Ideal Agent is essentially a low commission realtor that helps home sellers save by offering a 2% listing fee, lower than the typical 2.5–3% charged by traditional realtors. But based on our analysis of Ideal Agent reviews online, you likely have better alternatives.
Reviews say that its network includes top agents in their markets but is limited to only 2,000 agents nationwide, and you can only match with one at a time. This may restrict your options compared to services like Clever Real Estate, which provides multiple agent matches and additional savings, including cash back for buyers.
To use Ideal Agent, sellers fill out a short form on their website and are matched with a local agent. This service is free and comes with no obligation. While Ideal Agent primarily focuses on sellers, its setup for buyers is less direct and offers no financial incentives, unlike its competitors.
Overall, while Ideal Agent has positive reviews for its service quality, its limitations and lack of buyer incentives may make alternatives like Clever Real Estate more appealing for those seeking better savings and more agent options.
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Ideal Agent reviews and complaints
Ideal Agent generally receives high praise, with many customers awarding it 5-star ratings on reputable platforms like Trustpilot, Google, and the Better Business Bureau. Customers often commend the quality of agents and the competitive commission rates, noting that agents are helpful throughout the selling process and maintain strong communication.
| Rating source | Overview |
|---|---|
| TrustPilot | 4.9 / 5 (6,300+ reviews) |
| 4.8 / 5 (500+ reviews) | |
| Better Business Bureau | 5 / 5 (250+ reviews) |
Ideal Agent positive reviews
Customers appreciate the vetting process at Ideal Agent, ensuring they work with agents who rank in the top 1% locally or nationally. Many reviews highlight agents' professionalism, support, and thoroughness, as well as the efficient concierge service that simplifies the selling process.
Source: Trustpilot
Customers also reported satisfaction with Ideal Agent’s concierge service, which many felt was efficient and easy to use. Ideal Agent uses fully licensed real estate agents, which helps them provide quality service and advice.
Source: Trustpilot
More recently, a customer in Portland said they had a positive experience using an agent to purchase a home. Their agent, Bryce, was described as helpful and persistent, assisting them for six months in a challenging housing market.
However, the selling experience using Ideal Agent in Grand Forks, North Dakota, was disappointing. The assigned selling agent immediately expressed disinterest upon realizing the property was listed through Ideal Agent, stating the commission wasn't sufficient, and ultimately refused to handle the sale.
Ideal Agent's complaints
Despite the generally positive reviews, some customers report issues such as hidden fees and underwhelming service.
Complaints often relate to agents not meeting expectations, especially in less populated areas where the smaller network may limit options.
The review below recounts a disappointing experience with a Remax agent assigned through Ideal Agent to sell their home. The agent was criticized for not actively promoting the property, instead using it to advertise her ability to sell properties. According to the review, this lack of focus resulted in only one showing by another agent over six months, despite a significant price reduction.
Source: Trustpilot
Some Ideal Agent reviews express dissatisfaction with the commission rate, with customers saying they didn't get the expected savings.
Source: Trustpilot
So while most Ideal Agent reviews are highly positive, there are occasional instances where customers may not fully connect with the agent they're assigned.
Alternatives like Clever Real Estate have larger agent networks and match you with multiple agents simultaneously, so you can compare agents and find the right fit. Clever also offers better savings than Ideal Agent. Fill out this quick quiz to get matched with a top-rated local agent today.
Ideal Agent fees
Average real estate agent commissions total around 5–6% of a home’s sale price, split between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. Sellers can expect to pay a total commission of about 4.5–5% using Ideal Agent.
While the average commission rates are approximately 2.5-3% for listing agents and 2.5-3% for buyer’s agents, Ideal Agent offers a competitive 2% listing fee. This rate provides a significant saving for sellers, especially on higher-value homes.
For instance, on a $400,000 home, this could translate to savings of $2,000 to $4,000 compared to the typical 2.5–3% listing fees.
You may have seen the Ideal Agent commercials with Alan and Lindsay talking about Ideal Agent’s 2% free structure.
However, Ideal Agent implements a minimum $3,000 listing fee. This means if your home sells for under $150,000, the effective rate you pay may exceed 2%.
It's important to note that while Ideal Agent helps sellers save on listing fees, it doesn't offer built-in savings for buyers. They'll need to negotiate the buyer's agent fee directly with their realtor, but these fees are also negotiable, potentially leading to further savings.
