Before we can estimate how much you’ll save with BetterNest, it helps to understand what selling with a traditional real estate agent typically costs.

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While there is no universal commission rate, traditional real estate commissions have historically ranged between 5% and 7%, depending on the agent you hire. A common structure is 6% total commission.

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In most cases, the listing agent offers half of that commission (3%) to a buyer’s agent who brings a qualified buyer. If a buyer’s agent is involved, the commission typically is split evenly. If there is no buyer’s agent, the listing agent usually keeps the entire commission and handles both sides of the transaction.

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Here’s how that looks in real numbers:
 

If you sell your home for $500,000 at a 6% commission, you would pay $30,000 in total commissions.
• $15,000 to the listing agent
• $15,000 to the buyer’s agent

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If no buyer’s agent is involved, the listing agent would typically receive the full $30,000.

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At BetterNest, we believe paying $30,000 just to market and sell a home no longer makes sense, especially given how much technology has simplified the process. That’s why we built a modern, low-cost model that reflects the real work involved in selling a home today.

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We use streamlined systems, AI-powered tools, and efficient marketing strategies to reduce overhead and pass those savings directly to you.

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Using the same $500,000 home example, you would pay $20,499 with BetterNest, compared to $30,000 with a traditional agent at 6%. That’s a savings of $9,501, or 31%.

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Buyer’s Agent Commission

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How much you offer a buyer’s agent is completely up to you. You’re not required to offer anything, though we typically recommend offering between 2% and 3% to encourage buyer agents to show your home. The choice is entirely yours and depends on how aggressively you want to incentivize showings.

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No Buyer’s Agent? Even More Savings

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If there is no buyer’s agent involved, BetterNest can handle both sides of the transaction for an additional 0.5%. On that same fictional $500,000 sale, your total cost would be just $7,999, saving you a whopping $22,001 (73%) compared to traditional commission structures.

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So, how much can BetterNest save you?

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The chart below compares:

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• A traditional agent charging 6%

• BetterNest at $499 + 1%, with a 3% buyer’s agent commission

• Even greater savings when there is no buyer’s agent and BetterNest manages both sides of the transaction
   

Scroll down to see exactly how much you could keep in your pocket.