Is
this the same Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to which all area Realtors®
belong? Yes. All participating MLS Realtors® belong to
their local association of Realtors®. We
will place you in the proper MLS for your area with which we are
affiliated. Back
to the top.
Is the MLS the best way to sell
my home? Actually, it's about the only way. Statistically, the
overwhelming majority of homes in our area are sold through the MLS due to
the large network of Realtors working with home buyers. Back
to the top.
Will Realtors sell
my home if I do not list on the MLS? No, not likely. With very few exceptions, Realtors operate soley from MLS listings. The MLS Listing Agreement sets forth the Realtor's compensation and without this agreement Realtors will bypass FSBO homes. Of course you may sell your home without a Realtor, but once listed, Realtors do not regard you as a FSBO but simply another listing for them to sell.
Real Estate Agents will generally avoid FSBO
properties due to the fact that they are working with buyers and have no
written agreement to be compensated. If the seller has not agreed in
writing to pay a commission to a buyer's agent, the buyer could cut the
agent right out of the deal and negotiate directly with the seller. Back
to the top.
Will Realtors® show and sell my home even
though I went flat rate instead of paying a high listing commission? Yes.
There is no way to tell how much you paid to get on the MLS. Regardless of
whom you listed with or what you paid, your listing will look no different
from any other listing in form and style. Back to the top.
Will Realtors® show and sell my home if I am not
listed with their company? Yes. The very purpose
of MLS is for Realtors® to sell each other's listings. Back
to the top.
Will Realtors® call you or me? You.
Realtor® custom is to call before showing your home. Offers will be
promptly presented. Back to the top.
How long should I expect to be on the
market? Your home should sell quickly if it is priced right, is in a
good location and shows well. Our listings will create the drama and
excitement necessary to draw maximum attention to your home. Back
to the top.
How long is the listing period? Listing
periods are in 6 month increments. You may shorten or lengthen the listing period as you wish. Additional 6 month periods are available at option of the parties for $75.00. Most
homes are sold within the initial 6 month period. Rarely is a second period
needed. Back to the top.
Am I locked
in for the full 6 month listing period? No, of course not. This is just
a marketing period giving us authority to advertise your property. You always retain control of your listing and can extend or
shorten the duration as you wish (see the Listing Agreement for further
details). Back
to the top.
What is included with my listing? The
listing text, an exterior home color photo provided by you, Realtor.com® and other
internet sites provided by your local MLS. Back to top.
What if I am working with an agent? If you are in a contractual
arrangement with any other broker or your property is currently listed
with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation of your
business or that listing. We honor and respect relationships with other
brokers. Otherwise, we will be happy to list your home and help you find a
new one. Back to the top.
What is the difference
between a
"selling agent" and a "listing agent"? A selling
agent is the Real Estate agency who actually sells the property.
They are sometimes called buyer's agents. The Listing Agent is the Real
Estate agency who lists your home for sale in the MLS. In other
words, we are the Listing Agency and the Realtor® who brings a buyer and
sells your home is the Selling Agency. Back
to the top.
With your plan I understand that I am saving commission on the
"listing" side of things by going with the flat rate, but do
I still have to pay a "selling agent?" Yes. Any Realtor®
bringing a ready, willing, & able buyer with a satisfactory contract
will be due a small "selling" commission of your choice.
Most commonly the amount is 3% of your selling price, but you are always
free to offer whatever commission you desire. Back
to the top.
If I find my own buyer, will I still
have to pay a selling commission? No. If you obtain the
buyer with no agent being the procuring source, there is no commission.
Back to the top.
If you don't charge commission, how do
you make your money? We operate on extremely high volume.
Chances are, your neighbor sold their home through us. We can supply
scores of references. We do not make house calls or hold open houses, so
our time is devoted to producing only the highest quality listings and
passing the savings on to you. Back to the top.
Should
I have a lockbox? Lockboxes are highly recommended. A
lockbox is a universal metal container for your house key that is hung on
the front door and can only be opened by a special key carried by licensed
real estate sales agents. It provides access when the owner is away, thus
assuring full exposure to prospective buyers. Realtors® are on a fast track and depend heavily on
lockboxes for quick access to homes.
Without a lockbox, agents representing buyers will have to
set appointments to meet you at the house to view the home. If you do not
have a lockbox, you may miss out on lots of potential buyers who do not
have time to wait. Lockboxes are
completely removable and controllable by you. They fit conveniently
over the door frame, not the handle, so you may simply slip it off the
frame and bring it inside whenever you need privacy. Back to the top.
