Are all Flat Fee MLS Websites in Florida a Genuine MLS Service?

No they are not. Just because a website hangs a shingle that says, “Florida Flat Fee MLS” doesn’t mean they are licensed in Florida to offer such real estate services or that they truly offering what’s being advertised.

The mere fact that we are in “Florida” is reason enough to question and research the company carefully before listing.

There are at least 10 different versions of flat fee MLS in Florida. Make sure the version you buy is a genuine MLS flat fee provider…such as ADDvantage.

If your are currently selling For Sale By Owner, or are listed with a full service agent and your listing is soon to expire, or just want to sell your Florida home using flat fee MLS, then apply my 5 steps to determine whether you are looking at a genuine flat fee MLS website:

Genuine Flat Fee MLS Test Question Number 1…is the flat fee “website” licensed in Florida? If not, they cannot show you a listing agreement or list your property in the MLS…all they can do is take your money and refer you to a Florida flat fee broker. Once you are referred, you will sign a listing agreement with that unknown broker. They are not a genuine Florida flat fee MLS service.

Genuine Flat Rate MLS Test Questions Number 2…does the Florida flat fee MLS website publish their listing agreement on-line? If not, it is a BIG red flag that they are not a genuine flat fee service.

Genuine Florida Flat Fee MLS Test Questions Number 3….does their listing agreement clearly say “all buyer leads from Realtor.com belong to the seller?” If not, they are definitely not a genuine flat fee MLS service.

Genuine Flat Fee Test Questions Number 4…if the listing agreement doesn’t detail exactly what hours the broker answers the phone, then it’s not a genuine MLS flat fee service. Contrary to popular belief, only 50% of the calls from Realtors and Buyers go to the you, the seller. The other 50% go to the flat fee broker. Your listing broker holds the keys to your successful sale. You need a flat fee broker that answers the phone 12 hours a day 7 days a week…such as ADDvantage. Who started that myth anyway that all calls go to the seller? The “NOT” genuine flat fee websites did because they are the ones that have published the same old retheric that “all calls go to you” so no one worries about phone support. The ADDvantage flat fee website has never made that statement because it is not true. The reason this myth lives on is because the language in the MLS for flat fee listed properties states, ”call seller directly for all showings and offers at 305-262-0803″ under the Realtor remarks section. While this is true, ADDvantage can also attest that 2,900 Realtors and buyers have called ADDvantage over the past 12 months looking for showing instructions and over 1,000 of those calls came to ADDvantage after-hours. Why don’t Realtors read the “Realtor Remarks” section of the MLS? The reason is because Realtors over the past 70 years have been calling the “listing broker” for showing instructions, not the seller. Many Realtors don’t even understand what “flat fee” or “limited service” is. If the hours of operation are not important enough for the flat fee service to publish in their listing agreement then they are not a genuine flat fee MLS service.

Genuine Flat Fee Test Number 5…if the flat fee MLS service doesn’t say the words “unconditionally withdraw”of listing from MLS upon written request from you, the seller, then that website is not a genuine flat fee MLS listing service. No other words mean the same thing. Not “cancel”, not “withdraw”, not “conditionally withdraw”, not “remove”, not “take out”, not “stop.” The reason why the word “unconditional” must be in the listing agreement is because it removes any possibilty or oppotunity for the unscrupulous not-genuine flat fee broker to leave your listing stuck in a suspended state where no other broker can re-list your home until the original listing term expires. The reason they do this is to force you to pay a fee for early cancellation (they think flat fee listings are like a bank CD…early withdrawal penalty) or force you to list with their full-service company or receive a referral commission for your listing.

When listing flat fee in Florida, list with a genuine flat fee service…ADDvantage.

Call us anytime, we work 8:00am-8:00pm…7 days a week. 1-877-232-9695.

If you have the time, please read what ADDvantage flat fee clients have to say.