Regardless of the service chosen—Ideal Agent, another low commission realtor, or a traditional agent—you'll generally need to account for the buyer's agent fee, which usually ranges from 2% to 3% on top of your listing fee.
How does Ideal Agent work?
Ideal Agent makes it simple for home sellers to connect with a real estate agent.
On the Ideal Agent website, you'll complete a short online form, providing your email address, your phone number, and information about your home.
Ideal Agent then matches you with a qualified listing agent in your area. That agent will contact you by email, phone, or text. You have no obligation to work with the agent, and there's no fee for the matching service.
If you proceed with the agent, you’ll receive the full range of services you need from the realtor. Once your home sells, you’ll pay your listing agent's commission and likely the buyer’s agent commission as well, like you would if you worked with a traditional agent.
Ideal Agent: Pros and cons
Pros
- Quickly connect with top-rated agents
- Low 2% listing fee
Cons
- Limited agent network in less populated areas
- Only one agent match at a time
- Other services may offer lower rates
Ideal Agent streamlines the process of finding a top-tier real estate agent. It boasts a network of agents in the top 1% of their markets and offers a competitive 2% commission rate.
However, the service has its limitations, including a smaller network of about 2,000 agents which may affect those in less populated areas. Additionally, the platform only allows matching with one agent at a time, restricting comparison opportunities, and the 2% rate may not always be the lowest available compared to other agent matching services.
How Ideal Agent works for buyers
Ideal Agent primarily focuses on home sellers but also provides services for home buyers. The platform doesn’t have a direct form for buyers to connect with agents; instead, buyers need to start the process through a chat feature on the website.
After initiating contact, an Ideal Agent representative will call to gather more information and help connect the buyer with a qualified agent. This process is designed to help buyers quickly find a top agent.
However, there are some downsides for buyers using Ideal Agent. The website setup isn't very user-friendly, making it harder for buyers to get started. Also, Ideal Agent doesn’t offer financial incentives to buyers, such as cash back, which many other services do to make their offers more attractive.
Ideal Agent vs. alternatives
Ideal Agent's 2% listing fee will net you some savings compared to a conventional realtor charging 2.5–3% — but there are better options that can save you more.
Clever Real Estate offers a 1.5% listing fee nationwide, and it's our top pick for home sellers. Clever offers the same agent quality at a lower cost than Ideal Agent. It also has more agent selection (14,000 top agents nationwide vs. Ideal Agent's 2,000). And eligible buyers get cash back savings at closing.
Redfin also might be worth a look. Its 1.5% listing fees are lower than Ideal Agent's. But Redfin has some service quality risks you won't get with Clever and Ideal Agent, who match you with conventional realtors (and simply negotiate lower rates for you).
💡 Our advice: Try Clever first to get the best selection of agents. If you like an agent you're matched with, you'll also get the best savings. If you don't like any of the agents Clever recommends, you can simply walk away (Clever is free with no obligation) and try other services offering a more limited agent pool, like Ideal Agent and Redfin. Fill out this short quiz to get matched with top local realtors today!
FAQ
Is Ideal Agent legit?
Yes, Ideal Agent is a legitimate service that connects home sellers with top-rated local real estate agents. It boasts thousands of positive reviews across platforms like Trustpilot, Google, and the Better Business Bureau, highlighting its reputable service and effective agent matching.
How does Ideal Agent make money?
Like other agent matching companies, Ideal Agent makes money by charging the real estate agents in its network a referral fee. Additionally, Ideal Agent makes money from other service offerings like title, mortgage, and property insurance.
Is Ideal Agent available near me?
Ideal Agent has agents located in all 50 states. However, some areas may have fewer options than other areas, making it harder to find a local agent. You can enter your location on the Ideal Agent website to see if it has agents available in your area.
What realtor charges the lowest commission
While Ideal Agent offers a competitive 2% listing fee, other services like Clever Real Estate and Redfin might offer lower fees. Clever Real Estate, for instance, provides a 1.5% listing fee, which is lower than Ideal Agent's, and includes additional benefits like cash back for buyers.
How does Ideal Agent vet its agents for quality?
Ideal Agent employs a thorough vetting process to select its agents, requiring that they rank in the top 1% based on sales volume either locally or nationally. This criteria aims to ensure that agents affiliated with Ideal Agent meet a high standard of professionalism and effectiveness, which is intended to enhance overall customer satisfaction and service quality.