Questions About Selling Your Home for a 2% Listing Commission?
Get straightforward answers about real estate commissions, full-service marketing, probate and inherited homes, selling from out of state, and what to expect from listing through closing.
Ashley Howie · California DRE #01949367 · Homequest Real Estate
Commission & Pricing
Listing your home costs a 2% listing commission, or about 4% total commission once the buyer’s agent’s side is included — roughly half the typical 6% full-service rate. There are no upfront costs, and nothing is due unless your home sells.
The 2% listing commission covers full-service representation from listing to closing: pricing guidance, professional photography, drone footage, and social media walkthrough videos, MLS listing preparation with syndication to major sites like Zillow, social media marketing, PPC (paid) marketing, and neighborhood outreach, plus showing coordination, buyer and agent communication, offer evaluation, contract negotiation, disclosure and transaction coordination, and guidance through appraisal, inspections, and closing. Staging, open houses, and a yard sign are also available and can be added on request.
No. Unlike discount platforms that charge flat fees or add-ons, there are no upfront costs, no cancellation fees, and no hidden charges. Commission is paid at closing, and only if the home sells.
No. Sellers get the same full-service marketing, MLS exposure, and buyer pool as a traditional 6% agent. The 2% rate comes from lower overhead, not reduced marketing spend.
The 2% listing commission is what a seller pays their listing agent. The buyer’s agent is typically paid separately, commonly around 2%, bringing the total commission to roughly 4%.
Marketing & Pricing Strategy
Every listing includes professional photography through Benson Photography — Ashley has worked with photographer AJ since 2020, who also shoots social media walkthrough videos and drone photography for every listing. That’s paired with an MLS listing built for maximum visibility and online marketing across major real estate portals and social channels. The goal is to market the home the way a full-commission listing would be marketed — strong visuals and broad exposure drive competitive offers, and that doesn’t change because the commission is lower.
Pricing is set by looking at the home the way both a buyer and an appraiser would — not just what a seller hopes to get. Appraisal is one of the most important parts of the process: overvaluing a home can cause it to fail appraisal later, which stalls or kills the deal even after an offer is accepted. Ultimately, the bank financing the buyer’s loan has the final say on what a home is worth, so pricing realistically from the start avoids that risk. A comparative market analysis (CMA) of recent nearby sales, competing listings, and the property’s condition anchors the number.
Price is one factor, but not the only one. Offers are also evaluated on financing strength (cash vs. loan, and loan pre-approval quality), contingencies (inspection, appraisal, loan), proposed closing timeline, and the buyer agent’s responsiveness and track record for closing deals without last-minute issues. A slightly lower offer with stronger financing and fewer contingencies sometimes beats a higher offer that’s more likely to fall through.
Process & Timeline
Yes. Questions come up at all hours, and updates are provided regularly throughout the process.
Timelines vary, but most homes go under contract within the first few weeks of listing when priced and marketed correctly.
The process can start entirely remotely, and many sellers begin planning months before they’re ready to list. The first steps are simple: photos or videos of the property are submitted online to build a pricing strategy and comparable-sales report, followed by listing paperwork (handled by e-signature), and then professional photography gets scheduled. Every part of this can be done without ever visiting the property in person, which is especially important for out-of-state and absentee sellers.
It’s free to list — no upfront fees and no cancellation fee. If a home doesn’t sell, the listing simply expires off the market after 3 months. There’s no penalty for that, and a listing can always be renewed if the seller wants to try again, whether that means relisting as-is or adjusting pricing and strategy first.
Not necessarily — homes can be sold as-is, and this is common with probate, trust, and inherited properties where heirs don’t want to invest in repairs before selling. Selling as-is typically means pricing accounts for needed work and disclosures reflect the property’s condition honestly. For sellers who do want to make updates first, a listing consultation covers which improvements are likely to pay off versus which ones wouldn’t add enough value to justify the cost.
Probate, Trust & Inherited Homes
Yes. Probate, trust, and estate sales are a core specialty, including coordinating with executors, trustees, and multiple heirs, and handling court or trust-related requirements.
Multiple heirs is one of the most common situations in these sales. All heirs (or the trustee/executor acting on their behalf) generally need to agree on pricing and terms. When there’s disagreement, group calls and group texts are used to make sure everyone is on the same page before moving forward — and designating one point person among the heirs to communicate with is always the ideal setup, even when everyone stays looped in.
Direct vendor relationships for cleanout or repair work aren’t something currently offered, but access and entry to the property can be arranged and coordinated as needed so sellers, heirs, or their own hired help can get the work done — particularly useful for out-of-state heirs who can’t be there in person to let anyone in.
Probate and trust sales often involve court confirmation, multiple heirs who need to agree, and a property that may need cleanout or repairs before listing.
Out-of-State & Absentee Owners
Yes — this is a specialty, not an accommodation. Disclosures, listing agreements, and closing documents are handled through e-signature. Showings, inspections, and any repair work are coordinated locally without requiring the owner to travel. Regular updates are provided by phone and email throughout, so sellers always know where things stand even from across the country.
Service Area & Experience
Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and the San Gabriel Valley. San Diego County is not currently served.
Ashley Howie is a licensed California real estate agent (DRE #01949367) with Homequest Real Estate (DRE #01812614), with 11+ years of experience and 230+ closed transactions.
Yes. Client reviews are available on Zillow and on the testimonials page, with 70+ five-star ratings across Zillow, Google, and Trulia.
Call (626) 824-6988 for a free, no-obligation consultation.