Help-U-Sell Real Estate (also searched as "Help You Sell Real Estate") is a discount brokerage franchise that helps you sell your home for less than traditional 3% listing fees. While its full-service support can save you money, fees and service quality vary widely by location since each office sets its own rates. For these reasons, Help-U-Sell didn’t make our list of top low commission companies.
Help-U-Sell earns strong customer reviews overall, but your experience depends heavily on your local agent. If you want guaranteed savings with vetted full-service agents nationwide, Clever Real Estate is a better bet — its pre-negotiated 1.5% listing fee offers the same full support for less.
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Help-U-Sell Real Estate overview
| 🏢 Company type | Discount brokerage |
| 🏴 Active since | 1976 |
| 💲Listing fee | Varies by location |
| 💰 Buyer savings | Buyer rebates available in some locations |
| ⭐ Average customer rating | 4.7 ⭐ (439 reviews) |
| 📍Availability | 18 states |
| 🔎 Best alternatives | • Clever Real Estate: 1.5% listing fee, full-service agents nationwide • Ideal Agent: 2% listing fee, one agent match • Assist-2-Sell: Variable local pricing, similar franchise model • Redfin: 1.5–2% listing fee, tech-driven support |
Real Help-U-Sell reviews from customers
| Site | Rating |
|---|---|
| Google* | 4.8/5 (390 reviews) |
| Yelp | 4.62/5 (49 reviews) |
| Weighted average | 4.7/5 (439 reviews) |
🟢 Primary positive themes
| 🟡 Areas for improvement:
|
We analyzed reviews from about 20 locations and noted relevant themes.
Most reviewers were happy with their agents. They mentioned how their agents were professional, knowledgeable, responsive, and effective at easing their stress.
Almost all the negative reviews were from several years ago, and the few recent ones we found were about issues with particular realtors, rather than the company as a whole.
Remember that Help-U-Sell is a franchise, so its fees, service quality, and overall value will vary considerably between locations.
Here are some of the most common positive and negative themes from Help-U-Sell reviews.
When evaluating real estate companies, our process includes gathering all verifiable customer reviews from 3rd party sites such as BBB, Google, Consumer Affairs, TrustPilot, and Yelp.
In addition to tallying total review counts and average customer ratings, we use AI to analyze customer sentiment across a total of 20 positive and negative themes related agent quality, service, communication, savings, integrity, and more.
| 🟢 Positive Themes | 🟡 Negative Themes |
|---|---|
| Sells Fast | Struggles to Sell |
| Easy Process | Misrepresented Services |
| Hands-on Support | Poor Communication |
| Prompt Communication | Poor Marketing |
| Market Expertise | Poor Pricing Advice |
| Professional Service | Unprofessional Service |
| Quality Marketing | Technical Issues |
| Negotiation Skills | No Refunds |
| Significant Savings | Misleading Pricing |
| Integrity | Lack of Integrity |
To ensure an accurate depiction of the customer experience, we run every review through AI to check for mentions of each positive and negative theme. We then tally the mentions to calculate the percentage of all reviews that reflect a given theme. The positive and negative themes with the highest percentages of mentions are displayed, along with representative quotes pulled from actual customer reviews.
Themes that are mentioned in less than 2% of reviews are not considered representative of the typical customer experience and are automatically excluded. Therefore, companies with overwhelmingly positive reviews may not have any negative themes displayed, and vice-versa.Almost all the negative reviews were from several years ago, and the few recent ones we found were about issues with particular realtors, rather than the company as a whole.
🟢 What customers like about Help-U-Sell Real Estate
Hands-on support (61% of reviews). Help-U-Sell reviews consistently highlight agents' dedication to walking clients through the home buying and selling process, being readily available for questions and concerns, and going above and beyond basic service expectations by helping with additional tasks like coordinating repairs or attending inspections. There's a strong emphasis on agents being patient, thorough, and genuinely committed to their clients' success.
- "Even though she didn't have to, she stayed with me during the walk through of my home and even found items that needed to be addressed that I missed."
- "In my absence, Warren acted as a general contractor for all repairs and upgrades needed to prepare the house for going on market."
- "From beginning to end she is on top of communications, and her years of experience gets you connections to people you need after you buy the house"
Market expertise (42% of reviews). Reviews also speak to Help-U-Sell agents' deep knowledge of the geographical areas they serve. Customers particularly value agents' ability to accurately price homes, provide strategic advice based on current market conditions, and leverage their local market knowledge to achieve optimal outcomes.
