We asked area professionals what they would do to improve the Multiple Listing Service and got a variety of answers. Specifically, we asked this: “What do you wish other agents would include/exclude in their listings to better convey a proper description of a property in the Multiple Listing Service? Also, do you actually enter your own listings and what do you feel are the biggest challenges to using the MLS technology?”
“My pet peeve is doing a comparable market analysis for sales or rental information and the listing agent has not entered the heated and cooled square footage. Some agents feel that if they list the square foot that someone is going to sue them if they make a mistake. I like to enter the MLS data on my listings to ensure complete and accurate information. I like to provide as much information that I can to keep from taking my time to answer questions on the phone that could have been entered in the information. I also enter multiple photos on all of my listings so that I can link the MLS information to interested parties. I do not have challenges with the MLS technology because our MLS retains knowledgeable professionals that have been able to answer any of my questions any time.”
— Wayne Jones,
Watson Realty
“This should be one of the agent’s pet peeves. Agents are so sloppy and lazy that there is always a lot of missing information that should be vital. Sometimes there is no square footage listed, no age of property, and it goes on and on. Since individual agents are allowed to input their own listings, and because there are not enough stop-gaps in the system [i.e., every blank must have an entry or the listing would be rejected], then the system is largely un-policed. The MLS system that I came from was meticulously run by a woman who took great pride in the accuracy and completeness of the information, and that is obviously not happening here.”
— Scott Williams,
Ponte Vedra Club Realty
“I think we could be of better service to our customers and each other and save a lot of wasted time and energy if agents would just take a few extra steps when entering listings. Place as many photos as possible, no matter what the price, because you never know what people are looking for. This can be as effective as a photo tour. Scan and attach in as many files as appropriate for your listing — for example, FAQ, seller disclosure, LBP disclosure, survey, etc. At least when you get an offer on your listing, it has a chance of being more complete. Don’t offer a listing for VA and FHA financing when you know it has ‘big problems’. Be as verbal as you can with the description, the good, bad and the ugly, so that agents don’t have to track you down before showings.”
— Tim and Susan Fennell, Century 21 Atkins Realty, Inc.
“Agents [including myself] need to include all of the numbers and less of the opinions. How big, how much, how wide, how deep and good clear pictures are a must. I enter my own listings and I hate it. I think the technology is great especially the mapping systems.”
— Julie Brigman,
Watson Commercial
Investment Division
“I would love to see people include more of what features are actually in the house if you cannot see them by picture or there is no place for some of the descriptions. It is always helpful to know if there is room for a pool, what appliances are included, any remodeling, plumbing, etc. It all helps. If it needs remodeling, it also helps to know, especially in certain remodel areas. Our secretary usually puts our listings in but, every once in a while, I might have to. It is relatively easy to do, just time consuming.”
— Connie Mabry,
Coldwell Banker
Walter Williams Realty, Inc.
“I really wish more agents would include actual acreage, room dimensions and more than just the photo taken by the MLS. More than that, I wish agents would put properties in the appropriate region/areas in the MLS regardless of if that region sells well or not. Putting a property in a different region hoping to attract a buyer that ordinarily wouldn’t shop in that region only aggravates folks.”
— C.J. Wright,
ERA Dan Jones
& Associates, Inc.
“This need may not deal with the physical description of a property, but with all the growth occurring in Nassau County there is an increasing need for driving directions to the property listed. It makes it less difficult to show a property if you aren’t trying to figure out how to get there. I’d like to see more space in order to supply this information as well. The MLS technology is probably one of the easiest systems to use. I do enter all my own listings as I feel I know the information better than anyone else and I am the one accountable for the information on that listing. It is also important to have the seller review the MLS sheet to make certain that the information has been portrayed as they would want it to be. I’ve found that step to be very valuable.”
— Dee Chaplin,
Prudential Chaplin
Williams Realty, Amelia Island
“I would like to see not only taxes but anticipated taxes when someone buys the home. In so many cases there is an escrow shortage because attorneys take the current taxes on the MLS or tax records and you know when someone buys a home the taxes are going to be calculated on the new amount. Especially with new homes!”
— Jacqueline E. Parrillo , Mercantile Bank
“Two things would be very helpful. If we are allowed four photos with each listing, then put four photos in. It gives us more info, shows your customer you are doing the maximum to sell their property and helps the potential buyer to decide whether it’s worth visiting in person. Second, here in Nassau County, many of the properties in rural areas are remotely located. Include directions in the Realtors only portion of the listing sheet. It may just get that customer and their Realtor to your listing.”
— Tom O’Connell,
Watson Realty, Amelia Island
“I enter all my own listings — I have no problems with doing this. I would like a better description of the lot especially the size to be put in the listing.”
— Mary Whittle,
Re/Max Specialists
“While a listing is active, I would like the room sizes, pictures and a virtual tour. When there is a contract, I would like that information entered in a timely manner and with accurate info [contingent, pending or closed). I do not enter the original information, but do make changes, additions, etc. The biggest challenges are keeping up with the changes, lack of user friendliness for some features [i.e., mapping, CMA function]; features that are displayed, but do not work yet; and the upcoming change for Fleming Island and the work it will take to change our prospects’ searches. My concern regards the fact that Fleming Island is now in Area 12 and OakLeaf is now in 3/139. Both of those changes are excellent, but it requires that agents manually convert their prospects searches instead of having that done automatically by the FLEX system. This entails considerable work for those of us who use the system extensively for auto e-mails, but I am very glad about this change.”
