If you’ve decided not to pay a 6% commission to sell your Utah home, you’ve probably bumped into two alternatives: flat-fee brokerages like Homie and discount brokerages that advertise reduced commissions or à la carte services. They sound similar. They aren’t. For most Utah sellers, a flat-fee brokerage saves more on net while keeping a full-service experience — but the answer depends on what’s actually included at each price point. Here’s the head-to-head comparison.
What’s the difference between flat-fee and discount real estate brokerages?
A flat-fee brokerage charges a fixed dollar amount (for example, Homie’s flat-fee listing as of May 2026 — applies to homes under $1M and is subject to change) regardless of sale price, with full-service representation included. A discount brokerage charges a reduced percentage (often 1–2% on the listing side) or unbundles services à la carte. Flat fee = predictable cost, full service. Discount = lower percentage, but service scope and total cost vary widely. Both beat 6%; the question is which beats it by more.
Which model is cheaper for a typical Utah seller?
For most Utah sellers, flat fee comes out ahead, and the gap widens at higher price points — because every other model on the list scales with sale price, and the flat fee doesn’t.
Here’s what the listing-side commission looks like on a $620,000 South Jordan home:
- Percentage-based at 3%: $18,600
- Discount brokerage at 2%: $12,400
- Discount brokerage at 1.5%: $9,300
- Homie flat fee: a single fixed amount (see how much you save HERE!)
According to Homie’s own pricing calculator at Homie’s Sell Page, a seller with a $620,000 home saves about $13,100 by listing with Homie instead of paying a percentage-based commission. That works out to roughly 2.1% of the sale price — meaning the effective listing-side rate drops to under 1%, with full service still included.
The bigger your home, the bigger the gap. On a $720K Draper home, a 1.5% discount listing is $10,800 and a 3% percentage listing is $21,600 — while Homie’s flat fee stays exactly the same as it would on a $400K starter home. That’s the core structural advantage: percentage-based fees punish higher-priced homes, flat fees don’t.
For your specific home, plug your estimated sale price into the calculator at homie.com/sell to see the savings on the listing side.
What gets cut at a discount brokerage?
This is the part that matters. Discount brokerages survive on lower revenue per listing, which usually means one of three trade-offs:
- Reduced agent involvement (you handle showings, negotiation, or both)
- Higher agent caseloads (less personalized attention per listing)
- Unbundled services (photos, sign installation, lockbox extra)
That’s not always a bad deal. If you’re an experienced seller comfortable handling negotiation directly, an unbundled service might fit. But it’s a different deal than full-service, and Utah sellers should know what they’re buying. All licensed Utah brokerages have the same fiduciary duties under the Utah Division of Real Estate, but the scope of work in your listing agreement determines what’s actually delivered. Read the agreement carefully.
What does Homie’s flat fee actually include?
Homie’s flat fee is full-service, end-to-end. Specifically:
- Local pricing strategy based on city-level comparables
- Wasatch Front Regional MLS listing, syndicated to Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com
- Professional listing photos and copy
- Showing coordination and offer management
- Negotiation support through inspection, appraisal, and lender milestones
- A licensed Utah agent as your point person from list to close
In other words: the same scope of work most sellers expect from a percentage-based listing agent — at a flat fee instead of 3% of sale price.
When might a discount brokerage be the better fit?
Two scenarios where a discount or limited-service model can make sense:
- You’re selling a sub-$200K home. At very low sale prices, a 1% discount commission may actually cost less than the flat fee. Run the math at your specific price point.
- You’re an experienced seller who wants MLS-only entry. If you’ve sold homes before, want to handle showings and negotiation directly, and just need the MLS listing, an MLS-entry-only service may be cheaper than Homie’s flat fee.
For everyone else — first-time sellers, move-up sellers, or anyone who wants a licensed agent doing the work — the flat-fee model usually wins on both cost and scope.
How do I compare offers from different brokerages?
A useful exercise: don’t compare the headline rate, compare net proceeds and scope. A few things to look at when getting quotes:
- The listing-side total dollar fee at your home’s expected price point, not the percentage.
- Exactly what’s included (pricing, photos, MLS, showings, negotiation, closing).
- What’s à la carte and the cost of each piece you’d actually use.
- Estimated net proceeds at your target sale price, after both listing-side and buyer-side commissions.
Run that exercise across three or four brokerages and the right answer usually becomes clear — and it’s rarely the 6% percentage-based listing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a flat-fee brokerage cheaper than a discount brokerage in Utah?
For most Utah sellers, yes! A 1.5% discount-brokerage fee on a $560,000 home is $8,400; a 2% discount listing is $11,200. Homie’s flat fee stays the same regardless of price, and the gap widens at higher price points. Use the Homie savings calculator to compare on your specific home.
Are discount brokerages full-service?
Some are; many aren’t. Discount brokerages often unbundle services or hand portions of the sale back to the seller. Always read the listing agreement carefully and confirm exactly what’s included for the quoted fee — pricing strategy, photos, MLS, showings, negotiation, and closing should all be itemized.
Does Homie list on the same MLS as percentage-based and discount brokerages?
Yes. Homie listings go on the Wasatch Front Regional MLS, the same MLS every percentage-based and discount brokerage in northern Utah uses, and syndicate to Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com identically.
How do I compare net proceeds across brokerages?
Multiply your expected sale price by each brokerage’s listing-side fee and add the buyer-agent commission separately. Subtract that total from sale price to get net commission cost. Comparing net proceeds at your specific sale price point — not headline percentages — is the only fair comparison.
Is Homie a real Utah brokerage?
Yes. Homie is a fully licensed Utah real estate brokerage regulated by the Utah Division of Real Estate, the same agency that licenses every percentage-based and discount brokerage operating in Utah.
Related reading on homie.com: Flat Fee Real Estate Agents: What Sellers Need to Know · How Much Can You Save with Flat-Fee Real Estate? · 6 Hidden Costs of Selling a Home in 2025
Whether you’re buying, selling, or doing both in Utah, Homie has your back. List your home with Homie’s flat-fee listing and keep more of what’s yours, without sacrificing the full-service experience.
See how much you’d save with Homie
— The Homie Team
*This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a licensed professional.
*All brokerage fees, including listing and buyer agent compensation, are fully negotiable and determined solely by the seller and service provider.
*Flat-fee pricing and service availability may vary by location and are subject to change over time. Verify current pricing before listing.
*Past performance is not indicative of future results.
*Examples and potential savings are for illustrative purposes only.