FAQs
Have questions about how ListingSpark works?
Common Questions
What is ListingSpark?
ListingSpark is a real estate technology company whose goal is to provide clients with a great home buying or selling experience at a fraction of the cost of traditional real estate brokerages.
Is ListingSpark a licensed brokerage?
Most definitely. ListingSpark is a licensed real estate brokerage firm in Texas.
Does ListingSpark have licensed real estate agents?
Yes, some of the best in the industry who are eager to help you get your home sold.
Selling
Do I really only pay $7 dollars a day to list, market and sell my home?
Yes, its really just $7 a day.
Will ListingSpark help me with an open house?
Yes! You handle hosting the Open House (we recommend baking cookies, everyone loves that smell), and we take care of the marketing by adding it to the MLS.
What if I want to get more help along the way?
Basic questions will be handled by our Customer Success team via our online support. We are available via our team email admin@listingspark.com, 7 days/week from 9am-8pm and by live chat Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm.
If you need more assistance than basic information, you can hire a professional transaction coordinator for $975 to serve as your dedicated agent to guide you through the entire offer-to-closing process, including negotiating offers, reviewing inspections, managing repairs, and reviewing closing documents. This upgrade kicks in once you receive your first offer, and can be added to your account at any time!
I’d like to sell my home the traditional way with a personal sales agent. Can ListingSpark do that?
Yes! We have experienced, licensed real estate agents ready to sell your home. If you’ve already begun by listing your home with ListingSpark and realize you prefer to sell it with an agent instead of by owner, your ListingSpark listing can be converted to a full-service listing at any point in time.
How do I cancel my listing and what do I have to pay?
Unlike most firms, you can sign up at ListingSpark without a long-term commitment. If you decide at any point to cancel your listing before your home is under contract or in the negotiation process, all you need to do is reach out and let us know to cancel. You will only be responsible for paying for the first month and refunded any unused days past that. Once under contract we are required by the MLS to keep your listing on the MLS until the transaction closes through the title process.
What happens if a buyer doesn’t have an agent?
In cases in which a buyer is unrepresented, ListingSpark takes a flat $350 commission at closing for facilitating the transaction. This fee only applies if we have to write up the contract, otherwise there is no fee.
What if I have questions about an offer or contract?
We are here to help you sell your home. If you feel like you need more assistance than basic information, you can hire one of our transaction coordinators to serve as your dedicated guide through the entire offer-to-closing process, including negotiating offers, reviewing inspections, managing the repair discussion process, and reviewing closing documents. This upgrade kicks in once you receive your first offer, and can be added to your account at any time!
What if I have questions about my listing?
Questions about how our application works, or requests to change your MLS listing, or logistics around photographs, signs and lockboxes are handled by our Customer Success team via our online support. We are available via our team email admin@listingspark.com, 7 days/week from 9am-8pm and by live chat Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm.
Do I have to make a payment to ListingSpark every day?
Absolutely not. ListingSpark bills clients on a 28-day cycle and will not charge your credit card daily. When your home sells, we will credit your card on file for the unused days in your billing cycle.
What if I start the process of selling my home but realize I need more help along the way?
ListingSpark is a full-service real estate brokerage firm. We are here to help at any stage of the selling process. At any time after you have listed your home with ListingSpark, you can opt to transition the listing from self-service to one of our agents for full, traditional support.
Do I have to pay the buyer’s agent a 3% commission?
The buyer’s agent commission is not a set rate and is your choice. Keep in mind offering less than a 3% commission to buyers’ agents may result in fewer showings. Note: While ListingSpark does not charge a commission, the reason for being in the MLS is to get Buyer Agents to show your house to their customers - they are not going to do it for free. The ListingSpark software allows you to reduce the commission below 3%, but our experience is that Buyer Agent commissions below 2% do not sell well, and so customers wishing to drop below that line will need to be approved on a case by case basis.