- "His knowledge of market conditions and years of experience really shows and he saved us a lot of time and money by walking through and telling us what to repair and what not to repair."
- "She has the in-depth knowledge of Chester County and the experience you need in this type of market… knew every school and neighborhood, even citing flood zones and other areas with a lower resale value"
- "They helped my price my property accurately by presenting me with facts and recent market data to support them."
Professional service (40% of reviews). Many reviewers note that despite the discount business model, they received highly professional service from competent agents. Reviews emphasize agents' commitment to ethical business practices, and their capacity to handle transactions efficiently while maintaining high service standards.
- "When you want the highest level of professionalism, service, and ethics, give them a call… Help-U-Sell does everything a realtor should do, and more…and at a great low rate."
- "Her experience and professionalism was evident from the very start and her calm confidence throughout the process was extremely reassuring."
- "Although they offer a discounted listing price, we received full service for our listing."
Prompt communication (31% of reviews). Help-U-Sell customers are also highly pleased with their agents' communication and responsiveness. Customers consistently highlight the agents' accessibility at all hours, quick response times to inquiries, and proactive updates throughout their transactions.
- "He was exceptionally receptive to questions and was accessible and very timely in his responses via phone, text, or email"
- "Communicated daily with updates, always very professional in his emails and texts, and his follow up was thorough and on time."
- "He communicates very thoroughly and unlike almost all real estate agents, he answers his phone"
Easy process (30% of reviews). Another key theme among Help-U-Sell reviews is the agents' ability to handle complicated details while keeping the process simple for clients, which is particularly appreciated by first-time buyers and sellers.
- "The process of finding a house can be stressful; however, Matt seemed to take all that stress away"
- "This was all new to me and should of seamed scary but because of his expertise I had no anxiety"
- "As a first time home buyer I didn't expect the process to be as easy as he made it… handled as many of the numerous details as possible, so we didn't have to."
🟡 Common Help-U-Sell complaints
A small percentage of reviews mention discrepancies between what was promised vs. delivered by Help-U-Sell. Particular concerns center on agents misrepresenting their capabilities or experience level, misleading information about buyer qualifications, and agents failing to complete promised tasks or providing inaccurate guidance.
- "Turned out buyers (who I was previously told we're good) were only pre-qualified and not pre-approved."
- "She sells you an inflated image of herself and what she can offer."
- "Agent had lied about completing processes that were in fact never done."
Lack of integrity (2% of reviews). A handful of customers also complain about a lack of honest and ethical conduct on the parts of their agents. Specific complaints focus on misrepresentation of property details, withholding of important information, and failure to act in clients' best interests.
- "This shady character sold my mother a FURNISHED home, but when she got the keys it was cleaned out."
- "This company withheld information from my realtor that potentially prevented me from getting the home."
- "Agent had lied about completing processes that were in fact never done."
🏆 Best alternatives to Help-U-Sell Real Estate
Help-U-Sell has the potential to be more affordable than a traditional realtor, but its fees are sometimes higher than those of its competitors. And, agent quality can vary from one location to the next.
Depending on your situation and priorities, you may find another low commission real estate company in your area that offers better savings and service quality.
- Like Help-U-Sell, Assist-2-Sell is a long-running discount real estate franchise that offers similar flat-fee services. Both brands rely on independently owned offices, so fees and service quality vary by location. If you’re comparing Help-U-Sell vs. Assist-2-Sell, it’s worth checking customer reviews and pricing for each in your local market.
- Clever Real Estate is the best overall choice if you're looking to save on realtor fees without sacrificing quality. Clever pre-negotiates a 1.5% listing fee (or $3,000 minimum) with top-rated, full-service agents from major brokerages like Keller Williams and RE/MAX. Clever works nationwide — unlike Help-U-Sell — and gives you multiple agents to compare. Get started with Clever today!
- Ideal Agent is another solid choice, offering a higher listing fee of 2%. Like Clever, it screens agents for quality, but only provides one agent match, limiting your ability to compare options.
Ultimately, the right choice depends on your budget, location, and how much hands-on support you want throughout the home-selling process.
How Help-U-Sell Real Estate works
As one of the first discount brokers, Help-U-Sell has built a reputation for offering cheap listing fees, which vary by franchise location.
The company’s listing packages vary between locations, but most franchises offer the same services as a traditional brokerage. You can also choose to find a buyer yourself and then have the company step in to support you through closing.
