If you’re considering selling your Florida home without the help of a real estate agent, you may want to use a flat fee MLS listing service to reach potential buyers. A flat fee MLS company helps for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) sellers list their homes in the local multiple listing service (MLS) without the assistance of a Realtor.

In this article, we explain the pros and cons of using a flat fee MLS service, which listing services are available in Florida, how they work, and what you might pay. To help you determine whether a listing service is right for you, we spoke with top-producing Miami real estate agent, Denise Madan, who works with 72% more single-family homes than the average Miami agent.

What is a flat fee MLS listing service?

A flat fee MLS is a limited service catering to FSBO home sellers to get their property on the local MLS. The MLS is a private database of homes for sale that allows real estate professionals to share the details of for-sale homes with each other.

Buyers’ agents use the MLS to find homes that fit their clients’ needs, download detailed information and disclosures, and schedule showings. Most major home search websites are populated by the MLS. Because the local MLS is one of the best ways to market your home and get maximum exposure, it’s vital to list your home on it.

Although normally only licensed real estate agents can access and post listings on a local MLS, flat fee MLS companies provide MLS services to FSBO sellers, enabling them to bypass the traditional agent and get their home included on the MLS.