Consumers listing a $400,000 property for sale could save up to $10,000 in broker fees by using a “low-fee” brokerage firm, according to a report published Monday by the Consumer Policy Center (CPC).

The report, written by CPC fellows Stephen Brobeck and Wendy Glich, examined both flat-fee brokers (who list a property on the MLS for a flat fee that typically ranges from $100 to $500) and low-commission brokers (who provide sellers with full personal service at a discounted commission rate).

According to the study, sellers who use an agent that charges 1.5% to list a property will spend $6,000 less in brokerage fees to sell a $400,000 home compared to a seller who uses an agent that charges 3%.

Sellers who use a flat-fee broker can save even more — up to $10,000 on the sale of a $400,000 home. But this comes at a cost, as the seller must be willing to take even more responsibility in preparing their property and negotiating a deal with a buyer. 

Additionally, the report cites evidence that “homes sold by brokers do not have higher average selling prices than comparable homes sold by the owners themselves.” 

Despite the potential savings, a national survey of 588 representative homeowners showed that only 24% believe that the best way to sell a home is through a for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) listing, or with a discount or flat-fee broker.

In addition, the survey found that 82% of respondents were concerned about a discount broker not providing all the services they need to successfully sell their property. Some of this concern appeared to dissipate when the broker was classified as low fee and charged only 1.5%, as 42% of survey respondents said they would “definitely” or “probably” use this type of broker. 

“Many low-commission brokers work with successful, full-time agents who are either employed by the brokers or by independent firms,” Brobeck said in a statement. “There is every indication that, for significantly reduced fees, many low-commission agents provide the same quality of service offered by successful traditional agents.”

When it comes to evaluating low-commission brokers, the report said consumers should look for the availability of full in-person services — including initial meetings, home inspections, showings and closings — and agents with good client reviews who offer commissions of 1.5% or less. 

CPC’s analysis found that the one low-commission brokerage that met all of these criteria is Clever, which also gives sellers a choice on which agent they work with.

Other strong contenders included Ideal Agent, which has a typical fee of 2%, along with Trelora, Simple Showing and 1% List. All four of these companies “appear to meet all of the criteria except wide availability,” and they “employ a relatively small number of experienced agents and brokers who serve limited areas.” 

“The expansion of different types of flat-rate services has provided new opportunities to owners wishing to sell themselves,” Gilch said in a statement. “The fact that major MLSs and portals, such as Zillow, no longer segregate FSBOs from Realtor listings helps these sellers immeasurably.”

Imagine if you could bottle the enthusiasm your clients have for working with you and use it to capture new business. That’s where real estate testimonials come into play. We all know that getting testimonials is an important part of building a business, yet it’s often a forgotten step in the process.

More often than not, I see agents asking for a review just once after closing, and the client says they will write a testimonial, but never do. What’s the solution? Keep reading for our guide to why real estate agent testimonials are so vital, how and when to ask for them and how to use them strategically once you have them.

Why real estate testimonials are important

Even for agents who work by referral, testimonials are key. Having a strong collection of solid, 4.9 or 5-star real estate client testimonials will set you up for success in the following ways: 

• Social proof. When someone recommends a new restaurant to me, the first thing I do is search for it online and look at reviews. I may even read any negative reviews to get a sense of any red flags. Real estate consumers operate the same way. They will look you up online, even if they were given your name by a trusted friend. The more great reviews you have, the better. This will make clients feel confident in working with you. If others had a wonderful experience with you, chances are they will, too.
• SEO ranking. For real estate consumers who don’t already have an agent in mind, they will typically search online for a local agent. The more 5-star testimonials you have (specifically on your Google business profile), the higher you will rank on Google when someone searches for a real estate agent in your area.
• Future referrals. When your client is actively recalling all the wonderful things you did for them during the transaction, it brings the experience to the top of their mind and increases the chances they’ll send you a referral to another client.
• Marketing. Testimonials are fantastic marketing tools. From your website to your social media to your printed marketing pieces, real estate client testimonials are marketing gold. In the next section, we’ll go deeper into all the places you can use them.

