BIC TIP #1196: The Step Most Listing Agents Skip
“Yeah, you might want to get that looked at.” It is good advice for a strange noise in your car, and according to Stephen Long, The Notorious BIC, it is great advice for your MLS listings too. Before a listing goes live, print a draft and have your seller review it for accuracy. It is a simple step that most agents skip.
Why a Second Set of Eyes Matters
Listing input is detail work. Square footage, bedroom and bathroom counts, year built, HOA information, school assignments, utilities, included items, and the public remarks all go into the record. One wrong click or a copy-and-paste error from a previous listing can put inaccurate information in front of every buyer and agent in the market.
Your seller lives in the home. They know whether the water heater was replaced, whether the basement is finished, and whether that “gas fireplace” is really wood-burning. They are the perfect proofreader.
Represent the Property the Way the Seller Intends
Accuracy is only part of it. Stephen notes that the review also ensures the listing represents the property in the way the seller desires. Maybe they want a feature highlighted, or maybe something in the remarks does not sit right with them. Better to find out before the listing hits the market than after the first showing.
A seller who has signed off on the listing is also a seller who feels included and informed, which builds trust from day one.
Protect Yourself and Your Client
Errors in MLS data can create misunderstandings with buyers and, in some cases, complaints. Having the seller review and approve the draft gives you a chance to catch problems early and creates a record that the seller saw the information. Keep a copy of the reviewed draft in your transaction file.
This does not shift your responsibility as the listing broker to verify information, but it adds a valuable layer of quality control.
The Practical Takeaway
Before you hit “submit” on a new listing, print the draft, hand it to your seller, and ask them to review every field. Make corrections, keep the reviewed copy, and then publish. It takes a few minutes and can save you a world of trouble. Yeah, get that looked at.
