Putnam Realty GroupMichael Putnam
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Three ways to sell your home. You pick.

Most sellers in Venice, Nokomis and North Port are offered one option and a commission rate. Here is what selling actually costs at three different levels of help, and exactly what you do yourself at each one.

Venice · Nokomis · Osprey · North Port · Sarasota County

The three levels

Every level includes AI-assisted pricing built on hundreds of actual closed sales in your neighborhood, not general real estate advice.

Level 1 · Flat Fee + AI Assistant
$499

For hands-on sellers who want MLS exposure and want to stay in control. You manage showings and talk to buyers directly.

  • MLS listing entry and required documentation
  • AI Assistant built on closed sales from your own subdivision. Pricing guidance, transaction checklists, deadline reminders and questions answered at every stage
  • ShowingTime, so showing requests reach you and your listing agent in real time
  • One complimentary 15-minute agent consultation per transaction
MLS status: Limited Service · Representation: Transaction Broker
Most sellers choose this
Level 2 · Flat Fee + AI + Agent Support
$2,450

MLS exposure with professional structure and defined agent touchpoints at each stage. Buyer agents see a licensed broker, and they engage accordingly.

  • Everything in Level 1
  • Local comparable sales lookup from your specific market
  • Custom MLS property description written for your home
  • Pricing consultation and in-depth market analysis
  • Standard photography by Michael Putnam
  • Drone still photography, flown by a Part 107 certified operator
  • Offer review guidance. When an offer arrives, you get walked through price, contingencies, financing type and closing timeline before you respond
  • Contract deadlines loaded and tracked in Transaction Desk
  • Contract-to-close advisory with agent oversight
MLS status: Limited Service · Representation: Transaction Broker
Level 3 · Full-Service Representation
5% total

Hands-on representation from listing through closing. You focus on your move, everything else is handled.

  • AI-powered pricing strategy and in-depth local market analysis
  • MLS listing, professional marketing and full showing management
  • Offer negotiation and contract strategy
  • Full contract-to-close management
  • Coordination with title, lender and all parties
2.5% listing side · 2.5% buyer's agent · Representation: Transaction Broker

The five agent touchpoints at Level 2

This is the part sellers ask about most, so here it is in full.

At listing

Your MLS entry and pricing strategy are prepared. You review and sign off on the Data Input Form before anything goes live.

At first showing activity

A check-in on traffic, buyer agent feedback, and whether a price adjustment is worth considering.

When an offer arrives

You get walked through the key terms so you can respond with a clear head rather than guessing.

At contract

Every deadline gets loaded into Transaction Desk, and you are told exactly what is coming next.

Approaching closing

Clear to close is confirmed and you are walked through the final steps.

Optional add-ons

Available with Level 1 and Level 2. Level 2 already includes standard photography.

ServiceFee
Personal photography, standard$175
Drone photography, still photos$175
Drone photography, video$400
Agent-hosted open house, 3 hours$175 per event
Professional Marketing Package$775

The Professional Marketing Package covers short-form video for social media, a Facebook Marketplace listing, a Putnam Realty Group page post, a feature in a 3,000-member local Facebook group, posts across several Moving to SW Florida groups, Nextdoor promotion, Instagram Stories and Highlights, a Pinterest post, TikTok, and a downloadable marketing plan with a home prep checklist.

Drone work is flown by a licensed operator holding an FAA Part 107 certificate, which is what the rules require for commercial drone photography. Plenty of listings are shot by people without one.

What sellers ask before they choose

What is flat fee MLS?

You pay a fixed fee to have your home entered on the MLS, which is the database feeding Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin and every agent's search. You keep control of showings and negotiation, and you are not paying a listing-side commission. There is a fuller explanation of how flat fee MLS works in Florida here. This page is about choosing between the three levels.

Will buyer agents still show my home?

Yes. The listing appears under Putnam Realty Group as Transaction Broker, so buyer agents see a licensed broker and engage normally. That is the practical difference between a flat fee MLS listing and a for-sale-by-owner sign in the yard.

What is a Transaction Broker?

In Florida, a transaction broker assists both sides of a deal fairly and honestly without acting as an advocate for either. It is the default brokerage relationship in this state and it applies at all three levels here.

