Laziness abounds......

I search the MLS in Pinellas County each morning for new listings - just to keep abreast of the market for my clients.

I am constantly amazed at the number of listings that show zero effort on the part of the realtor. Do you know that it costs the realtor no more to insert 10 photos of your property into MLS than it does to insert 1? If your listing contains any less than 10 property photos, you're being shortchanged by an agent who doesn't feel like taking that many pictures or uploading them to the MLS system.

A proper description of your property's features and highlights is also important in the "Public Remark" section of the MLS listing. It is the description that potential buyers will see when they either are provided a copy of your listing on paper, or it is sent to them via email from their realtor. I counted no less than 11 of today's 27 new listings WITHOUT a property description! In a previous post I discussed the goal of many realtors being "getting the listing" and this is surely proof that this is what these realtors had in mind. They are providing no service to their clients, and the MLS listing is the part of the service that takes the LEAST amount of effort - what will these same realtors do to get the property sold if they can't even provide a proper MLS listing? But they willl definitely show up at the closing table to receive their commission check after conscientious realtors like myself and others have done all of the work for the transaction.

Always ask to see a copy of the MLS listing for your property once you have signed a listing agreement. In fact, you shouldn't have to ask (it's something I provide my clients immediately). Again, if you have fewer than 10 property photos and a glowing public remarks property description, your agent isn't working hard enough already. Also, make sure the driving directions are complete and understandable and check for typos! If an agent has an assistant that is uploading this information to MLS for them, and their excuse is that the assistant is at fault, then you know your agent isn't providing you attention to detail in checking the listing information and that is a red flag.