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Where to list your real estate testimonials

There are a lot of places you can use testimonials, which is one of the reasons they’re so important to have. Here are our top recommendations:

• Google. Increase your SEO ranking and show up higher on a Google search by having more reviews on your business profile.
• Zillow. Similar to Google, real estate buyers and sellers can search for agents on Zillow. More reviews give the consumer confidence in your experience and skills.
• Your website. Every review anyone posts for you should be copied onto your website. I’d suggest sprinkling testimonials throughout your homepage and your other pages, and also having a dedicated page just for real estate testimonials.
• Social media. I’m sure you’ve seen agents post their reviews on their Facebook and Instagram pages. Take it to the next level by sharing the client’s story, how the transaction went and then posting the review (with their permission, of course). Was it a difficult deal that you were able to get closed anyway? Was it a multiple offer situation, and you got your seller a much higher price than they expected? Stories are more engaging on social media than simply a testimonial by itself.
• Your listing and buyer presentation. Include a page of testimonials in your listing and buyer presentations that you use when meeting with a potential client for the first time. This social proof will help them feel comfortable saying yes to you.
• Your marketing. Whether it’s your monthly e-newsletter, a just sold postcard you sent to a neighborhood or a quarterly market update you mail to your sphere, using real estate client testimonials reminds them that not only are you a real estate agent, you’re a great one who people enjoy working with.

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Steps to ask for testimonials

You may be thinking: “Ok, so how do I actually get someone to write a review for me?” Here are our six steps to ask for testimonials from your clients and encourage them to take action.

Step 1: Plant the seed at your initial consultation

During your first meeting with a prospect, make it a point to mention that your goal is to do such a great job for them that they leave you a 5-star review. It’s subtle yet effective. Then, when the time comes to ask for that review, they’ve already been prepped for it.

Step 2: Remind them about the review at closing

I don’t recommend asking for the review on the day of closing (unless it’s a quick video testimonial) because clients are distracted finalizing their purchase. But you can remind them to keep an eye out for your testimonial request in a few days once things are settled.

Step 3: Send instructions and prompts a week after closing

I’d send instructions via email, although you could text if that’s how your client prefers to communicate. For example:

Hello (name)! Hope you’re settling into your new place and loving it. I have a small favor to ask that would make a huge impact on my business and help other clients like you find me online: Would you mind taking a quick minute and writing a review for me? You can post it on my Google or Zillow profile (include your specific links).

If you need some help thinking about what to say, consider: What was your favorite part about working together? Would you recommend me to your own friends or family? What would you say in your recommendation?

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this! I really appreciate it. Talk soon!

Step 4: Immediately after sending the email or text, call them

This serves as both a check-in call and a reminder to write a review: “Hi! How’s everything going with the move? Anything you need? Great! I just sent over an email with a request for a review – would you mind taking a moment today and writing a review for us? We always aim for 5 stars. Thank you so much!”

Step 5: If the client hasn’t written a review, send a reminder email

This is just a quick reminder — we’re not begging for reviews, but we know people are busy and simply forgot to write their review. Wait about a month before sending a reminder, so you’re not overly eager.

Step 6: Ask to do a video testimonial at closing

This is a great way to get the review done right away, as long as you receive their consent to use the video and transcribe it for any future marketing purposes.

Testimonial best practices 

Now, you have everything you need, go get more real estate testimonials and use them to find and convert more clients. Here are some additional best practices to help you improve your skills even more:

• Offer prompts, such as questions or suggestions, in your email with review instructions. Example: “What was the highlight of your real estate experience with me?” You can also include examples of other testimonials you’ve received to help your client write theirs.
• Drop in “5-stars” whenever you ask for the review. If you say it to them directly, it (not so subtly) suggests that they should give you five stars.
• Keep your ask for testimonials friendly and casual, while also sharing the importance of reviews for your own business and for future clients. For example, you can say: “Reviews help me find other buyers like you who need my help, and they also help clients find me. Thank you in advance for agreeing to write one!”
• Screenshot or copy/paste reviews to your website and social media. When a client posts a review on Google or Zillow, you can (with their permission) copy/paste or screenshot it and post it on your website or social media. I’d suggest using their first name and the initial of their last name, rather than their full name, when doing this to preserve their privacy.

