What value is there in knowing about upcoming real estate listings BEFORE they hit the MLS?

Everybody wants a competitive edge. This is especially true for real estate agents. With home sales picking up, buyers are getting more anxious. Knowing about a listing before it goes on the MLS gives buyers an edge and helps differentiate those agents with access. But just how much Pre-MLS lead time is enough to make a difference?

Because our member agents benefit from this kind of access to Pre-MLS real estate listings, this has always been a controversial question for Top Agent Network. Too much Pre-MLS time is usually unrealistic, and often not helpful. With too much lead time, the sellers can be reluctant to show the property or look at offers. Too little time and it doesn’t make much of a difference because it virtually duplicates the MLS.

To find out the “answer”, we surveyed Top Agent Network member agents with one simple question:

What minimum lead time should TAN require for Pre-MLS/Upcoming Listings? 

What is most telling are the TAN member write-in comments:

Especially in a market as busy as this one, we need any “leg up” we can get. I will take even a crumb of pre-market information. 

Even a few days can give clients a “heads up” and an advantage in preparing an offer.

It’s valuable to have any advance notice, even 1 day. Often times we don’t have photos or price till last minute. Our buyers & sellers like it.

Even though it came on the MLS in the next day or two, I looked good knowing about it first.

The point of Top Agent Network is to get info prior to MLS. I look at each and every piece of info as a potential sale.

Bottom line, it seems that any amount of access to Pre-MLS listings is an advantage.

By sharing advance information with their peers, Top Agent Network members help their clients while helping themselves.

What do you think? We’d love to hear your comments on this issue as well as any experiences you have had with Pre-MLS listings.