Have you ever gone online to search for something and found that your results are so enormous that there is no way you could look at all of the results? I think we all have! In real estate, nothing could be truer. If you go onto Zillow, Realtor.com or similar and do a search in Orlando, you are going to receive thousands of homes. So, what do you do? You add more criteria! It may be something simple like adding a price range, but even that can result in too many homes to realistically view. So, you keep on adding criteria until you whittle down the results to something manageable and then choose your favorites from the results. Does this sound about right? Here is the problem with this approach: data input for the MLS system is tricky and laborious if done right.
Did you know that there are 12 pages of possible data input for a listing but only about 2 pages of that is required information? It’s true! So, what does this mean? It means that many agents only put in the required fields and that the scenario above causes a seller’s listing to not be seen because it is eliminated when the buyer adds criteria that is not checked off when being added to the system. Let me give you a few examples. Flooring. Type is NOT required, so if the buyer checks off wood flooring and you have it but it's not in your listing…guess what? Master bedroom downstairs. This is left out on probably 90% of single-story homes. The computer has no idea that by design, the master is downstairs and thereby eliminates that house from the results. There are many other items you can search for, but the point is this: agents leave a lot out! This is due to the agent not knowing any better, and often times trying to get things into the system as fast as possible. The result is a listing that lacks details and thereby is less visible to the consumer. Also, many agents will do the basics and enter the property into the system and then try and come back afterwards to add info, only to find that the search engines do not pick up the changes. That’s why it is so important to get things right the first time. Nothing could be truer than with photos.
Did you know that at any given time, there are 1,000 of auto searches set up by consumers and the moment your listing goes live, emails are sent out to those buyers with whatever information is available in the system. So, if your agent doesn’t have all of your info right and the proper photos, you will likely get click passed in favor for another home that has a complete listing. It’s better to wait an extra day and have all of your ducks in a row, before you enter the market! Luckily, we own all of the right tools and have the right knowledge to ensure your listing not only gets seen, but also has all of the proper details to get you noticed above everyone else! With your home sale being the biggest sale you will likely have, isn't it important to get it right? Happy selling!