If you own real estate, you have probably heard of the MLS. It is a members-only website that is joined by real estate agents in the area. They have a local level, a state level, and a national level. Joining this association designates the agent as a Realtor. They must pay to access this service.
Picking the Wrong Agent
Reason #6 to avoid the MLS when selling your Asheville house is picking the wrong agent. There are so many agents to choose from, how are you supposed to know who to choose? Do you pick the person with the most ads? Or do you go with the guy your friend recommended, he just sold a house last week?
Time On the Market
Reason #5 to avoid the MLS when selling your Asheville house is the time on the market. The MLS, or multiple listing service, keeps track of how many days it’s been since you first listed your home on the market. If your house ends up being on the market for more than 60 days, this is not a good sign to buyers, especially in Asheville! It may indicate that your house is not as desirable as other properties, or that there might be something wrong with it. There may not be anything wrong with your property, but this might stick in the back of the mind of potential buyers. Maybe you haven’t had a full price offer and are holding out. Whatever the reason, the time on market counter may work against you.
Highly Qualified Buyers
Reason #4 to avoid the MLS when selling your Asheville house is highly qualified buyers. Sure, the MLS may bring you buyers, but a large portion of them will have to depend on financing from a bank, and some of them may not have even been pre-qualified yet. Your house for sale can be considered a pocket listing that will reach the desks of many highly qualified buyers, most of which can purchase with 100% cash.
Commission Fees
Reason #3 to avoid the MLS when selling your Asheville house is commission fees. When you list your house on the market, there are commission fees that are expected from the selling agent and the buying agent. In North Carolina, this is 3% of the final sale price for the selling agent and 3% for the buyers’ agent, which can add up to a large amount of money! If you are using an agent without using the MLS, you may be able to set a flat fee for less than traditional commission fees.
Invasion of Privacy
Reason #2 to avoid the MLS when selling your Asheville house is an invasion of privacy. If your house is listed on the MLS, you will be expected to make your house available for showings. This means living in a constant state of clean, organized, and even staged until you move out. You may also be asked to leave your home on extremely short notice for a showing if possible, sometimes immediately, although you usually can schedule showings for 24 hours in advance. Some sellers find it’s easier if they move out of the home when they put their house on the market because of the hassle of showings, but would you want to be responsible for two house payments before you can guarantee the sale of your house?
Signs In The Yard
Reason #1 to avoid the MLS when selling your Asheville house is a sign in your yard. The yard sign is a standard part of a real estate agents advertising your house, but this also may mean that you may have people knocking on your door unexpectedly because they saw the sign in your yard. This is a huge inconvenience. People often stop to look without an agent present, and who knows if they are qualified buyers?
For more on selling your home without an agent or the MLS, check out our FSBO (for sale by owner) guide.