Testimonial examples we love

We compiled some shining examples of real estate testimonials from a variety of platforms. Use these as examples for your clients if they’re not sure where to start.

Zillow

This client review from my Zillow page is a great example of a client getting specific in their testimonial. The client talks about their experience trying to sell by owner, and how working with me instead helped them sell their property more seamlessly.

Yelp

This client review for The Odd Couple Team – Keller Williams was so long that the entire thing didn’t fit in one screenshot! This review stands out because the client details the pros and (nonexistent) cons, calling out specific interactions and team members they worked with.

Google Business

This review for Chet of Mark Dietel Realty goes into detail about working with him and his communication style and frequency, which is helpful in setting expectations for prospective clients.

Your website

This review for Kinga Mills gets specific about her work coordinating documentation, photography and marketing for the client. Additionally, it’s hosted on the Testimonials page of her own website, made through Luxury Presence. It’s a great example of the type of testimonials page you can create on your own real estate website.

Instagram/TikTok

This client testimonial for Nancy Hargrove of Coldwell Banker is short and sweet, and the enthusiasm from her clients shines through.

@nancyjhargrove

Client Testimonial #clienttestimonial #airbnbhost #mdhomes #dchomes #dmvrealtor

♬ pushin P (feat. Young Thug) – Gunna & Future

YouTube

This review for Realtor Darius Cincys features the client describing his family’s experience working with Darius and Darius’ expertise in his local market with enthusiasm — and all under three minutes!

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The full picture

Real estate testimonials are an incredible marketing tool if used strategically. Use our tips to ask for reviews, place them where they will be seen and have an impact and remember to always provide top-notch customer service to your clients. This will result in rave reviews and future referrals.

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Meghan Trainor raised plenty of eyebrows when she revealed her home with husband Daryl Sabara has a rather unusual feature: two toilets in the bathroom located directly next to each other.

The “All About That Bass” singer made the revelation on an episode of Nicole Byer’s podcast Why Won’t You Date Me? in 2021, claiming the couple “pee at the same time a lot.”

“It’s gonna be a little different, but it’s a tighter bathroom area, so we will be close. Knees to knees. And that’s better. I want to see him,” she said at the time.

While certainly a unique way to bond, Trainor’s bathroom habits aren’t, perhaps, that unusual if a recent sale listing in Burns, Oregon is anything to go by.

The log cabin-style home comes with two side-by-side toilets, each with their own loo roll.

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This unique toilet set up is taking couple time to the next level.

The side-by-side toiles overlook matching side-by-side sinks.

It is like a public bathroom stall, but taken one step further, as no dividing wall separates the toilets from each other.

In lieu of traditional tiles, the floor is covered in plush salmon carpet – the shade presumably chosen to hide a world of sins.

The toilets look onto a matching pair of his-and-hers sinks, placed below a large mirror.

Meanwhile, Meghan Trainor his n’ hers toilets are … an interesting choice. Picture: Instagram

Unsurprisingly, the bathroom has already attracted attention on social media, with users torn over the unusual layout.

“I can’t even look my husband in the eye after he comes out of a regular bathroom,” one person commented on reddit.

Another person wrote: “It’s a choice. Not one I’d make, but some couples have ‘comfort’ levels way beyond mine”.

“Having two toilets side-by-side does nothing. Literally NO ONE wants to to sh*t right next to someone else. The point of having separate bowls is in case two people need to go at the same time, or don’t want to share a toilet area for personal hygiene reasons. This is worse than a public bathroom, which at least has stalls,” a third wrote.

The house is on the market for $US385,000 ($594,000) following a recent price cut.

Unusual bathrooms strike chord with buyers and tenants

While side-by-side toilets may seem a little out there, it’s not the strangest bathroom setting to have caught national – and sometimes global – attention.

In 2020, an old terrace at Port Melbourne tested how far renters would go for an inner city lifestyle, with the kitchen and bathroom sharing a space.

Advertised at $400 a week, tenants could live at the two-bedroom property, where the only shower is right beside the stove and the toilet was found outside in the paved courtyard.

Yes! That’s a bathroom is in the kitchen.