Help-U-Sell’s approach could translate into real estate commission savings, but it also creates potential service quality compromises that make this company a riskier option than many of its newer, tech-forward competitors.
What to expect when selling with Help-U-Sell
Help-U-Sell’s listing services vary by location, but the company advertises two main selling options. You can market your home and find a buyer yourself, or get full service from start to finish. If you choose the full-service route, you’ll generally get the following support:
- Comparative market analysis (CMA)
- Pricing advice
- Professional photography or referral to a photographer
- MLS listing and listing description
- For-sale lawn sign and lockbox for buyer’s agents
- Guidance during due diligence (inspections, appraisals, financing)
- Assistance with evaluating offers and negotiating terms (as needed)
- Support through closing
Before you sign a contract, verify which services your agent will provide. Ask about any specific services you want, like open houses or a 3D house tour. Also, check the agent’s customer reviews to see if past customers received quality service throughout their transactions.
What to expect as a buyer
You can use a Help-U-Sell buyer’s agent to purchase a home. Your agent will provide full service like a traditional agent.
In some locations, the company offers home buyer rebates. If you qualify, you can get part of the buyer’s agent commission (BAC) back as a credit or cash. For example, a San Francisco office offers 25% of the BAC back. These rebates can help offset closing costs and other up-front expenses when buying a home.
Several of Help-U-Sell’s competitors offer buyer rebates in every state where it’s legal.
How much can I save with Help-U-Sell Real Estate?
| Help-U-Sell’s listing fee | Varies by location |
| Nationwide average listing fee | 2.5–3% of home sale price |
| Amount saved with Help-U-Sell | Unclear |
The amount you can save with Help-U-Sell depends on your location and home’s sale price. Each Help-U-Sell office sets its own commission rates, but many local websites aren’t clear about the listing fees they charge. You’ll need to call your local Help-U-Sell office to verify its rates.
We researched fees for several franchise locations. Some offices charge a single flat rate around $3,000-4,000, while others charge on a sliding scale based on the price of your home.
Example: Listing fees at an Arizona office
Some of the rates provide little to no savings. For example, a Help-U-Sell in Tucson, Arizona, charges $4,950 for a $100,000 home sale. That’s effectively a 4.9% listing fee — way more than you’d pay with a traditional agent!
The Tucson office also charges $5,950 for a $300,000 home, which is about a 2% listing fee (close to the national average commission rate of 2.83%). And it charges $8,950 for a $600,000 home, which is 1.5%. That rate is actually in line with the rates that top discount brokers offer.
💰 Want to pay less in realtor fees? Use our free agent finding tool to connect with local realtors who charge a 1.5% listing fee (half the usual rate)
Help-U-Sell company history
In the 1980s and 1990s, realtor fees often cost as much as 7% of a home’s sale price. Help-U-Sell's founder, Don Taylor, believed that by advertising commission savings, he would attract enough customers to turn a profit, despite earning less money on individual sales.
The business model was incredibly successful at the outset. Help-U-Sell began franchising in the 1980s. By 2007, it boasted approximately 1,000 locations, making it the fastest-growing real estate franchise in the US.[1]
However, like longtime competitor Assist-2-Sell, Help-U-Sell struggled to recover from the US housing market crash. Its parent company declared bankruptcy in 2008,[2] and while the Help-U-Sell brand survived under new management, it lost many franchise locations.
Increased competition from a new generation of discount real estate services — led by low commission companies like Clever Real Estate and Redfin — only accelerated Help-U-Sell’s decline. Today, it has fewer than 80 U.S. offices, over 90% less than in 2007.
The company frequently appears on "cheapest franchises to buy" lists.[3] Owners pay Help-U-Sell an initial $17,750 for the right to use the company’s branding and trademarks, plus 6% of their gross revenue as an ongoing royalty fee.
Bottom line: Should you use Help-U-Sell Real Estate?
Help-U-Sell can work if you know and trust a local agent, but the savings aren’t guaranteed. Many franchises charge rates close to traditional agents, and service quality varies widely.
If you want to try Help-U-Sell, interview the agent you’d be working with before you sign anything. Ensure that the agent is upfront with you over the phone about their pricing, that they have good customer reviews, and that they have a solid track record of selling homes in your area.
We advise interviewing at least 2–3 agents to ensure you find the best fit for your situation.
Related reading
Looking to sell your house without breaking the bank? Read on to learn about alternatives to Help-U-Sell, as well as how to find the right low commission company for your situation.
