What is the MLS and why would I list my home on the MLS?
The MLS stands for “Multiple Listing Service” and is the official Realtor’s database of all the homes that are currently on the market.
This is where all the local buyers agents go to find homes for sale for their buyers and 90% of buyers are working with a buyers agent to find a home.
If your home is not listed in the MLS you are missing out on the largest pool of buyers, which could seriously hinder the sale of your home AND prevent you from getting the most amount of money possible.
Please Note: As a home seller, you do not have access to the MLS directly, unless you either list your home with a real estate agent for a high listing commission or you can get access by purchasing one of our listing plans for a low flat fee.
How will agents and buyers get in contact with me from the MLS?
They will directly contact you!
You MLS listing will have instructions in the MLS under the “Showing Instructions” for buyers and agents to get in contact with you directly to set up showings.
You will provide the best way to get in contact with you, either through email, phone or even text.
Anytime a buyer or agent gets in contact with the listing office, they will either give them your contact information or forward their contact information to you.
Please Note: you can not put your contact information in the description of your home, that is a violation of the MLS rules.
How long does it take to list my house on the MLS?
1 business day.
Please Note: A lot of times your home can be listed the same day, depending on if you follow the instructions quickly, but always plan on 1 business day and you won't be disappointed.
Do I really need to offer a commission and how much?
YES!
In order to be listed on the MLS, home sellers are required to offer a Buyer’s Agent Commission.
But you only have to pay that commission if your property is sold to a buyer who is represented by an agent. If the buyer does not have an agent, you don’t pay a commission AT ALL!
The average commission is 2-3%, so we usually recommend that you offer in that range.
Think about it this way, a buyers agent job is to find homes for their buyers but they also want to get paid for their time and effort, just like you do at your job. Motivate all the buyers agents out there to work FOR YOU by offering a 2-3% commission and get your home sold.
Which MLS will my home be listed in?
The correct local MLS for you area!
There are over 800 MLS's throughout the country and we make sure to list your home in the correct local MLS.
Please Note: If for some unforeseen reason we can not list your home in the correct local MLS, we will present you with alternative options or process a refund for you.
Can I make changes to my MLS listing?
YES!
Once your listing is live on the MLS, you will receive another set of instructions with how to make changes to your listing.
Please Note: You will not be able to update the MLS directly. Only our brokers are allowed to add/modify listings according the MLS rules. Typically changes are made same day but always plan for 1 business day turnaround time.
What type of listing agreement do I have to sign?
It is called an "Exclusive Agency" listing agreement.
This means that the agreement you sign allows our service to enter your home for sale on the MLS and all the major real estate portals online.
The agreement is a mandatory requirement for the MLS.
In terms of commission, this is how the agreement works.
- If the property is sold by the seller without any use of a buyers agent, the seller is not obligated to pay a buyers agent commission.
- If the property is sold by a buyers agent, the seller is obligated to pay the agreed buyers agent commission.
Please Note: With our service, you are responsible for handling the sale of your home, we do not provide and typical agent/client representation to you. That allows us to only charge a low flat fee price and not a high commission.
How do I get my photos to you?
After you make a purchase you will be emailed instructions on how to upload your photos, submit your property information etc.
If for whatever reason you run into issues with uploading the photos using the preferred method, alternative options can be arranged.
Can you post videos or virtual tours on the MLS?
It depends.
Most MLS's will allow a video or virtual tour to be added to your listing but it has to be unbranded.
Please Note: An "Unbranded" video or virtual tour can not include any owner names in text or pictures, with no contact information, logos or other “branding.
Can you list land on the MLS?
Will my contact information show on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com etc?
Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, etc are all 3rd party websites and as consumer friendly as they are for searching properties for sale, these websites are businesses.
These websites make money by having real estate agents pay to get buyer "leads" sent to them from people who request a showing or more information from these sites. When buyers start submitting their information on these sites, it doesn't always go to the listing office. This is a common misconception with these websites and is this way for ALL listings, not just with our service.
With that said, your contact information will not typically be able to be shown on these websites directly and there is also no way to have the real estate agents who pay to be featured on the listings not appear. Like we said, that is how these companies make money.
Please Note: When the local MLS listing broker does get the inquiries from these websites, they forward the contact directly to you so that you can follow up with them directly. The best part is, the contact gets sent to you usually in a couple hours, which is far faster than most real estate agents would respond to any buyer inquiries if you listed with a traditional agent!
Also, most of your inquiries and showing requests will come from buyers agents from the MLS. This is because 90% of buyers are working with agents to find and purchase a home. That is why our MLS listings are so powerful.
How will people get in contact with me from Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com etc.?
When you use this type of service your home will technically be listed with a real estate agent, even though you are retaining the right to sell by owner.
The only way to get on most of these sites is by listing with a real estate agent, so there is no way around that.
Anytime a buyer inquiries on your listing from one of these portals, the inquiry will be forwarded to you so that you can followup with them.
Please Note: One thing to keep in mind, these 3rd party real estate portals will have other real estate agents receive buyer inquiries sent directly to them. These agents pay for those “leads” and we can not prevent them from getting those buyers information. This is how those websites make their money and it works that way for ALL listings, not just our service.
Also, most of your inquiries and showing requests will come from buyers agents from the MLS. This is because 90% of buyers are working with agents to find and purchase a home. That is why our MLS listings are so powerful.
What will happen to my current Zillow FSBO listing?
Once your property is listed with our service, the FSBO listing on Zillow will get taken down automatically and replaced by the MLS listing.
This is a good thing because you want all your listings to be consistent with the MLS.
Please Note: You can leave your Zillow FSBO listing online and don't have to take it down. It will automatically be taken down by our listing.