MLS access usually comes bundled with an agent, but it’s not the only way to get your home in front of buyers online. Here are the two real paths, and which one fits.
- Zillow lets FSBO sellers post directly for free, no MLS or agent required.
- A flat-fee MLS service gets you onto the MLS, and its syndication to Zillow, Realtor.com, and others, for a few hundred dollars, far less than a full commission.
- Free direct posting reaches Zillow only; flat-fee MLS reaches the MLS and everywhere it syndicates.
- Either way, high-quality photos and a strong description matter more than which path you take.
Option 1: Post directly to Zillow for free
Zillow has a For Sale By Owner posting flow that lets you list directly, for free, with photos, description, and price, no MLS or agent needed. It shows up in Zillow’s normal search results, just without the MLS syndication badge.
Option 2: A flat-fee MLS service
If you want your listing to also show up on the MLS itself, and everywhere the MLS syndicates, which often includes Realtor.com and other portals in addition to Zillow, a flat-fee MLS service will list you on the local MLS for a flat rate, typically a few hundred dollars, instead of a percentage commission. You handle everything else, showings, negotiation, closing, yourself.
Which one makes sense
- Mainly want visibility on Zillow specifically: free direct posting is enough.
- Want the widest possible reach, including sites that only pull from the MLS: a flat-fee MLS listing is worth the cost.
- Either way, your listing lives or dies on photos and description quality, invest there first.
How Hear My Home fits: wherever your listing lives, online or just on the sign, a QR code at your curb gives buyers a way to hear about the home directly, no portal login required. See how it works for FSBO →