What does Limited Service mean on the MLS?

It tells other agents which parts of the usual listing service you are handling yourself. On Levels 1 and 2 that is showings and direct buyer communication. It is disclosed on the listing so nobody is misled about what to expect.

Do I still pay the buyer's agent?

That is your decision and it gets negotiated in the contract. Most sellers offer buyer agent compensation because it widens the pool of agents willing to bring buyers. Worth a conversation before the listing goes live.

How is the AI Assistant different from general real estate advice?

It is built on hundreds of actual closed sales in Nokomis, Osprey and the surrounding subdivisions. It knows what homes in your subdivision have sold for, what a pool adds locally, and how your lot compares to recent closings nearby. Any AI can answer general questions. This one knows your street.

How do I know which level I need?

It comes down to two things: how much of the work you want to do, and how much a mistake would cost you. If you have sold a home before, know your number and are comfortable talking to buyer agents, Level 1 does what you need for $499. If this is your first sale or the house is your largest asset, the $2,450 at Level 2 buys you someone checking the contract deadlines and walking you through the offer. Level 3 is for sellers who would rather not think about any of it.

What is the real difference between $499 and 5%?

On a $450,000 sale, 5% is $22,500 and the flat fee is $499 plus whatever you offer a buyer agent. The gap is what you are paying for representation, negotiation and having someone manage the contract. Whether that is worth it depends entirely on the sale, and it is worth an honest conversation rather than a blanket answer.

Can I change levels after I list?

Worth asking before the listing goes live rather than after. What can change on an active listing depends on what has already happened on it, so the honest answer is to talk it through first.

Preparing your home before photos and showings Tap to open

First impressions decide whether a buyer books a showing at all. This is the list I work through with sellers, and most of it costs nothing but a weekend.

Curb appeal

  • Mow, edge and trim everything, and pull weeds from beds, driveway cracks and walkways
  • Fresh mulch in the beds Dark mulch photographs best
  • Trim bushes and branches back off the roofline
  • Pressure wash the driveway, walkways and exterior walls A rental unit runs $50 to $75 a day
  • Clean or repaint the front door, and replace a tired mailbox, house numbers or light fixtures
  • Clear vehicles, toys and clutter off the driveway Buyers photograph from the street before they ever call
  • Clean the windows inside and out, clear the gutters, fix damaged screens or fencing

Declutter and depersonalize

  • Take at least half the contents out of every closet Buyers open everything, and a packed closet reads as not enough storage
  • Clear the kitchen counters completely, leaving one or two small appliances
  • Take down personal photos, awards and religious items Buyers need to picture themselves living there
  • Clear the bathroom counters and tidy under the sinks
  • Move out excess furniture so rooms feel bigger A storage unit for two months is cheaper than a price reduction

Deep clean

  • Inside and out on every appliance, including the oven and refrigerator
  • Clean the grout in kitchen and bathrooms White grout brightens a room more than paint does
  • Ceiling fans, light fixtures and vents Dusty vents suggest a house that has not been looked after
  • Shampoo the carpets, polish hard floors, clean the garage floor
  • Deal with pet odors in floors, furniture and the HVAC filter This is the number one thing that turns buyers around at the door

Repairs worth making

  • Every burned-out bulb replaced, warm white LED throughout Mixed bulb colors ruin listing photos
  • Leaky faucets, running toilets, dripping showerheads Buyers and inspectors notice water first
  • Recaulk around tubs, showers and sinks
  • Doors, windows and locks all operating smoothly
  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
  • Service the HVAC and change the filter Keep the paperwork to show buyers
  • Water stains on ceilings painted over if dry, and disclosed if active

Before every showing

  • All lights on, all blinds and curtains open Light sells homes
  • Pets and pet items out of the house
  • Trash emptied, beds made, valuables and medications put away
  • Thermostat between 68 and 72 Uncomfortable buyers leave quickly
  • Leave the house Buyers will not speak freely with the seller standing there

Talk it through first

There is no one right way to sell a home. Tell me your situation and you will get a straight answer about which level fits, including if the answer is none of them.

Michael Putnam
Putnam Realty Group
Venice · Nokomis · Osprey · North Port