SOGO Homes offers a flat-fee commission structure that’s saving sellers thousands

By Laura Briedis

In the real estate market, it has always been customary that the higher the price of your home, the higher you pay in commission when selling. But things are a changing, as a local real estate brokerage is bucking that practice with its flat-fee rates. Now the only thing that adds up for homeowners is their profits.

Instead of paying a 3% commission to the listing agent—which can typically run tens of thousands of dollars—homeowners who list with SOGO Homes just pay a $4,800 flat fee.

If you think it sounds too good to be true, just ask Vicki, a Chagrin Falls homeowner, who listed her million-dollar home with SOGO Homes after seeing the company profiled in Mimi Magazine.

“We chose SOGO after reading about the impressive flat commission fee structure and community-focused Sell One Give One initiative,” Vicki says. “We were delighted with the personalized attention, high-quality photos and quick sale of our home.”

With SOGO Homes’ flat-rate fee, the couple saved more than $25,000 on the listing agent fees—and got to keep more of their equity.

“Selling a more expensive house takes a little more work than the average house, but we here at SOGO Homes feel the extra work doesn’t warrant more money in fees,” says Aaron, who founded SOGO Homes in 2023 after decades of working in the real estate industry. “Our flat fee, as opposed to the traditional percentage-based fee, helps keep more money in the seller’s pocket instead of the agent’s pocket.”

Though the real estate brokerage is innovating a better way of doing business than just following the customary way—by not following the industry norm when it comes to charging commissions—it is providing all the same top-notch real estate services.

SOGO Homes does much more than just list a home on the MLS, ensuring its data syncs correctly with websites such as Zillow, Realtor.com and Homes.com, and providing professional photography to best showcase each house. The agents also provide sellers with a summary of every offer and help them negotiate and choose not only the highest but also the best and safest offer, and they also work closely with the title company and the lender to orchestrate the entire process from start to finish.

“We understand that some people wonder what services they are not going to get with our flat-fee structure,” Aaron says. “But we go above and beyond, doing even more than traditional commission-based agents. We are very much a full-service real estate firm.”

And it is not just the homeowners who are benefiting. SOGO Homes—an acronym for Sell One, Give One—donates a portion of the real estate commission for each house sold to help single moms in Northeast Ohio achieve their dream of home ownership. Partnering with local nonprofit Hopebridge, the company’s goal is to bring hope to vulnerable children and families by helping single moms get back on their feet.

All Things Homes
SOGO Homes can also help homeowners garner higher offers by helping them spruce up their interior or exterior before hitting the market. Its sister company, Marvel Developments, specializes in rehabbing homes and, with more than a dozen skilled tradesmen on staff, they have the expertise to put your home in its best light, from painting walls to fixing leaky faucets to installing new flooring.

“Oftentimes, if you spend a little money on home improvements before listing your home, you will profit even more,” Aaron says, noting that with a team of both real estate agents and remodelers, the company has more to offer than traditional brokerages.

“We do it all: buy, design, rehab and sell,” Aaron says. “We are a perfect fit for those homeowners whose property is a fixer-upper or for those rental property owners who are tired of being landlords, as we also provide cash offers for homes.”

“It’s a win-win situation. We help homeowners who don’t want to go through the home listing process and, at the same time, are revitalizing neighborhoods,” Aaron adds.

An expert in the local market, Aaron was born in Georgia and still has lots of that southern charm and hospitable nature, along with the Midwest’s strong work ethic he developed since moving to Northeast Ohio.

“I have been in the real estate industry for 20-plus years selling homes, investing in homes and rehabbing homes, so I know all the different aspects,” says Aaron, who has a business degree from Liberty University. “We do business with a purpose and want to make a positive impact in Northeast Ohio, so go with your head, go with your heart, go with SOGO. You will save money while helping others.”

To list your house or for more information, call 330-984-0909 or visit GoWithSOGO.com.