Sellers: How to Maximize Your MLS Exposure

Selling your home is one of the largest financial decisions you will do.  Even if you have sold a home in the past, with the market and technology changing so fast, what you may have learned back then, is irrelevant now.  Since you don’t do it frequently, you are relying on your real estate agent to do the work for you.

A recent study done by the National Association of Realtors found that 85% of home buyers will look at the internet before they ever contact an agent.  These buyers are looking at the large number of Realtor websites that have MN MLS information on them.  If this is true, than that means that what appears on the MLS (and subsequently on the internet) is the first and maybe the only opportunity you will get to impress those prospective buyers into looking at and buying your home.

Here are some quick ways to put your best foot forward on your MLS listing:

  • Everyone looks at the pictures!  You may have the largest master bedroom listed anywhere, but buyers mostly look at the pictures before proceeding to the home details.  I am constantly amazed at how some listing agents can have only 1 picture on their listing.  What a disservice to their customer.  Have your home pictures taken by a professional photographer.  Do NOT let your agent take the pictures on his iPhone and upload those.  If he won’t pay for nice pictures, pay for them yourself.  It is usually under $100.
  • Make sure every dimension and field is filled out on the MLS listing.  Again, many agents are lazy and put down just the bare minimum.  I was doing a showing once and the listing agent failed to mention the pool in the backyard!  Also, insure that the information is accurate.  It is very frustrating to show a house and find that something on the MLS listing is incorrect (like number of bedrooms, having a basement, or 1 vs 2 car garage).
  • Spend more than 30 seconds creating your remarks.  The Minnesota MLS has a section for both public and agent remarks.  Most listings have the same thing in each.  Your audience is different, customize the message to what they might want to know.  Also, be sure to avoid abbreviations as much as possible.  These can confuse the newer customers (and agents)!

Simply taking some time to polish your MLS listing could mean the difference between a buyer setting up a showing for your home or simply clicking the next button on the internet.

Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Both comments and pings are currently closed.