Everything sellers ask, answered straight.
What it costs to sell in Minnesota, what the flat $6,500 covers, what it does not, and how much the average seller keeps against a 6% commission. Including the fees most brokerages leave until closing.
How much does it cost to sell a house in Minnesota?
Selling a house in Minnesota traditionally costs 5-6% of the sale price in real estate commission - about $24,000 on a $400,000 home. Shift2Sell charges a flat $6,500 listing fee instead of a percentage, and the average Minnesota seller keeps about $7,900 more in commission at closing.
What is Shift2Sell's listing fee?
A flat $6,500. It is the same $6,500 whether the home sells for $250,000 or $900,000, and it covers full-service representation - not a limited-service or list-it-yourself listing.
When do I pay the $6,500?
At closing, and only if the home sells. Nothing is paid up front. The $6,500 comes out of the sale proceeds like any other closing cost.
What happens if my home doesn't sell?
You owe nothing. If the home does not sell, there is no listing fee, no penalty and no cancellation charge. The $6,500 is only ever paid out of a completed sale.
Is there anything on top of the $6,500?
One item: a $695 brokerage administration fee, paid to the brokerage at closing. Nearly every brokerage in Minnesota charges an admin fee - most do not mention it until closing. Ours is $695, you are seeing it now, and there is nothing else.
How long is the listing agreement?
Typically six months. That is sized to cover average time on market plus inspection, financing and the closing period, so the agreement does not expire in the middle of a live transaction.
Is there a minimum sale price or minimum fee?
No. The fee is a flat $6,500 at any price, with no minimum sale price and no minimum commission.
How much does the average Shift2Sell seller save?
About $7,900 in commission per transaction compared with a traditional 6% sale. Across all clients since 2020, Shift2Sell sellers have kept more than $4.3 million in commission, across 282 closed sales.
Does the $6,500 fee change based on my home's price?
No. The listing fee is a flat $6,500 at every price point, which is why higher-priced homes save the most. On a $400,000 sale a 6% commission is about $24,000; on a $700,000 sale it is about $42,000 - the Shift2Sell listing fee is $6,500 either way.
Is a flat-fee listing still full service?
Yes. The flat $6,500 includes licensed agent representation, pricing strategy, professional photography, a full MLS listing syndicated to every major portal, marketing, open houses, showings, negotiation and transaction management.
Is this the same as flat-fee MLS or for sale by owner?
No. Flat-fee MLS products put your listing on the MLS for a few hundred dollars and leave you to run the sale yourself. Shift2Sell is a full-service brokerage - a licensed agent handles pricing, marketing, showings, negotiation and closing for the flat $6,500.
Is staging included?
Staging itself is not included in the $6,500. Your agent will consult on staging, give you specific recommendations for your home, and provide a home-prep guide so you know what actually moves the needle before photos.
Is drone photography included?
Yes, when the property calls for it. Professional photography is included in the $6,500, and drone is used where it genuinely helps the sale - acreage, waterfront, or a lot whose shape matters.
Who pays the buyer's agent in Minnesota?
Buyer-agent compensation is negotiable on every sale and is agreed at offer time. The Minnesota standard has typically been around 2.7%, the national average runs closer to 2.0-2.2%, and Shift2Sell generally recommends sellers offer 2.0-2.4% - but the number is ultimately the seller's decision.
How much would I save on a $500,000 home in Minnesota?
About $11,500 in commission. A 6% commission on a $500,000 sale is about $30,000; the Shift2Sell route is the flat $6,500 listing fee plus about 2.4% ($12,000) to the buyer's agent, for roughly $18,500.
How much would I save on a $700,000 home in Minnesota?
About $18,700 in commission. A 6% commission on a $700,000 sale is about $42,000; the Shift2Sell route is the flat $6,500 plus about 2.4% ($16,800) to the buyer's agent, for roughly $23,300. Higher-priced homes save the most because the listing fee never changes.
What cities does Shift2Sell serve?
Across Minnesota, centred on the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro, with dedicated coverage in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Cottage Grove, Eagan, Farmington, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Lake Elmo, Lakeville, Mendota Heights, Oakdale, Prior Lake, Rosemount, Saint Paul, Shakopee, South St. Paul, Stillwater, West St. Paul, White Bear Lake and Woodbury. The flat $6,500 fee is the same in every city.
How long has Shift2Sell been in business?
Since 2020, with 282 closed sales and more than $4.3 million kept by clients in that time. It was built on a family with more than 35 years in Minnesota real estate.
Will my home get less exposure for a lower fee?
No. Homes listed for the flat $6,500 go on the MLS and syndicate to every major portal with professional photography and full marketing - the same exposure a 6% listing gets. The fee is lower because the brokerage runs on modern systems and a team model, not because the marketing is smaller.
My listing expired without selling. Can I relist with Shift2Sell?
Yes. Expired listings can be relisted full-service for the flat $6,500 rather than committing to another 5-6% commission, which on a $400,000 home is the difference between $6,500 and about $24,000 on the listing side.
Still deciding? Get a real number.
A free home valuation for your address, plus the full breakdown of what selling actually costs.