Redfin Reviews 2024: Should You Trust Redfin to Sell Your Home?

Redfin is a nationwide, technology-based real estate broker offering a 1.5% listing fee when you sell a house with a Redfin agent (plus an additional 0.5% discount if you both buy and sell with Redfin).

Choosing a Redfin agent over a traditional real estate agent may save you money, as Redfin’s 1.5% listing agent commission is lower than the average realtor commission of 2.5-3%. But it comes with a tradeoff.

A Redfin agent works with a remote back-office team to sell your home so that they can handle more listings at once.^[1] This tech-driven, high-volume strategy may detract from the personal touch you’d get with another brokerage.

We recommend doing your research on Redfin agents in your area to see if they have a good track record with previous clients. You can also opt for an agent-finding tool like Clever to identify a reputable traditional agent from a well-known brokerage who’s willing to sell your home at a discount.

Who it's best for | Redfin reviews | Best alternatives to Redfin | How Redfin works

Who Redfin works best for

Redfin is a great fit for home sellers who don’t mind trading some personalized service for better rates on realtor fees. With the 1.5% listing fee, you can save thousands on commission when selling your home. For example:

• The standard 2.5% selling agent commission on a $400,000 home is $10,000
• Redfin’s 1.5% selling agent commission on a $400,0000 property is only $6,000

If you want to both sell your home and buy through a Redfin agent, you get an even deeper discount at 1% — you’d only pay $4,000 to your listing agent when you close on your home.

Working with Redfin’s technology-focused platform appeals to more tech-savvy sellers. With a downloadable mobile app and customer portal, Redfin gives you insights into your home’s value, the local market, and comparable homes in your area.

Who Redfin doesn't work best for

If you're seeking a more personalized experience but still want to save on commission, you may wish to explore low-commission realtors who offer a middle ground between service and savings.

Redfin agents meet with around 100 customers yearly^[2] and close nearly three times as many deals as other agents.^[3] While these numbers are impressive, it could limit their time with each client.

A Redfin agent’s base salary is around 30% of their annual take-home pay. With these guaranteed earnings, Redfin agents may have less desire to negotiate for a higher sales price because their salary offsets lower earnings from commission.

Sellers looking for an expansive real estate agent selection may also want to go a different route. Redfin has a large network with both lead and partner agents. Still, the company stated in its 2023 report that leaning on partner agents may harm business because they belong to other brokerages, and it has no control over their actions.^[4]

This means Redfin could try to avoid sending potential customers to a Redfin partner agent — and limits agent selection — to keep as much business in-house as possible.

Looking for lower commission and more agent options? Clever Real Estate might be a better fit. Get connected with top-rated local agents and save thousands on commission fees. Try Clever Real Estate today.

Redfin reviews

Redfin’s online reviews are mixed, with around 1,100 reviews across the Better Business Bureau, Google, and Yelp, but the broker’s online reviews may not accurately reflect customer satisfaction.

Redfin sold 559,000 homes in 2023, and only some Redfin customers leave reviews on third-party sites.^[5]

Online reviewers have mixed feelings about agent performance, attentiveness, and market knowledge. Positive reviews praise Redfin agents for professionalism and honesty, while negative agent reviews point toward inattentiveness and a lack of attention to detail.

Customers also claim that Redfin posts inaccurate information about their homes and lists them for a less-than-desirable price.

'Simply the best'

Happy customers rave about the selling process at Redfin and the Redfin agents’ market knowledge.

'The most professional, honest, and trustworthy person I’ve met'

Agent honesty and professionalism stand out in many Redfin reviews, with clients stating that their Redfin agent provided the best real estate experience they have had.

‘Redfin [was] responsible for us losing the house’

Some Redfin customers experienced a lack of attention to detail, resulting in mishandled paperwork, deals that fell through, and lower selling prices.^[6]

‘Redfin has lowballed my home on their site’

Multiple Redfin reviews indicate that Redfin doesn’t gather correct customer information, leading to misrepresentation of their properties and low offers.

Redfin pros and cons

Pros

Redfin’s low listing fees are a plus, but customers praise the overall experience more than the discount they receive. Redfin agents often provide outstanding customer service and are honest with customers.

Redfin’s online portal and mobile app are also a bonus for home buyers and sellers. These resources help customers narrow down their home search and keep close track of the selling process.

Cons

While some Redfin agents are praised for their honesty and dependability, others don’t provide the same high-quality service.

A Redfin agent handles more clients than most traditional agents, making it challenging to interact with individual customers. This heavy workload sometimes results in low customer engagement, inaccurate listings, and deals that fall through at the last minute.

Redfin’s discount for buying and selling a home is sometimes confusing. The company takes the 0.5% listing discount out of the closing costs, which goes unnoticed by some customers.

Low-commission alternatives to Redfin

Redfin’s lower commission rates and bonus discount for buying and selling are attractive, but it isn’t the only discount real estate broker on the market. Other low-commission alternatives, like Ideal Agent and UpNest, connect you with real estate agents from major brokerages rather than in-house salaried real estate agents.

You should also check out Clever if you want the best deal and the best real estate agents. Clever matches you with multiple agents from top brokerages like Re/Max and Compass, and it also negotiates lower commission rates on your behalf to score you a low 1.5% listing fee.

Redfin: How it works

If you want a discount on commission and choose Redfin, here’s what you can expect from the process:

Get started by entering your home’s address into Redfin’s selling platform. You’ll answer questions about your situation, including how soon you want to sell, why you want to sell, if you plan on buying another home, and other essential details about your home.

You can bypass the home questionnaire by visiting Redfin’s real estate agent page, searching for an agent in your area, and contacting them directly.

After submitting your information, Redfin will connect you with a Redfin agent in your area. Your agent will work with you to prepare your home for sale by advising you on any improvements you can make, taking photos of your home, and listing it on the MLS.

While on the market, your Redfin agent will locate potential buyers, show your home, and facilitate open houses.

Close on your home (and buy your new home). The closing process with Redfin agents is similar to any full-service real estate brokerage. Your agent will negotiate the sale on your behalf, facilitate any paperwork, and ensure the sale goes smoothly.

You can also work with your agent to purchase a new home and receive an extra 0.5% off your listing commission when your home sells.

Redfin reviews: The bottom line

Redfin is one of the largest tech-forward real estate brokers in the nation and offers sellers a deep discount on listing commissions at 1.5% (compared to the standard 2.5%) and an extra 0.5% off if you sell and buy through the brokerage.

The company also offers similar perks to other full-service brokers, including:

• Professional photography
• Realtor-led showings
• Open house services

Technology-savvy home sellers who care more about a discount than building a relationship with agents may benefit the most from Redfin’s services. But if you want a more personalized experience, another brokerage is a better way to go.

We recommend giving Clever Real Estate a shot if you want the best deal for selling your home and outstanding customer service.

Clever’s matching service pairs you with experienced local agents from reputable brokerages that offer lower-than-average commissions and care about building relationships that lead to repeat business.