Ideal Agent Reviews: Is This Agent Matching Service Worth the Hype?
Ideal Agent is a free agent matching service that matches buyers and sellers with local agents. You save money through the lowered listing agent commission. However, you don’t know the agent you will be matched with.
While you can interview the agent and request alternative options, finding the right one may take up to two weeks.
Alternatively, you can try listing your home via the For Sale By Owner method. Flat fee companies, such as Houzeo, allow you to advertise your property within 48 hours, saving money on agent commissions.
You’ll receive help throughout the process with Houzeo’s great 5-star customer care, assuring a smooth home-selling experience.
Should I List With Ideal Agent?
- Pros: Ideal Agent has received positive feedback for its customer service.
- Cons: Ideal Agent is relatively expensive, with a total commission of 4.5% to 5% (2% for the listing agent and 2.5% for the buyer agent). Additionally, Ideal Agent is lacking in technological advancements.
- Our Take: In our assessment, Ideal Agent’s 2% listing agent commission is excessive, especially when factoring in the 25% referral fee to Ideal Agent. Opting for Houzeo can result in substantial savings by completely eliminating this commission.
What is Ideal Agent?
Ideal Agent is a reputable agent matching service that matches homeowners with licensed real estate agents in their region. The company collaborates with high-performing agents who are among the top 1% of sales contributors in their respective areas.
One of Ideal Agent’s primary advantages is its pre-negotiated compensation structure, which allows sellers to benefit from lower prices. Other agent matching systems, such as UpNest or HomeLight, normally charge 2.5% to 3% fees. However, Ideal Agent charges sellers a reduced 2% commission as a listing fee.
If you believe that the matched agent is not the ideal fit for you, you are free to look into alternative choices at any time.
Is Ideal Agent Legit?
Ideal Agent is a legit business with its headquarters in Florida. Ideal Agent is required to secure the proper licenses in order to deliver its services and collect fees from the agents. This serves as the primary revenue stream for Ideal Agent.
The organization takes a limited approach, working with just 450 agents countrywide. They emphasize that admittance into their agent network is exclusively “by invite only.” This creates an exclusive niche of highly recognized agents.
How Does Ideal Agent Work?
The process of using an agent matching service for home sellers is straightforward and involves four steps:
1. Provide Details About Your House: Ideal Agent requires homeowners to fill out an online form with information about their property. This includes property details, descriptions, homeowner contact information, and the desired timeframe for selling.
2. Storage of Information as a Lead: Ideal Agent stores this information as a lead on their database. Based on the homeowner’s zip code and agent availability, the system matches the lead with a potential agent.
3. Interview Prospective Agents: Once a potential agent is connected with the homeowner, the agent will reach out to understand the homeowner’s requirements. At this stage, the homeowner has the opportunity to interview the agent to determine compatibility. If the homeowner is unsatisfied with the agent, they can request another option.
4. Signing the Listing Agreement: Once the homeowner is ready, they can sign the listing agreement. The house is then listed on the MLS, marking the beginning of the home-selling journey.
Is Ideal Agent Really Free?
No, it’s not. Despite promoting itself as a “free agent matching service,” Ideal Agent actually collects a 25% referral fee from real estate agents.
These fees ultimately come out of your pocket since you pay the agent.
Are Ideal Agents Good?
Ideal Agent prides itself on maintaining high standards when it comes to selecting agents. All Ideal Agents must be members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and have excellent reviews on Zillow.
They must have a significant number of successful transactions and rank among the top 1% of sales contributors in their respective local markets.
Ideal Agent Reviews
Ideal Agent has a good reputation, with over 450 Google reviews and a 4.8-star rating on key networks like Yelp and Trustpilot. These evaluations indicate a mix of pleasant experiences selling or purchasing properties, as well as some customer service complaints.
✅ Ron Tolf was happy with Ideal Agent’s service for his challenging house sale.
✅ Don Gottshall was grateful for Ideal Agent’s constant presence during his home sale.
❌ Shawn Oneil was angry to have lost almost $90,000 dollars because their agent didn’t represent them appropriately.
❌ Eulala White was furious at the lack of adequate customer support during their real estate transaction.
Ideal Agent Reviews on BBB
Some consumers voiced discontent since agents were not “local experts,” implying a potential lack of quality assurance in Ideal Agent’s services.
Because purchasing or selling a home is a substantial financial decision, it is critical to undertake extensive research and compare numerous websites and firms before making a final selection.
Pros and Cons of Ideal Agent
Ideal Agent, provided by Ideal Realty, offers both advantages and disadvantages. Let’s examine them in detail:
Advantages of Ideal Agent:
- Top-Rated Partner Agents: Real estate agents from well-known brokerages such as Keller Williams, Coldwell Banker, RE/MAX, and others make up Ideal Agent’s referral network. This guarantees that you receive outstanding service and assistance throughout the purchasing or selling process.
- Concierge Service: Ideal Agent’s concierge service is manned by real estate agents who can offer professional advice and answers to any concerns that may arise throughout the transaction.
Disadvantages of Ideal Agent:
- Limited Agent Options: Because Ideal Agent works with a select set of partner agents, your options for selecting an agent that best fits your personal requirements and preferences may be limited.
- Lack of Clarity: Some users have complained about a lack of clarity surrounding Ideal Agent’s partner agent selection process, which can lead to ambiguity and discontent.
Ideal Agent Alternatives
If you’re looking for alternatives to Ideal Agent, we recommend considering the following options that provide superior services at affordable rates:
- Houzeo: Houzeo allows you to market your house on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) within 24 to 48 hours. For a one-time price of $379, you maintain total control over your listing and receive access to superior technology and resources.
- Redfin: Redfin is a recognized discount real estate broker with offices in over 100 cities throughout 49 states. They promise to sell your house for a listing commission of only 1.5% of the sale price, saving you thousands of dollars above typical brokers.
Should I Consider Working With an Ideal Agent?
Choosing whether to work with Ideal Agent requires careful consideration of its advantages and drawbacks.
If you are willing to compromise on quality and potentially have lower savings, Ideal Agent may suit you. However, if your goal is to maximize your savings and sell your house at a top-dollar rate, smarter alternatives are available.
One such alternative is using a Flat Fee MLS platform like Houzeo. With Houzeo, you can list your property on the open market even if you don’t have a real estate license. By utilizing Houzeo’s services, you gain access to a personalized dashboard, a fully online platform, and prompt customer service—all at a flat rate.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ideal Agent
1. How does Ideal Agent make money?
As a referral fee, Ideal Agent collects a 25% compensation from the agent for each successful transaction completed via them. This commission may create the appearance that you are not directly paying for the service, but it is paid for by you.
