There’s a lot of debate about real estate agent fees, and honestly, I get it.
If you’re paying a fee but getting zero value, no service, and no real results, that’s a problem. But here’s what the data shows: homes sold with a full-service agent typically sell for $55,000 more than homes sold without one. When your fee covers everything, preparing your home, marketing it, getting it under contract, managing the process, and helping you net the most money possible, all handled by one skilled team under one fee, that’s real value.
At the end of the day, it’s not about what it costs. It’s about what you get for what you pay.
What You’re Actually Paying For
A real estate agent’s commission isn’t just a fee for listing your home on Zillow. When you work with a full-service agent, you’re paying for comprehensive support that covers every step of the selling process.
Here’s what that includes:
Market Analysis and Pricing Strategy Your agent conducts a comparative market analysis to determine the optimal listing price. Price it too high and your home sits on the market. Price it too low and you leave money on the table.
Home Preparation Guidance Agents advise on repairs, updates, cleaning, and staging needed to maximize your home’s appeal. At ML Real Estate Group, we handle this project management for you, coordinating contractors, stagers, and cleaners so you don’t have to.
Professional Marketing This includes high-quality photography and videography, compelling listing descriptions, MLS placement, promotion across major real estate platforms, social media advertising, email campaigns to buyer networks, and open houses. 87% of buyers rely heavily on online photos and videos when deciding which homes to tour.
Showing Coordination Your agent schedules and manages all property showings, collects buyer feedback, and keeps you informed throughout the process.
Negotiation and Offer Management When offers come in, your agent reviews terms, advises on counteroffers, and negotiates to get you the best deal possible.
Transaction Management From accepted offer through closing, your agent handles all paperwork, coordinates inspections and appraisals, manages deadlines, and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
Each of these tasks is time-consuming and requires experience. A full-service agent handles them so you don’t have to.
The Numbers: What the Data Shows
The real question isn’t whether agent commissions cost money, of course they do. The question is whether that investment pays for itself in your final net proceeds.
The answer, according to multiple studies, is yes.
NAR data shows FSBO homes sold for a median of approximately $380,000 versus $435,000 when an agent was used, a difference of $55,000. A national survey found that sellers who hired an agent earned on average $46,603 more in profit than FSBO sellers.
Even more telling: the top 5% of agents often sell homes about 10% above market value. Our team at ML Real Estate Group consistently achieves 100.5% of listing price, with many homes selling above asking.
Here’s how the math works: If your home is worth $500,000 and a skilled agent’s marketing and negotiation lifts the price by just 5%, that’s an extra $25,000. Even after paying a 3% listing commission ($15,000), you’re still ahead by $10,000, and you avoided all the work and stress of selling it yourself.
Full-Service vs. Discount: What You’re Trading
As of 2025, the national average total commission is 5.57% of the sale price. This typically splits between the listing agent (around 2.5-3%) and the buyer’s agent (around 2.75%).
Some brokers offer lower fees, often 1-2% or a flat package. The catch? They provide fewer services.
Discount brokers might list your home on the MLS and handle basic paperwork, but they often leave marketing, showings, and negotiations to you. Some sell services à la carte, charging extra for professional photos or open houses.
The trade-off is clear: discount brokers lower your upfront cost but require you to do more of the work yourself. And if that results in a lower sale price or longer time on market, you may not save money in the end.
As one industry expert notes, truly “full-service discount” options are rare. Most low-cost models limit services significantly.
What Makes an Agent Worth Their Fee
Not all agents deliver equal value. Here’s what separates agents who justify their commission from those who don’t:
They handle everything. At ML Real Estate Group, our philosophy is simple: give us the keys and we take over. We coordinate staging, manage contractors, handle cleaning, arrange photography, and oversee every detail. You shouldn’t have to become a project manager to sell your home.
They invest in presentation. We include professional staging and photography at no additional cost because we know it matters. Homes that show well sell faster and for more money.
They price strategically. Good agents don’t just pull comps, they understand market timing, buyer psychology, and how to position your home to attract multiple offers.
They negotiate effectively. Experience matters when reviewing offers, advising on terms, and navigating counteroffers. A skilled negotiator can save or earn you tens of thousands of dollars.
They stay responsive. Real estate moves fast. An agent who takes days to return calls or doesn’t follow up on buyer feedback isn’t earning their commission.
The Hidden Costs of Going FSBO
Over 40% of FSBO sellers report struggling with pricing and paperwork, and many find the process stressful.
Here’s what FSBO sellers take on:
- Deep cleaning, decluttering, repairs, painting, and staging
- Researching comparable sales and setting the right price
- Taking or hiring professional photography
- Writing listing descriptions
- Marketing across multiple platforms
- Coordinating all showings and inquiries
- Handling inspections and negotiations
- Managing all closing paperwork
That’s not just time-consuming. It’s a steep learning curve with expensive mistakes possible at every step.
More concerning: FSBO sellers report more frustration and regret. They’re more likely to say they lost money on the sale, more likely to get emotional during the process, and more likely to wish they’d hired an agent.
In hot markets, you might get lucky with a quick offer. But in normal or cooling markets, FSBO homes often sit longer and require price cuts.
How to Know If Your Agent Is Worth It
Here are the questions to ask:
What’s included in your fee? If staging, professional photography, and comprehensive marketing aren’t included, you’re not getting full-service representation.
What’s your track record? Ask about their average sale price compared to list price, average days on market, and how their results compare to area averages.
How will you market my home? Generic listings get generic results. Your agent should have a detailed marketing plan that goes beyond posting on the MLS.
What’s your communication style? You should never wonder what’s happening with your home. Regular updates and prompt responses are non-negotiable.
What happens if something goes wrong? Issues come up during transactions. An experienced agent knows how to handle inspection problems, appraisal gaps, and buyer cold feet.
At ML Real Estate Group, we back our guidance with a “Love It or Leave It” guarantee and VIP seller programs that ensure you’re supported from listing to closing.
The Bottom Line
Real estate commissions are worth it when you’re working with an agent who delivers real value.
The typical 5-6% commission buys you expertise, marketing power, and transaction management that research shows usually results in a higher net proceeds. Homes with strong full-service agents often sell faster and for more money, covering the commission fee and then some.
The decision comes down to this: Do you want to save money upfront but shoulder the entire sales process yourself? Or do you want to pay a commission but have a skilled team handle everything while maximizing your final proceeds?
For most sellers in Northern Virginia, the comprehensive support of an experienced team justifies the investment.
Want to know what your home could sell for with our team? Get a free home valuation or contact us to discuss your specific situation. We’ll give you an honest assessment of what we can do for you, because at the end of the day, it’s not about what it costs. It’s about what you get for what you pay.
Matt Leiva is CEO and founder of ML Real Estate Group, a top 1% real estate team serving Northern Virginia, DC, Maryland, and West Virginia. With over $400 million in real estate sold and an average sale price of 100.5% of list price, the ML Real Estate Group team specializes in helping sellers maximize their net proceeds through comprehensive service and strategic marketing.