Can I pay buyer’s agents more than 3% to incentivize a sale further?
Yes, ListingSpark clients who are time pressured sometimes choose this strategy to increase interest from buyer's agents.
How are the contract negotiations handled?
Any potential buyers will submit their contract to ListingSpark. We will then upload the offer to your ListingSpark account and inform you of the offer via email. You may then accept, reject or make a counter offer all through the platform. In the event of a counter offer, the process continues until an offer is accepted or rejected.
How is my listing price determined?
If your home is priced correctly, it will sell. We have a built in market compare tool on our site where you can run your own comps! This will allow you to see all of the sold data in your area and allow you to appropriately price your home. We also have a short video tutorial showing how to best utilize the search fields to produce the most accurate information possible.
What happens if a potential buyer has questions about my home?
When a buyer calls ListingSpark to inquire about your home, we will immediately notify and forward you their questions and contact information for you to follow up.
How do agents show my house?
We use a showing service called ShowingTime, that is integrated directly into your MLS listing. There are 3 options for you to customize how you get notified of showing requests, Just Go ( no approval needed), Courtesy Call (no approval needed), and Appointment Required (approval needed). When the showing occurs, as long as you are using the Supra lockbox we provide or have provided your own access instructions, agents will be able to access your property at the scheduled time
Do I have to pay extra for professional photography?
Not a penny. ListingSpark will send a professional photographer to your home to take photographs of your property, inside and out. These photos will be used with your MLS listing.
How do unrepresented buyers see my house?
Any time we have an unrepresented buyer reach out we will immediately notify and forward you their contact information for you to set up the showing and work out access with them. Just a reminder, the Supra lockbox can only be accessed by licensed realtors.
Can I pay to get a virtual tour of my home?
Absolutely. If you would like to set that up you can reach out to us at admin@listingspark.com and we will get in touch with our photographers to go over scheduling and pricing with you.
Buyers
I’m interested in a home listed with ListingSpark. How do I request the seller’s disclosure, ask a question or submit an offer?
Find the home you are interested in through the “Our Properties” tab on the ListingSpark homepage. From there, you will be directed to that home’s dedicated page where you will be able to request documentation, ask the seller questions and submit an offer.
What if I’m looking to buy a home and save money with ListingSpark?
When it comes to buyers, ListingSpark works like a traditional brokerage. We will provide you with an experienced, licensed real estate agent at no cost to you.
How do I get started?
Give us a call or shoot us an email and we’ll make sure one of our awesome agents contacts you immediately to begin the search for the perfect house for you to call home.
Real Estate Questions
What is the MLS?
MLS stands for “Multiple Listing Service.” The MLS is a suite of services that enables real estate brokers and agents to work together. The most well-known aspect of the MLS is the database of properties that are for sale, pending or have been sold, along with numerous details about each of those listings.
Why is the MLS important?
The vast majority of real estate agents, brokers and buyers use their area’s MLS to locate listings and details about each listing. Almost all home-search functions found on the internet use MLS information. The MLS is an invaluable tool to help you attract buyers and sell your home.
Outside Agents
How do I get answers to questions about one of your listings?
Every ListingSpark listing can be found in the MLS, under the “Properties” link at the top of our homepage, or by contacting us directly. We are happy to answer any of your questions or direct you to the MLS for greater detail.
Will I receive a commission for representing a buyer on the sale of a ListingSpark listing?
Yes. We require that our sellers agree to some level of buyer agent commission. The percentage of commission is ultimately up to the seller, so be sure to check the MLS for the amount.
Is it going to be difficult to represent a buyer on a ListingSpark listing?
Not at all. We’ve designed ListingSpark to fit the needs of everyone in the real estate transaction, including Buyer Agents.
How do I submit an offer on a ListingSpark listing?
Details for submitting offers on each property will be found in the MLS. Once you submit your offer, we will notify and forward your offer to the seller who will contact you directly.