It must have been the year for unusual bathroom listings with a separate inner Sydney studio offering tenants a room with a different kind of view.

The apartment on Bourke St appeared to seamlessly blends the shower and toilet with the kitchen.

Recently renovated, the studio had done away with bathroom walls and instead opens the space up with glass.

While the glass walls allowed light to flow into the small home, it also meant the toilet could be admired from the comfort of the bed.

This Surry Hills home has a room with a different kind of view.

Meanwhile, an Aussie share house listing sent shudders over what renters may be tolerating in a tight market only last year.

The rental listed on a share house group social media site, claimed: “rent includes furnished private room and bathroom”. However, the ad raised some serious questions when the only bathroom pictured was a portaloo.

The listing also stated that there was no access to the kitchen.

Social media was having none of it with one of the images of an outdoor portaloo seeing the listing flagged on popular Reddit forum sh*trentals.

There were no other images of bathrooms except the portaloo set up.

It includes a shower – over the toilet in the portaloo.

“Private bathroom or portaloo? Came across this listing with a private bathroom … and photos of a portaloo,” a Redditor said.

“Also, photos of a kitchen that you don’t have access to! Preying on the international student community in the area undoubtedly.”

The post Home with side-by-side toilet has buyers kicking up a stink appeared first on realestate.com.au.

First-home buyers are rarely funding their deposits solely with their own money, new data shows.

Scraping together a deposit has emerged as the biggest challenge for first-home buyers and more than half are not conquering that hurdle without parental help or working a second job.

Alarming Finder.com.au polling of first-home buyers across the country showed 52 per cent either received money from their parents, lived with them or got them to go guarantor on their loans.

This cohort of buyers also included those who received an inheritance.

Another 17 per cent of first-home buyers, or about one in six, said they put together a large enough deposit after working a second job.

These figures dwarfed the numbers of first-home buyers who were getting into the market after meticulously saving or giving up on certain luxuries.

First-home buyers told pollsters they often regretted their purchase after facing stiff competition and pressure to buy. Picture David Clark

Only 3 per cent of first-home buyer respondents to the nationally representative survey said they cut their gym membership to save money and 5 per cent stopped buying takeaway coffees. Nine per cent said they cut down on their online shopping habits.

Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder, saving for a home deposit has become a marathon, not a sprint.

“Building a deposit is the largest hurdle for any Australian looking to get into the property market and it’s only getting harder,” she said.

“Many buyers feel like they are forced to delay big life milestones like starting a family or moving out of home.

“Many need financial help from family, or they’re giving up altogether on the idea of owning a home because it just seems so far out of reach.”

Finder’s First Home Buyer Report 2025 revealed the average first-home buyer deposit was at a record $135,589.

This was more than a full year of the average person’s wages and a 13 per cent on average deposit figures reported three years ago.

It took the average first-time buyer almost five and a half years to put together that amount of cash, Finder revealed. About 11 per cent of first-home buyers took more than 10 years to get a deposit.

These deposits were rarely the traditional 20 per cent, despite the lengthy time it took the buyers to pull them together, Ms Megginson said.

“The fear of missing out has driven many first home buyers to put down the smallest possible deposit of 5 per cent, and while it’s great those opportunities exist, it can put a lot of pressure on the household budget when the mortgage is so high,” she said.

Personal finance expert Sarah Megginson said most first-home buyers were using deposits of 10 per cent or less, despite taking years to put them together.

Loans with deposits under 20 per cent usually carry higher interest rates and lenders often charge an extra fee called Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI) to cover the added risk.

LMI alone adds an estimated $30,000 to the cost of the average house, although there are some government schemes open only to first home buyers, where they can get this cost waived.

Close to 90 per cent of buyers polled by Finder said they believed it had become harder to save for a deposit in the last three years. And many regretted the end result

“Prices have been moving so fast and there’s so much emotion involved when you’re buying a home, which can lead you to make a rushed decision. So it’s not surprising that almost half (45 per cent) of first home buyers who purchased a home in the past year, say they regret their decision.”

The two most common regrets were paying too much for the home (26 per cent) and not saving a large enough deposit (11 per cent).

The post How much average first-home buyer has in deposit and where they got the money appeared first on realestate.com.au.