There is an option for the realtor to check that signals this listing is NOT to be put on the internet. That could be because the agent prefers to find a buyer and thus get both halves of the commission, or because the agent doesn’t want to hassle with internet shoppers (wanting instead buyers represented by other agents) or because the seller doesn’t want the fact they are selling or the info about the listing to be publicly available. At other times agents don’t list on the mls at all, (so called pocket listings) in hopes that they can get both sides of the deal.
While I agree that it would be in the sellers interest to have the listing out on the internet as soon as possible, I’ve seen/heard lots of things done/said that are not in the seller’s interest by their agents.[/quote]
XBoxBoy –
You sound like you have some background in this, so forgive me if you know this already, but simply because agents commonly do things, it doesn’t mean that it’s legal. Like speed limits, the rules are ignored sometimes. I think the OP said that there were three houses in close proximity that didn’t seem to be on the MLS – it would seem unlikely to me that three different agents were listing houses and ignoring the rules (or following some unlikely instructions of their principles) in this market.
You will note that in my post I made a reference to what the seller (not the seller’s agent) wanted done. Since this is a real estate forum, I thought it was worthwhile to point out that the agent has a fiduciary duty to do what is in the client’s best interest (which includes a duty of obedience, loyalty, disclosure, reasonable care and diligence and accounting). It doesn’t matter what an agent does on the seller’s behalf, it’s ok as long as they have the principle’s informed consent. And it’s also worth pointing out that a seller should look into getting a release from a listing agreement if the agent refuses to honor his/her fiduciary duties.
