Individuals interested in selling a home may want to list it on a Multiple Listing Service (MLS), as defined by Investopedia. This service allows you to list your home on multiple sites online, increasing the chance that a potential buyer will see it. However, as of 2024, only real estate agents are able to list homes on an MLS.
You may be interested in a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) sale. In this case, you may wonder how you can get on MLS without a realtor. Review your options to put your home on the MLS right here. For further information, you are always welcome to speak to our Orlando real estate lawyers.
Your Options to Get on MLS Without a Realtor in 2024
Let’s say that you want to place your property on an MLS, but you don’t want to have to pay high fees to a real estate broker. In this situation, you may be able to work with other real estate professionals to place your property on an MLS.
To access MLS, you will need to work with a professional of some kind. Non-realtors generally do not have access to MLS except through a broker. Fortunately, you have several money-saving options for doing this. You may decide to:
Hire a Discount Broker
A discount broker is a real estate professional who handles only some parts of the sale of property. You agree to work with a discount broker, and they may list your property as long as you pay them a percentage of the cost for the sale of your home. Note that you may have to pay around one to two percent of the overall sales price of your home to a discount broker.
Work With a Flat-Fee Agent
You may also work with a flat-fee real estate agent. These real estate professionals provide certain services for a flat fee. You do not have to pay a commission to flat-fee agents, so you know up front how much you will pay for their services. However, you may still have to pay a fee to the buyer’s agent if the individual who buys your home is working with a real estate agent.
Use Per-Day Pricing
Some MLS sites allow you to pay a daily fee in order to list your property using their service. You may be able to pay this fee in order to access:
- The MLS
- Market data
- Sales comparisons
- A yard box and lockbox
- Marketing flyers
- And more
You may even pay extra to get help from a licensed real estate agent. This method to use the MLS may be useful if you believe you can sell your home quickly. However, per-day pricing may become very costly if it takes time to sell your property.
To consult with an experienced for sale by owner lawyer today
855-780-9986
Reasons to List Your Home on a Multiple Listing Service in 2024
You may be wondering about the benefits of placing your property on an MLS. The MLS serves as an easy-to-access listing that contains a wide range of properties. Instead of being a single database, there are hundreds of different databases for different regions.
In 2024, internet shopping is often the simplest and most convenient option, so many individuals interested in buying a property will end up looking on an MLS. Many different websites draw content from an MLS, allowing people to access listings that interest them. For example, you may find listings from an MLS on real estate websites like:
- Redfin
- Realtor.com
- Trulia
- Zillow
Getting your property listed on these major sites may increase the odds that it will sell quickly. Potential buyers may find your property quicker if it is visible on an MLS.
What Information Goes Into an MLS Listing?
You will need to include all of the essential statistics and information about your house so that potential buyers can get an accurate idea of whether your property might be right for them. This information includes:
- The sale price
- When the house was built
- How big the house is, including the number of rooms and floors, whether there is a basement, and overall square footage
- How big the lot is and if there is anything else on the lot (e.g., a shed)
- What style the house is built in
- Any benefits that buyers might be interested in, such as what school district the house is in and how close the nearest schools are
- Any drawbacks that buyers should know about, such as if the house does not have heating or if any part of it will need repairs
- What property taxes the new owner will have to pay
- Your contact information
Listings typically also include photos of the house’s exterior and interior. For many homebuyers in 2024, their first look at a potential house is through these photos, so you want to make sure they show off your house at its best without taking dishonest measures to conceal flaws. If you do choose to work with a licensed agent, they can help you take and select the best photos.
How Much Do MLS Listings Cost?
Only real estate brokers can access MLS listings, so they are the ones who have to pay whatever fees the database charges. These fees vary depending on which database they use. Whatever fee you pay to your broker—whether you choose a regular agent or a discount broker—will probably include the costs they incur doing business with the MLS.
Pros and Cons of Getting on MLS Without a Realtor in 2024
You may be able to get your property listed on an MLS without a realtor, but is that the best option for you? Below is a brief discussion of the risks and benefits of managing a 2024 real estate transaction on your own. If you would like to explore your options in more depth, the real estate attorneys at our office would be glad to explain them to you.
