When and how are fees paid?

The valuation, agent assignment and listing are free for the owner. You don't pay to try to sell: fees accrue only if the sale closes.

The agreed percentage is charged at the moment the deed is signed, on the final sale price. No sale, no fee. That's the principle that underpins the whole model.

Some professional services —a photo session or a floor plan, for example— may carry their own cost if you choose to hire them. You're always told the price in advance, and you decide.