(General) Frequently Asked Questions
The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a private database that’s created, maintained, and paid for by real estate professionals to help clients buy and sell property. The MLS provides Realtors and their clients powerful tools to aid in custom searches, comp reports, showing scheduling and much more.
Agents with Qualified Buyers, set up custom, automated searches using the MLS that automatically alert their clients with lists of homes which align with the buyers ideal home search criteria. Agents almost never use Zillow or other marketing sites to find homes for their clients, only the MLS.
The primary benefit of being on the MLS is that your home will be seen by 1,000s of Buyers and Buyer Agents looking in your area for similar homes. These Buyer Realtors have ready and qualified buyers who are actively seeking to purchase a home.
Your Listing will also automatically post to 100s of 3rd party marketing sites such as Zillow, realtor.com, etc., and will be electronically searchable anywhere, anytime. This means that as soon as your listing is Active on the MLS, it will soon also go live on 100’s of other websites.
Zillow, Realtor.com, and other sites are considered 3rd Party Marketing sites. 3rd party Marketing sites receive Homes for Sale data directly from the MLS and present the Homes to potential Buyers.
Please Note: We do not have control of these Marketing sites and we cannot Modify, Change, or Alter the information shown publicly on the Marketing sites.
An MLS only listing generally refers to a Limited-Service listing on the MLS. This type of listing occurs when a Real Estate Broker places a property into the local MLS (Multiple Listing Service) for a flat, upfront fee, instead of charging a large percentage fee at closing. Being a limited-service Listing, the For Sale By Owner(FSBO Seller) handles all tasks of the sale including calls, showings, contracts, and closings.
- Local MLS Posting
- Your Contact Info On MLS
- Active MLS Listing Within 24 Hours of receipt of forms and photos
- 6 Month or 12 Month Terms
- Multiple Photo Options
- Unlimited Updates/Changes (1 request for changes per Day)
- Home Showing Management
- Auto-Post To 3rd Party Sites
- Detailed Instructions and Docs sent to Your Email
- Optional Title Services
- Optional Free Listing On “List With The Otter”
A Transaction Coordinator is an experienced person who will help guide you through the real estate sales process, including Home Preparation, Home showing Dos and Don’ts, negotiating, process guidance, and closing doc review. They can start at any point in the transaction – from day or after you get an offer, all the way until you get to the closing table and collect your check. Transaction Coordinators are licensed real estate professionals – Realtors, agents, or brokers. Transaction Coordinators will review your offers, suggest responses to the offers, and assist with the tasks required to guide you to a smooth closing.
- Purchase Agreement Review
- Discuss Offers/Counter Options
- Assist in Ordering Title
- Track Progress
- Inspection Support
- Appraisal Review
- Addendum Review
- Closing Docs Explained
Since the MLS takes priority over 3rd party sites, your previous FSBO listings will be overwritten and replaced with the new MLS Listing.
Please Note: We do not have control of these Marketing sites and we cannot Modify, Change, or Alter the information shown publicly on the Marketing sites.
All Buyer and Agent call that come into our office regarding your property will be provided your contact info, First Name and Phone Number. Agents will contact you directly for showings and offers.
On the MLS, Your number will be listed in the Primary Contact field, Agent Remarks, and Showing Instructions for licensed realtors to see. We provide your contact information to the 3rd Party sites, they very often remove your information from the sites, our Brokerage information will be shown and they can contact us to get your name and phone number.
Please Note: We do not have control of these Marketing sites and we cannot Modify, Change, or Alter the information shown publicly on the Marketing sites.
Zillow, Realtor.com, and other sites are considered 3rd Party Marketing sites. 3rd party sites only pull data from the MLS and present them for marketing. We provide your contact information to the 3rd Party sites , but as stated, We do not control how data is transferred between MLS and 3rd Party Sites like Zillow, realtor.co, Redfin, etc. For the protection of the seller, only the listing Brokerage information is made public.
Please Note: We do not have control of these Marketing sites and we cannot Modify, Change, or Alter the information shown publicly on the Marketing sites.
To unconditionally withdraw a listing, we only require written notification from the seller. Please send us an email to fsbo@josephwalterrealty.com with your address in the subject line and describe that you wish to have it removed. The update will take around 24 hours to reflect online.
Please Note: Some State Boards charge a fee to remove a listing prior to it’s expiration date.