How to Make the MLS More Effective...it takes two!

By
Real Estate Agent with Thinque Realty ER.040035615

You've listed your house, you and your agent have come up with a good price based upon the comps for your area its "live" in the MLS and now you are waiting for the calls to come in.  

You're still waiting...you've now been told, " you hear the news, it is a soft market right now, were just going into the holidays and homes sales tend to slow down around then, maybe we need to reduce the price.

Four months or 120+ very long days into the listing period and low and behold you get an offer on your home! The agent and their client have been looking since November and the "agent" didn't find the home, their client did while roaming through the internet.  You see the agent was using the MLS and plugging in the features that the buyer wanted.

The home meets the criteria, the agent confused as to why they missed it before, reads the MLS data closely to figure out what happened.  

This lovely "2 car garage" home with "Air-conditioning" in immaculate condition, couldn't be found easily because it was marketed as a "1 car garage" and no mention of the air-conditioning! 

It is very prudent to review the MLS data for your listings, bottomline is that "You" are the responsible party. Not okay to say that "someone in the office" made a mistake.  I also have my sellers review it, just to be certain that nothing important was left out. If this was not becoming a real issue, I would keep quiet, understanding that mistakes do happen, but I'm finding this happening more and more.

I'm trying to sell the homes listed as active out there, but I need to be able to find them. For that I need your help.

 

Comments (9)

Gary Smith
Agent Marketing Today - Commerce Township, MI

Rochelle,

I learned this the hard way my first listing. Worse are those that "exagerate" to get buyers in the door. The replys I get reference the information not guaranteed disclaimer at bottom of each listing.

Apr 15, 2007 03:20 PM
Stefan Scholl
Buyer's Broker of Northern Michigan, LLC - Petoskey, MI
Northern Michigan Real Estate
Excellent point, Rochelle.  Attention all listing agents, if your listings have unique features or characteristics, please let us know about it by including that information in the MLS.  It just may sell the home! 
Apr 15, 2007 03:26 PM
Miriam Bernstei
Rochester, NY
Thanks.  I usually don't put too much criteria into the search because of this type of stuff.
Apr 15, 2007 03:27 PM
Roger Stensland
Keller Williams Realty Puget Sound - Maple Valley, WA
Let's Move!
Aside from your 40-day months, this is a good post.  I find that as I sometimes miss keystrokes, it is good to proof everything that I write.  Sometimes having someone doing the proof reading is even better.
Apr 15, 2007 03:30 PM
Rochelle Venckus
Thinque Realty - Wheat Ridge, CO
BROKER, REALTOR®, ABR, CNE, Metro Denver Are
Thanks - just evidence that I too, am not perfect!
Apr 15, 2007 03:35 PM
Dan Allred
Allred Realty - Thousand Oaks, CA
DRE#01761967
Rochelle- Very true and completely agree that is why even as an owner I input all my own info and updatre it myself. I had the board do it 1 time and they made a mistake... ultimately my fault.
Apr 15, 2007 04:35 PM
Rick McCullough
Alert Home Services - Denver, CO

Mistakes are easy to make,, By checking over your work you can make it easier for everyone to find that special home they are looking for,,

Good Post Rochelle

Apr 15, 2007 06:14 PM
Greg Herson
Mal & Seitz Real Estate - Portland, OR
Thanks for the advice Rochelle.  Sometimes we have to go back to the basics.
Apr 15, 2007 06:38 PM
Renée Donohue~Home Photography
Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI
Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer

While to err is human, sometimes mistakes are made blatantly throughout the entire MLS listing!  I always forward a copy to my sellers ~ both Realtor and Client Views ~ They know their home best and they can help point out errors!

It's so sad to see the main search errors and both the seller and the Realtor lose out on $$$ on these! 

Apr 16, 2007 01:00 AM