See Also
- IHS Realty is more than just a flat fee MLS listing service !
Learn more about how IHS Realty flat fee MLS listing service is augmented by a wide range of support services to sell your home
The brief answer is "No" but realtors may be reluctant to show your home to prospective buyers they have on their own books if your home does not have a lockbox.
Remember, realtors tend to be on a short schedule so they don’t have very much time on their hands (another reason why you should seriously consider the FSBO Flat Fee MLS Listing route to begin with) – having a lockbox makes your home accessible and convenient for the realtor.
IHS Realty strongly recommends that you use a lockbox to make showing your home simple and easy for everyone involved and increase the home viewings.
Flat Fee MLS is good for Buyers, Sellers and Brokers
The typical real estate model where up to 7% in real estate commission is split between the seller’s and buyer’s realtors is causing an increasing controversy.
With some real estate agents making commissions in the millions, embracing change is not likely – instead the industry would rather see a cull in the number of real estate agents than accept a flat fee commssion arrangement. The exclusivity arrangement in real estate agents contracts means real estate agents control who, what and what commission rate is expected on the MLS – listing on the MLS only costs $35 but real estate agents cite this is only a fraction of the cost involved in marketing a property but putting a price to this is difficult and their is the increasing sneaking suspicion over the value added by the traditional real estate model.
Flat fee brokers providing FSBO’s access to the MLS are by contrast performing well for all concerned, with buyers and sellers not having a high commission getting in the way of closing a deal and flat fee real estate agents gaining business.
Doing basic repairs and cosmetic jobs makes a difference to your MLS listing
The first rule in real estate is location, location, location and after that it’s presentation, presentation, presentation!
After booming growth remodeling has dropped off in the same way as construction and sales, and with a budget think about what will have the greatest impact on selling your home and making it more attractive to a potential buyer.
Think from a buyers point of view – first impressions count, tidy the yard, paint the siding and fencing and generally clear up. Doing this will give youa greater appreciation of your homes selling features for listing on the MLS.
Internally, consider the paintwork and tidy up what may not neccessarily be apparent – sparkling clean windows, remove pet odors (in fact remove all pet paraphanalia) and clean up juniors toys.
Before you consider major remodelling, make sure that all the basic repairs are completed before moving on to other improvements – fix the guttering, facias, roof before tacking on a garage for instance. The fact that repairs have been done gives you the basis for adding further selling features for your homes MLS listing.
If you are considering converting a room think about who you are likely to be selling too – a young family means they may want a nursery or extra bedroom rather than a home office. Consider who your target market is before you undertake such improvements and think about how you will featuring them on the MLS.
Located in the Gambrill Oaks subdivision of Springfield, Virginia, this 5 bedroom 3 bath home is an absolute wonder! Here’s a sample of the listing itself:
Built in 1991, the home has central AC, a colonial architecture and more than 4,000 square feet of living space.