionist answers calls about your listing so you don’t miss leads. You confirm times, get the home ready, and let agents show it. Keep it simple: tidy rooms, good lighting, and easy access.
Step 7: Review and negotiate offers
When a buyer is interested, their agent sends you an offer, usually on the standard Ontario agreement of purchase and sale. You can accept it, sign it back with changes, or decline. If you’d like the agreement prepared for you, our agreement preparation service is $199. Many sellers also ask their lawyer to review an offer before signing. Read do I need a lawyer to sell my house privately in Ontario for more.
Your co-op commission is part of this picture. You can set any amount you like for the buyer’s agent, and many sellers offer 2% to 2.5%. It’s stated in your listing, so agents know the terms up front. See paying the buyer’s agent when you sell privately.
Step 8: The deposit goes to your lawyer
Once you have a firm deal, the buyer pays a deposit. With a ListedBySeller.ca listing, your lawyer holds the buyer’s deposit in trust until closing. Send your lawyer the signed agreement as soon as it’s accepted.
Step 9: Conditions and closing
If the offer has conditions, such as financing or a home inspection, the buyer has a set time to waive them. Once they’re waived, the deal is firm. Your lawyer then handles the closing paperwork, discharges your mortgage if you have one, and arranges the transfer. On closing day the funds move and the buyer gets the keys.
Step 10: Update or end your listing
After you sell, let us know so the listing can be marked accordingly. If you need to change your price or photos along the way, you can update your listing at any time.
How long does the whole process take?
Your listing is live in about two days. How long it takes to sell depends on your price, your area and the season. After a firm deal, closing dates are set in the agreement and are often several weeks out, depending on what you and the buyer agree. Pick a package with enough time that you won’t feel rushed.
Selling in the colder months? Read how to stand out on MLS in an Ontario winter.
What does the flat fee not cover?
A flat fee listing covers MLS® and REALTOR.ca exposure and the tools listed above. It doesn’t include an agent hosting showings or negotiating for you, and it doesn’t include your lawyer’s fees or any co-op commission you choose to offer. Knowing that up front makes budgeting easy. Our guide to the cheapest way to sell a house in Ontario puts the costs side by side.
Ready to get started?
Have your photo ID and property tax bill handy, and you can be live in about two days. Pricing starts as low as $16.49 a month with our 12-month plan ($197.93 for 12 months, plus HST). Start your flat fee MLS listing at listedbyseller.ca.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take for a flat fee MLS listing to go live?
About two days after you submit your listing, as long as we have your photo ID and property tax bill.
What documents do I need to list?
Photo ID for the owners and a property tax bill to confirm ownership, plus your photos and property details.
Who holds the buyer’s deposit?
Your lawyer holds the buyer’s deposit in trust until closing.
Who negotiates the offers?
You do. Buyers’ agents send offers to you, and you can accept, sign back or decline. Many sellers have their lawyer review an offer before signing, and we can prepare the agreement for $199.
How much commission should I offer the buyer’s agent?
You can set any amount you like. Many sellers offer 2% to 2.5%, and the amount is shown in your listing.
How much does it cost?
Pricing starts as low as $16.49 a month with our 12-month plan ($197.93 for 12 months, plus HST).
Is a flat fee MLS listing worth it?
For many Ontario sellers, yes. You pay a fixed fee, as low as $16.49 a month on our 12-month plan ($197.93 plus HST), instead of a percentage listing commission. On an example $800,000 sale, a 2.5% listing commission would be $20,000 plus HST. It suits sellers who are comfortable handling showings and offers. See what a flat fee MLS listing is and whether it’s worth it.