I have my own sign, why
should I use yours? We
recommend that you replace your sign with our agency sign upon going in
the MLS. A FSBO sign specifically excludes Realtors® and that is
not your intent. When driving down streets, agents look for the agency signs
rather than house numbers.
When seeing your FSBO sign, agents may
think that the listing agent has “lost” the listing & consequently
they will not be paid a commission.
Our agency sign reassures Realtors that your home is actively listed on
the MLS.
Back
to the top.
What services do vendors supply?
MLS and Internet services (other than property photos, which are provided by you) are provided by the MLS and other 3rd party vendors. Therefore schedules and services are approximate and subject to availability and change without notice. FedEx shipping charges apply to marketing materials. Back to the
top.
Can I use my own exterior home photo
for the MLS? YES! You will be able to submit your own photo(s) after being listed. Once your listing is in the system, you may upload them to us from a site we will provide. All photos will be copyrighted by the MLS system and will not be returned to you. Photos are usually uploaded and will appear in the MLS system within 1 business day.
Please Note: DO NOT email us your photo(s). Once listed, you will receive a confirmation email from us with instructions on how to upload them to us from your personal web page. Back to the
top.
How
does the additional photo option in the MLS work?
If you choose this option, you may send us up to 6 photos of your home
to appear in the MLS system (you will be emailed
instructions once listed). One photo must an exterior, front
view of the home, however, the others may be of anything you wish: master
bedroom, kitchen, deck, pool etc. With this option, you will be able
to show potential buyers from all over the world just what your home has
to offer. Back
to the top.
How do I return your materials?
All materials are the property of Clark Select Properties, Inc, and
are to be returned at your expense within 10 days following settlement or
termination of your listing. The return address label will be in your
FedEx. shipment. Sign posts are taken down a few days before settlement or
end of listing. Back to the top.
How do I get the free forms and
contracts you offer? Once listed, an email will be sent to you
with your MLS number and information on how to access our forms library. Back
to the top.
Do I have control over all listing
information? To some degree. The MLS arranges required information according to
multiple choice templates. We cannot customize these fields.
However, you do have control over the noteworthy features remarks in the
MLS and the public internet remarks section that appears on most internet
sites for your area (subject to Fair Housing and MLS standard rules and
regulations). Back
to the top.
Can I add more
detailed information later?
Possibly. Our listing information page is filled with greatly detailed
information about your home. However, if you wish to add information
to your listing, such as room dimensions, you may do so by sending them to
us along with your listing paperwork. Or if you decide to add this
information after you are listed in the MLS, a Listing Amendment form
(provided to you) will be required. There is a $20 editing fee per
Listing Amendment. Back to the top.
How do I make changes to my listing?
You may make multiple changes to your listing at any one time for a small
fee of $20.00. After listed, you will receive instructions by email. Back
to the top.
Will
it cost me to make changes to my listing? There is a
$20.00 listing change fee per listing amendment. However, you may
make as many changes on the Listing Amendment form you would like.
What is the difference
between public websites, such as Realtor.com, and the MLS?
Public websites like Realtor.com only display
thumbnail sketches of listings which they receive directly from the MLS
itself. Unlike the MLS which is updated instantly, the public
internet sites are typically updated every 2-3 business days.
Because of this, Realtors use only the MLS
system, which is a closed system linked to their offices. Back
to the top.
Can I go to a website and see my MLS
listing? Yes, you may go to Realtor.com or any other public website in your area and view a paraphrased version of your listing.
Keep in mind that this is
NOT your actual MLS listing. Unless you are a licensee and MLS member, you
cannot access the MLS to see your actual listing. However, you may
at any time request a copy of your
actual MLS listing from us once listed. Back to the top.
Can
I go to a website to print and email color brochures of my listing?
Yes. Both Realtor.com and Homesdatabase.com offer the ability to
print and/or email color brochures of your listing to hand out to
potential buyers.
What
public internet sites will my listing appear on? Depending
on the area you live in, your listing will appear on many internet
sites. A little while ago it was made mandatory that all MLS systems
share their listing information with other internet sites. What this
means is that now any licensed Realtor can display all of the MLS listings
directly on their own private website. However, keep in mind that
all of these websites will contain the same information about your
listing, as it is coming directly from the MLS. As you can see, it
is really impossible to predict exactly how many websites your listing
will be on. Aside from the private websites owned by Realtors, your
listing will also appear on major public internet sites such as
Realtor.com, homesdatabase.com and homebuyersexpress.com. For a list of
major public internet sites in your area, click
here.