Pros of Not Hiring a Real Estate Broker
There are a number of potential benefits for handling your property listing without a realtor. For example, if you list your property with a flat-fee or discount broker, you may:
- Save money on your agent commission for selling your property.
- Have more control over the sale of your property.
Cons of Not Hiring a Real Estate Broker
However, there could be some drawbacks to listing your property without the assistance of a realtor. Realtors are trained to help you get the most money possible for your property. This means that, if you work without a realtor, you may end up selling your property for less than it is worth.
Additionally, your property may not be viewed by as many potential buyers, as realtors often handle marketing for their clients. Realtors handle marketing because they get a percentage of the price for your home, so they are motivated to work hard to sell it. You may also have no legal representation during the sales process if you do not work with a realtor.
How to Decide Whether or Not to Hire a Realtor
The real estate market of 2024 is a complex place in which to do business. As you figure out how you can get on MLS without a realtor, you will also have to figure out if:
- You know what paperwork to file and where to file it
- You know what a fair sale price for your home is and how high or low you and potential buyers might be willing to go
- You are familiar enough with state and local legal requirements to work within them, including the various deadlines
- You should conduct a market analysis so you have a better idea of what to expect and how to attract prospective buyers
You will want to give the matter a great deal of consideration before making a decision. It is also important to remember that no decision is set in stone: if you change your mind later, you can always consult with a real estate broker for help.
What Is a Real Estate Lawyer, and Do You Need One?
Just like with hiring a broker, it is really up to you to decide whether or not to hire a real estate attorney. Law firms like ours can help if:
- You are unfamiliar with the legal requirements of selling a home, to include the recent changes to Florida HOA laws (2024 is the first full year these changes will be in effect)
- You run into legal disputes with potential buyers or other parties
- You have an especially complicated situation, like if multiple people own the property you plan to sell
- You simply do not have the time and energy to deal with real estate litigation and other matters on your own
Trying to get your property on an MLS listing can be a complicated matter if you do not have a realtor. Our real estate attorneys can talk to you about your rights, answer your questions, and put your mind at ease as you begin this process.
Not All Potential Buyers Act in Good Faith
You want to sell your house for a fair price, but that does not guarantee that everyone you interact with will have such pure motives. You might run into issues such as:
- Prospective buyers who dispute the terms of the contract or accuse you of not abiding by the contract
- Agents who pressure you into decisions that benefit them more than they benefit you
- Co-owners who disagree with you about how or to whom you should sell the property
Disputes like these can take up a lot of time and money, especially if you cannot resolve them amicably and end up going to court. One of our real estate attorneys can handle everything for you.
Choosing the Right People to Help You With Your MLS Listing
If you do decide to look into hiring a realtor and/or our real estate lawyers to help you get on MLS and sell your house, here is some advice for how you can partner with the right people:
- Do your research. Do not hire the first person you come across: instead, compare their reviews and areas of expertise with several others.
- Schedule a meeting. This could be an in-person meeting or an over-the-phone consultation. The point of the meeting is to get to know the people you will be working with and find out if you have similar ideas about how to go about selling your house.
- Ask questions. Any professional should be glad to address all of your questions about the sales or litigation process and how they might handle your case specifically.
- Gauge your comfort level. Even if someone knows what they are talking about, that does not mean you will work well together. If you do not feel comfortable around them for any reason, find someone else.
- Consult with others. Before deciding if you want to hire our real estate law firm or a licensed agent, it is a good idea to talk things over with your family and with our legal team.
If, after doing this work, you still decide to get on MLS and manage the sale alone without professional assistance, you will at least be sure that you have done your due diligence and made a confident, informed decision.
Click to contact our Florida Attorneys today
Find Out How You Can Get on MLS Without a Realtor in 2024
So, how can you get on MLS without a realtor in 2024? You may work with a discount or flat-fee broker instead of a realtor. You may also pay a per-day fee for your listing in some cases. However, you may want to consider the pros and cons of working with a realtor before deciding to list on your own.
You may discuss the legalities of selling your home with or without a realtor with the legal team at Bogin, Munns & Munns. Contact us by completing our online contact form or by calling our office today.
Call or Submit Our Consultation Request Form Today