— Jeanne Moellendick, Re/Max Specialists
“It would be really great if agents would learn what north, south, east and west really mean. Also, using the spell check option on MLS would be helpful.”
— Rebecca Kitkowski, Re/Max Atlantic
“It would be so helpful if agents put in the schools, room sizes and if a living room could be used as an office with French doors. This would save so many phone calls and unnecessary showings.”
— Julie Thompson, Vanguard/GMAC
“I wish it were mandatory that all agents include the name of the subdivision that the property is in. This should be put in the narrative part of the MLS sheet. If the property is two-story, is the master on the first or second floor? In the remarks section, put if pets are in/out of the house and any special instructions. If the lockbox is not on the front door, then tell exactly where it is. In our office, the receptionist or the office manager are the only people allowed to put listings in. MLS is fairly easy to learn and better than the books that came out once a month!”
— Josie Deal, Coldwell Banker, Jasinsky and Associates
“As a former board member for the MLS, I can say from experience that our MLS system is one of the best in the country. However, it is only as good as the users make it. For example, in this day and age of digital photography, there is no excuse for not having at least one photo of the property, if not more. We have made it so easy to do, yet it is probably just as easy not to do. It takes no effort to upload a photo to the system. Our system has the capability to accept attachments such as a seller’s disclosure, survey, and floor plan. If those documents are in the possession of the listing agent, they should be attached to the MLS. At Re/Max, we manage our own listing inventory, however getting trained on the system is critical. Agents need to become familiar with all aspects of the MLS, whether they add their own listings or not. We offer free training at our NEFAR main campus and every agent, whether new or old should attend. Therefore the biggest challenge I believe, is figuring out how to use all the cool tools that our MLS has to offer!”
— Phyllis Staines, Re/Max Coastal Real Estate
“I would like to see more agents attaching multiple photos to their new listings. I normally take photos at the listing appointment and have them up and running when the home appears on MLS. With today’s technology, this is a very simple process. I would also like to see better descriptions of the property. Sometimes there is none. I do enter my own listings and find the service user-friendly and feel it gives the public a very professional look. I much prefer the MLS on the Internet to what we had available in the past. The new system has enabled me to be a more efficient agent.”
— Nanette Williams, Real Estate Marketing Store, Inc.
“It would make life much better if there was a mandatory field in MLS to put backyard dimensions [in square feet]. Many of my buyers need a certain size of backyard for a pool, pets, and/or children. We could save tons of time by knowing ahead of time how large the yards are. I enter my own listings. I find MLS very intuitive and easy to navigate.”
— Amy Celeste Wilson, Lifestyles Realtors
“I like to see photo tours including many views of the home and property with each listing. I can email it to my buyers to entice them to see a home. Yes, I enter my listings on MLS. I find the MLS technology to be very user friendly. Our MLS gives plenty of check-off boxes and free-form spec-space for each listing. It also allows space for lots of photo tours, virtual tours and scanned documents like surveys and floor plans. I feel that emailing good photo tours with complete MLS reports to my buyers is a super sales tool.”
— Paul Gruenther, Vanguard GMAC
“I would like for other listing agents to include a recognizable reference point for directions to the property — for example, ‘from intersection of Atlantic and Kernan head north (south or whatever.)’ I would like other listing agents to exclude contact information in the public remarks section and main photo of the listing. I enter my own listings and find the biggest challenge is to know which area for the listing to be entered.”
— Larry Atwell, Vanguard/GMAC
“Having the property dimensions or acreage listed under approximate lot dimensions helps answer this frequent buyer question without delay.”
— Flo Bliss, Prudential Network Realty
“Lot dimensions, room dimensions, and description of the lot/backyard would be helpful. You could describe the backyard as ‘the mid-sized backyard is 75 feet across from fence to fence and 50 feet from the back of the house to the back of the fence.’ Use words such as ‘shady with large trees’ or ‘cookie cutter with juvenile plants.’ Tell us a few things about the street it is on as well.”
— Russ Goodman, Re/Max Atlantic
“I wish other agents would take the time to add photos to the photo tour, as this helps Realtors and buyers decide if the house suits their criteria, especially when the description says ‘Stunning chef’s kitchen!’ or ‘Professionally landscaped backyard oasis’. This helps to pre-sell the house before the buyer walks in the front door.”
— Carol Zingone, Vanguard GMAC
“When houses were selling faster than they were listed, I think we stopped giving our best in the MLS. Now that homes are on the market a bit longer, I would like to see all of us take the time to include room sizes and photos with our listings. The photos would also help in appraising future listings. Virtual tours are usually not available after a listing has sold. I enter all of my own listings and have no problem with the MLS. I think it is great!”
— Mary Remington, Lifestyles Realtors
“At UNETA, Inc., we are all responsible for entering our own listings both on MLS and UNETA’s web site within 24 hours after a listing is finalized, as long as the seller has agreed to cooperate with other brokers.”
— Gail Henley, UNETA, Inc.
“I appreciate when agents include multiple photos with their listings. This really helps other agents and prospective buyers get a better feel for the home and surroundings even before viewing it. I wish agents would be realistic when it comes to their listings and describing water views. If it’s an ocean view only if you hang by your toes off the side of the building, please say so. It’s disappointing, to say the least, to bring a customer to a property that’s supposed to have an ocean view and we can’t even see the water! This just irritates people instead of enticing them to purchase the property. Overall, I would say most descriptions are very accurate and help agents identify key elements that appeal to specific prospects.”
— Kerry Prodromides, Re/Max 100 Realty