The other day I was using Redfin (okay, every day I use Redfin) and for the first time ever (which is kind of weird) I searched for all the new condo construction projects in the city. Of course there was only a small percentage available (something like 100 listings). I read through a bunch of them and was surprised at how many lacked some back information (like the name of the project or any photos). So for the listing and onsite agents who read this blog. Please include the following in your MLS listings!
- The name of the development (this should be obvious)
- The website URL so we can visit your crappy flash site
- Photos of the building and unit if it’s a conversion
- Photos of the sales center if it’s new construction
- Renderings of the building and unit elevations if it’s new construction
- Photos of any models
- The floor plan
- Description of building amenities
If you’re going to spend all that money to list it might as well spend it right.
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5 responses so far ↓
1 Ben // Sep 14, 2006 at 5:53 pm
Maybe it’s Redfin’s display of listing info…just kidding, sort of. For new construction, most do include the project name, but with only 1 exterior photo if we’re lucky.
I agree, many of the listings are missing pertinent information. That said, the MLS does restrict what information can be provided - photos must be of the property and no URLs. But, everything else you mentioned are permitted and should be provided, especially with the larger projects.
As you’ve noticed, many new construction units are never entered into the MLS. So, if anyone, buyer or agent, want information they have no choice but to contact the listing agent / sales center.
2 Matt // Sep 14, 2006 at 6:07 pm
#26141469 - Listing for 1521, even though it’s $9 mil it only has one photo, a rendering of the exterior :)
#26127092 - Listing for the Braeburn, no mention of the name Braeburn in the description. No exterior building photos.
#24024940 - No development name (does anyone know?)
#26140344 - No description
#26110903 - Only one lame photo
#26147903 - This belltown development should know better than to forget to put their name in
#26149555 - Glad they have the name and url (aren’t they in violation then?) but only one photo is bad
#26111499 - Domaine is having a hard time selling, the least they can do is post more photos of their sales center and of the potential view
I could go on :).
3 Ben // Sep 14, 2006 at 6:38 pm
The building name issue is probably a display thing, since the MLS does have a field for building/project name and all of the listings above have the name field filled. Since there is a name field, agents prob don’t want to duplicate info in the limited remarks section (max 500 characters). Neither JLS, CBB, Windermere are displaying the bldg name field…wonder if that’s just overlooked or prohibited by the MLS?
A number of those are resales, so there’s no reason not to have more photos…lazy agents.
I may be off on the URL thing…it might be no personal agent website URLs.
4 Matt // Sep 14, 2006 at 6:49 pm
Interesting, I’ll look into this building/project name field. It’d be great if Redfin could display it if it’s being filled in.
5 Ben // Sep 14, 2006 at 7:15 pm
I get a consulting fee if the do.
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