Can
I control what is displayed on the public internet sites? To
some degree. The MLS has partnership arrangements with public
internet sites and provides photo
and text according to their templates. However, we have a special
arrangement with Realtor.com to allow our customers to be able to edit
their information on the Realtor.com site. All of our listings are
already Showcase listings, which means they are enhanced on the search
results page and listing detail page to grab a buyers attention.
However, if you choose the Realtor.com enhancement option you will be able
to give your Realtor.com listing your personal touch. You will be
able to: edit your listing
description to help you promote the best
features of your property. Edit your listing Headline, have your own scrolling marquee
on your listing, add up to 5 more photos of your home and announce an open
house.
Will my contact information
appear
on the public websites?
No. The public internet sites, such as Realtor.com are aligned with the
MLS and are designed to drive leads to Realtors. They do not
allow your name, address, telephone numbers or other personal information
to appear. We cannot override their partnership
arrangements. We will, however, forward any leads received through the public internet sites directly to
you via email. Your
name and number, of course, will appear as the contact information in the MLS
system and agents will call you directly for showings and presenting sales
contracts. Back
to the top.
How long will it take for my MLS listing to appear
on the public internet sites?
The MLS sends listing information at different times to the different
public internet sites. Once your listing is entered into the MLS system, it appears instantly
to Realtors and their buyers. However, depending on your area, it may take anywhere from 2-7
business days before your listing will appear on all of the public
internet sites. Back
to the top.
Are you involved
with the sales contract? Your listing is more than just an
ad, it is an actual MLS listing in the Realtors® Multiple Listing
Service. To save on commission, you will handle many details of the
sale yourself. However, as the listing agency, we are still required
by law to process and maintain many documents relating to the listing and
sale. Back
to the top.
Are you involved with negotiations?
No. You will handle all showings, inquiries and sales contract presentations on your own. Upon accepting a contract, you will forward it to us for processing. Back
to the top.
How
can I get my contract reviewed? Any
title company or settlement attorney can review a contract for you.
If you plan on using that company for your settlement, they will usually
do this free of charge.
What is expected of me once I list
with you? We are a Licensed Real Estate agency and have many
laws and regulations we need to comply with. In turn, there are laws
and regulations you will also need to comply with.
1. To make any changes to your
listing once listed it is required that a Listing Amendment form be used.
This form can be found in our forms library.
2. Within 48 hours of a Sales Contract being signed
by you, we will need 1) A copy of the entire sales contract and 2) A
completed Under Contract form. The Under Contract form can be found
in our forms library.
3. Within 48 hours after Settlement we will need
a copy of your Hud-1 Settlement Statement, provided to you by your
settlement company right before or at settlement. Back
to the top.
Once you receive my paperwork, how
long will it take to list my home in the MLS? Depending on
the time of day, listings are usually inputted into the MLS system the
same business day everything is received. Back
to the top.
Can I later
list my
home with another Real Estate agency? Yes, of course. But
remember that all Realtors are on the same local MLS system, so your
listing will wind up in the same place. You
may withdraw your listing at any time from the MLS system by simply using
our Listing Amendment form (provided to you once listed).
A full release of the Listing Agreement will occur when the Listing
Amendment form is received and any outstanding monies are paid. Back
to the top.
How do I pay for my MLS
listing? The initial listing plus any marketing materials can be paid for at the time of listing, any subsequent changes or fees incurred can be paid for at the time incurred. Regardless of payment method, all payments are due within 15 days of billing date. Back
to the top.
What is the general sequence of events after listed? The
following is not guaranteed, but is a general time line of events:
-
Listed in MLS: Upon receiving all information
and depending on the time of day, your home is usually placed in the
MLS the same day.
-
Photography: Subject to some conditions, photos that you submit are generally uploaded within 1 business day.
-
Photo in the MLS: Home photo appears in the MLS system immediately upon our uploading.
-
Listed on websites: Paraphrased MLS text
usually appears in public sites (Realtor.com®, etc.) in 3-5 business
days.
-
Web Photos: The MLS usually provides a home
photo to public web sites in 5-10 business days.
-
Lockboxes/Signs: If ordered, you should receive
them by FedEx within 1-2 business days.
-
Sign post up: Sign Posts are usually installed
in 1-3 business days. Riders and metal panels are sent via UPS
and arrive within 1-2 business days.
-
Virtual Home Tour: A photographer
usually contacts you for an appointment within 1-3 business days after
listed.
-
Home Appliance 1 Yr. Warranty: If ordered,
usually takes effect within 1-2 business days after being listed.Back to
the top.
