Getting Your Property On The MLS
I am not a realtor and am not sure about all "ethical" means to operate as a realtor. Therefore, I am turning to the REI community for some guidance.
As most know the MLS allows the opportunity to get your property out to a wide audience as well as allow you to view a wide variety of property. I understand that this was originally put together for RE agents to use for searches and placing properties themselves for sale on. I am also aware that portions of the MLS are making its way to the internet and I have heard of people getting on the MLS without signing rights to an agent.
However, what I am interested in is finding out if it is
1) Is it ethical to get a property listed on the MLS without signing with an agent
2) What are some methods people have used to get their property posted on the MLS (or is it basically getting a RE Agent that will do it for you and paying them the cost to do so?)
3) Would it be out of place to ask a realtor that I know personally (not just looking one up) to put my property on the MLS?
Thanks in advance.
I think there is a service that list on the MLS for a fee, mentioned on this board before. I could be wrong though.
If ALL you want is the house on the MLS, http://www.fsbo.com offers that service for, I think about $500.00 or so.
Thanks all for the advice and information.
Thanks Boyd for that informative peice of information regarding "flat fee" listings.
Anyone else with advice or information, feel free to still post.
I agree with Boyd. Agents show these homes as a last resort.
My MLS listings say to contract brenda grossnickle for showing instructions. they do not say FSBO, or contact owner, etc. When they call, they think that I am the realtor. If they ask me if I am a realtor, I say that I work with the realtor - which I do.
Brenda
(Not sure why my post came up three times! Sorry everyone. ) Unfortunately when I do my flat fee listings it does state "contact owner for showings" so from that line they are aware that I am a FSBO.
Listing agent gets 3% and buyers agent also gets 3% for a total of 6%?? Doesnt sound like a flat fee listing to me. Sounds more like a traditional full service listing, unless I am reading your post wrong? The flat fee listing I used was a national service that charges $250 to be listed on MLS and www.Realtor.com (with buyers agent collecting 2.8%)
I debated for while whether to go flat fee MLS or use a full service.
I went with full service and listed on 8/16 morning. that same day around noon, there was a showing and the following day which was yesterday, I got an offer for 2k under asking price. I said I will think over the offer and this morning we got another offer from the same buyer with $1 more.
All this to say that in this case, the full service worked out pretty good for me even though i think that listing flat fee might have worked the same but I will never know for sure. Im just happy I didnt have to wait several months for an offer...