Do you as an agent help make your MLS better? It's the source of most of what the consumer sees about homes available on the market, and when the data is bad, it reflects poorly on all of us.
We will drop an email to the listing agent when we see something off kilter as an "fyi...thought you might like to know" so they can correct it.
It might be as simple as the map locator pin being off (especially likely for new construction), or this week it was all marketing remarks missing from an Active listing similar to one we were conducting a pre-list appointment for. We took the time to check his other listings and they all had marketing remarks, so this one not having any description was clearly inconsistent. A quick email to let him know, and a Thank You email was received the next day.
Some might feel, "too bad, too sad" for the listing agent, but that's not the way we see it. We're all human, we all make mistakes, and behind that home is a family that wants to sell. If that listing is meant to eventually come our way, that Plan will happen, but not because we allowed the first failure to happen for something minor that reflects on all of us.
A little step here and there and we all get better!
Liz and Bill aka BLiz
BlueCoast Realty Corporation - Wilmington, NC
Broker - Wilmington NC and Surrounding Beaches
I've contacted agents before about "little" issues in their listings. Many times they get defensive, which is too bad. I appreciate when another agent takes the time to help me look better, in the end it helps us all!
Oct 17, 2010 02:32 AM
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!
This is a great idea BLizand you're right we all should do it. We've slipped up and we very glad when it was pointed out to us, instead of 'subtly' being shown to the Owners!
Oct 17, 2010 02:40 AM
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA
I try to "pay it forward" by passing on MLS errors to the agent because the times I've made a mistake others have graciously brought it to my attention. I agree with Al and Peggy...better than the owners seeing, and pointing out, the problem.
Oct 17, 2010 02:55 AM
Palm Properties - La Quinta, CA
Realtor in San Diego, CA & Naples, FL
Good idea to help "clean up" the MLS and not always are my emails to the agents taken in the spirit of that. But, I believe it is a disservice to their clients and other agents if the information is incorrect. Believe it or not, there are still agents in practice here that don't know how to input their own listings and/or use many of the technology tools we all enjoy! ~ Susan
Oct 17, 2010 03:11 AM
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
Roger, Normally, if we check and correct, then have the owners check...there's very little if anything left to update. It's a system that works for us.
Tish, Agreed. We've never had another agent get upset yet, normally they appreciate the pointer.
Al and Peggy, We work expireds, amazing how many times there was something critical off in the MLS that no one noticed that we can see once in the home. Often wonder if that omission is part of the reason the home didn't sell.
Anita, We always prefer to handle it at our level, and hope our peers appreciate that.
Susan, We've seen the lack of knowing how to use MLS fully, much less all the other tech toys we work with :)
Oct 17, 2010 05:48 AM
Mezzina Real Estate & Insurance - Little Egg Harbor, NJ
For Homes on the Jersey Shore
Bill, sometimes I call the agent, sometimes I hit the "police" button on the MLS. Sometimes they fix it and sometimes it was an exercise in futility.
Another nice post.
Congratulations on your continued success
Oct 17, 2010 06:22 AM
Wilmington Real Estate 4U 910.547.1446 - Wrightsville Beach, NC
Assistant to Tish Lloyd
Anytime we can help out a fellow agent, we're helping all of us. We prefer to try the personal level attempt first. Getting MLS involved, unless it's REALLY bad, isn't usually necessary.
Oct 17, 2010 08:07 AM
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA
Yes, I will shoot an e-mail off to an agent (or call them) if their listing is one I am using for a comp and something is off. Unfortunately if I did this to every listing that had a problem I wouldn't have time to blog :)
Oct 17, 2010 09:13 AM
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
Greg, Thanks! We don't see too many that would get to the point of needing the MLS to step in...mostly minor overlooks.
Cinnamon, That's are take on it. We'd engage the MLS if we knew someone was doing something unethical and didn't stop...for instance NOT taking down pictures we took on a listing we used to have. We'll give you one chance to take care of it...after that, we'll go up the chain to get it fixed.
Cynthia, sounds like your MLS has some issues :)
Oct 17, 2010 10:32 AM
xxxx - Alexandria, PA
It definitely helps when there has been an error and someone helps you out by respectfully pointing it out to you. You are correct; we all make mistakes.
Oct 17, 2010 10:39 AM
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
Phil, We're human. I keep having to edit my comments even because of typos... fingers must be really tired today :)
Oct 17, 2010 10:43 AM
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002
Liz & Bill, most agents are appreciative when they get a quick e-mail about the mistakes, what annoys me most is when the few agents who get defensive about it.... I was doing them a favor with the understanding of carma and hopefully some one else would do the same for me....it is not to be a busybody.
Oct 17, 2010 11:02 AM
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
Endre, Some people's ego won't let them gracefully admit they erred or someone is trying to help them with no outside motive. It's too bad they're wired that way.
Oct 17, 2010 12:08 PM
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson
Bliz, the purpose is to get the listing sold. We want it looking good for everyone to see, so why would an agent not be appreciative! Kudos to you for taking the time out to proof it for them.
Oct 17, 2010 12:23 PM
RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO
Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate
Our MLS board just started allowing agents to report problems with other agent's listings. I'd rather drop them a note to see if they would correct it first, before reporting it.
Oct 17, 2010 12:43 PM
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
Leah, Our MLS makes it fairly easy...the email icon is right next to the listing agent's name, so a quick "fyi, did you know...", so if we see something, it's easy to do.
Kay, Ours allows anonymous reporting, but would rather do it at the peer level and at least give them the opportunity to correct it.
Oct 17, 2010 01:00 PM
Real Estate Marketplace - Louisville KY - Louisville, KY
Louisville REALTOR
Liz & Bill ~ I've sent a few messages to agents in the past on mistakes or missing information. I've never received a 'thank you' and the mistakes/omissions usually didn't get fixed.
Oct 17, 2010 02:50 PM
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
Chris, Maybe we're just lucky, but the last few have at least responded with a Thanks!
Oct 17, 2010 03:16 PM
Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO
The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!
L & B ~ often I see mistakes and I think I should be more like you. I will let the agent know, if I talk to them, but if I don't, I may not have the time to drop that quick note or make the quick call. It makes me wonder why the listing agent doesn't review the listing to make sure all is correct.
Oct 17, 2010 04:05 PM
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
Dawn, We often wonder the same thing with some of the more blatant errors. If an agent has 100 listings...okay, maybe they don't check. But when someone is under 10, you'd think they'd have the time to check it thoroughly!
Oct 17, 2010 04:11 PM
Ambassador
3,175,109
3,175,109
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
Service Areas
Real Estate Resources
Recent Posts
ActiveRain Community
about 5 hours ago
ActiveRain Community
4 days ago
Real Estate Sales and Marketing
8 days ago
REALTORS(R). Serving Warren County Ohio and adjacent areas from Cincinnati to south Dayton. Observing and reporting on real estate and related topics to help your quality of life!
And if you're asking where is Warren County Ohio? We fill the space between Cincinnati and Dayton. Perfect for enjoying the bigger cities without living in them. Places like Mason, Lebanon, Springboro, Waynesville, Franklin and more. Plus lots of rural properties available too. We work with both residential home buyers and sellers and have extensive knowledge of low maintenance living options (patio homes, condos, etc.).
Comments(29)