What is Houzeo?
Houzeo is an innovative For Sale By Owner (FSBO) platform designed to empower homeowners to list and sell their properties without the need for a traditional real estate agent. Headquartered in New York City, Houzeo offers a comprehensive suite of services that streamline the home-selling process, saving homeowners significant amounts on agent commissions.
Key Features and Functionality
Flat Fee MLS Listing
Houzeo allows homeowners to list their properties on the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for a flat fee, rather than the typical 2.5% to 3% commission charged by real estate agents. This service ensures maximum exposure for the property, as listings are syndicated to popular real estate websites such as Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and Redfin.
Tiered Service Plans
Houzeo offers several service plans tailored to different needs and budgets:
- Bronze Package: Starting at $399, this plan includes a six-month MLS listing, 24 listing images, and the ability to make unlimited listing changes. Listings appear on Houzeo’s website and other syndicated sites.
- Silver Package: Priced from $399, this plan includes everything in the Bronze package, plus maximum photos, access to the Houzeo mobile app, and seller disclosures.
- Gold Package: Starting at $429, this plan adds access to Houzeo Offers, a personal concierge, and assistance from a licensed broker for contract reviews, pricing guidance, and other real estate forms.
- Platinum Package: This is the most comprehensive plan, involving a minimum cost of 0.5%-1% at closing. It includes enhanced listing presence, expert guidance and negotiation, and additional premium services such as customized yard signage and full transaction management.
Listing Management
Houzeo’s IntelliList Listing Management System helps homeowners create and manage their property listings efficiently. This tool allows for easy submission of property information, auto-fills certain sections, and enables unlimited listing changes.
Showings Management
The platform includes a built-in calendar tool for scheduling showings with prospective buyers and their agents. The showings management feature also includes an ID Verify option, requiring potential buyers to provide identification before accessing property details.
Offer Management
Houzeo Offers is a service that allows sellers to view, compare, and manage buyer offers. Sellers can counter offers, request the “highest and best” offers, and accept or reject offers directly from the Houzeo dashboard.
Transaction Management
Houzeo’s DigiTransact service acts as a centralized hub for managing all aspects of the transaction. This includes creating activities and tasks, setting alerts and reminders, and managing transaction documents. It also allows sellers to add team members and track the status of the deal.
Additional Tools and Services
- Home Value Estimations: Houzeo provides estimated home values using a proprietary algorithm that analyzes various data points.
- Closing Costs Calculator: A free tool that calculates closing costs for both sellers and buyers.
- Licensed Broker Services: Depending on the package, sellers can receive guidance from a licensed broker on pricing, contract reviews, offer negotiations, and other aspects of the sale.
Customer Support
Houzeo offers robust customer support, available seven days a week through telephone, online chat, and email. Support is provided in English and other languages, ensuring assistance is accessible to a wide range of users.
In summary, Houzeo is a powerful FSBO platform that simplifies the home-selling process by providing flat-fee MLS listings, comprehensive listing management, showings and offer management tools, and expert guidance, all aimed at saving homeowners money and ensuring a smooth transaction.