Properkey vs
Clever Real Estate
Clever isn't a brokerage — it's a referral service that matches you with a traditional agent who has agreed to work for 1.5%. Here's how it stacks up against Properkey's $0 listing fee, full MLS exposure and dedicated agent.
$0 listing fee and no listing commission. Properkey listings close through Properkey Escrow, a non-independent broker escrow operated under Properkey's DRE license; escrow fees are standard closing costs on any home sale. Properkey may also receive compensation from other parties to the transaction.
What would you keep?
Drag the slider to your home's value and compare the listing-side cost of selling with Clever Real Estate versus Properkey, or read the table below.
Assumes Clever-matched agent: 1.5% (≈$3K min). Buyer-agent compensation (negotiable and optional) and standard closing costs are separate and apply to every sale. Figures are illustrative; verify current pricing with each provider.
| Home price | Clever listing cost | Properkey listing fee | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $7,500 | $0 | $7,500 |
| $750,000 | $11,250 | $0 | $11,250 |
| $1,000,000 | $15,000 | $0 | $15,000 |
| $1,500,000 | $22,500 | $0 | $22,500 |
| $4,000,000 | $60,000 | $0 | $60,000 |
Properkey vs Clever Real Estate, feature by feature
The side-by-side that matters: what you pay, what you get, and who does the work.
| Feature | Properkey | Clever |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay to list | $0 listing fee, no listing commission | 1.5% via matched agents (min ≈$3K) |
| Service model | Yes: Full-service brokerage with a dedicated agent | Yes: Full service from a matched third-party agent |
| MLS & portal exposure | Yes: Full MLS + syndication to Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin and hundreds more | Yes: Full MLS via the matched agent |
| Pricing strategy & negotiation | Yes: Handled by your agent | Yes: Included |
| Contracts & disclosures | Yes: Contracts and disclosures prepared and managed for you | Yes: Included |
| Fees at closing (listing side) | Yes: No listing-side fees at closing | No: 1.5% at close, ≈$3,000 minimum |
| Cancel anytime | Yes: Cancel anytime — no lock-in contracts | Yes: No obligation until you sign with an agent |
| Financing, escrow, insurance & management | Yes: Financing, escrow, insurance & property management in one platform | No: None — Clever exits after the match |
| Where they operate | California and Idaho (real estate) | Nationwide |
| Who you deal with | Yes: One point of contact from listing to close | Partly: Concierge for matching; the agent is a separate company |
Why sellers choose Properkey over Clever
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$0 beats any percentage
A discounted commission is still thousands of dollars of your equity. Properkey's listing side is $0 — not 1%, not 1.5%, zero.
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One agent who owns your sale
Discount brokers often run team models — a different person at every step. Properkey gives you a single dedicated agent.
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No minimum fees
Low advertised rates usually hide dollar minimums. Properkey has no listing fee to put a minimum on.
-
More than a brokerage
Search, financing, escrow, insurance and property management in one platform — most discounters stop at the sale.
Where Clever Real Estate stands out: a fair look
- Free to use, with a large vetted agent network.
- Real full-service representation at a genuinely reduced rate.
- Compare multiple matched agents before committing.
We'd rather you compare with clear eyes. When you do, $0 with a dedicated agent is hard to argue with.
The bottom line
Clever's trick is negotiating someone else's commission down to 1.5% — helpful, but you're still paying five figures on most California homes and your 'Clever agent' actually works for another brokerage. Properkey employs your agent directly and charges $0 to list.
Frequently asked questions
Clever's matching is free — the cost arrives at closing as the matched agent's 1.5% fee (about $3,000 minimum). Properkey has no matched middleman and no 1.5%: your dedicated agent comes with the $0 listing.
A traditional brokerage — Keller Williams, Century 21 and similar — that agreed to Clever's discounted rate for referred clients. Properkey's agents work for Properkey, accountable to one standard.
Because Properkey isn't built on listing commissions. The platform spans the whole transaction — search, financing, escrow, insurance and property management — so we don't need to take 2.5–3% (or even a flat fee) from your sale to run a great listing. You get full MLS exposure and a dedicated agent; the listing side costs you $0.
There's no listing fee and no listing-side commission — ever. Like every home sale (including FSBO), standard transaction costs still exist: escrow, title and recording fees apply no matter who you sell with. Properkey listings close through Properkey Escrow, a non-independent broker escrow operated under Properkey's DRE license, at its published escrow rates — the same category of fee you'd pay any escrow company on any sale. Properkey may also receive compensation from other parties to the transaction. Buyer-agent compensation remains optional and negotiable.
Yes. Properkey listings go on the local MLS and syndicate to Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin and hundreds of other sites — the same exposure a traditional 3% listing gets.
Buyer-agent compensation is negotiable and entirely your call — with Properkey and with everyone else, under the rules in place since 2024. The difference is the listing side: $0 with Properkey.
Cancel anytime. There's no lock-in contract and no cancellation fee — if Properkey isn't earning your business, you can walk away.
Compare more alternatives
The Proper Way to Sell Your Home.
Full MLS exposure. A dedicated agent. A $0 listing fee. See exactly what you'd keep.
Properkey is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Clever Real Estate. All trademarks, brand names and logos are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification and comparison purposes only. Competitor pricing, features and availability are based on publicly available information as of September 2026 and may have changed; please verify details directly with each provider. Savings examples are illustrative, assume the fee structures shown, and exclude buyer-agent compensation (negotiable and optional in all cases), taxes and standard closing costs, which apply to every sale regardless of brokerage. $0 listing fee and no listing commission. Properkey listings close through Properkey Escrow, a non-independent broker escrow operated under Properkey's DRE license; escrow fees are standard closing costs on any home sale. Properkey may also receive compensation from other parties to the transaction. Photography and the 3D tour are free when your home sells with Properkey. If it doesn't sell with us, you repay the media cost. See your listing agreement for the full terms. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Properkey's real estate brokerage is licensed in California and Idaho. Equal Housing Opportunity — Properkey is committed to the Fair Housing Act.
