Some of the information entered in our MLS is automatically placed there. Based upon the APN, it auto-populates the entries in several different spots. Those we can almost always count on to be correct.
There are many more, about 9 pages worth of information, that a Realtor needs to input so that the MLS is accurate in the listing presentation to other agents and the general public.
Therein can lie one heck of a problem. Quite of bit of it is subject to the inputters opinion. 1/2 bath, that's the one with a toilet and sink, right? Yep. And a full bath, should have a tub/shower, sink and toilet, you'd think so. That infamous 3/4, what's that? No tub, but a shower. And, to muss things up a bit more, we keep having things added, or changed, so that it is easier to input or makes it easier to know what the property has.
Goodness, when we added the Special Conditions? That threw a wrench in it. And, it was put there for Short-Sale info, REO info. Good stuff, need to know stuff......if it's put in the MLS right.
Phone numbers are all over the place. Sellers phone numbers should never be in the public remarks, neither are gate codes. Well, we see them now and again.
Lockboxes that are supposed to be at the property, based upon the MLS, aren't always there. Maybe a combo box, with no mention of the combo in the agent private remarks on our printout that is in our hands. There's a little check-box for this one.
And, my favorite notes on the MLS print-out sheet? In ours it's the little teeny print down at the bottom in blue:
The accuracy of all information, regardless of source, including but not limited to square footages and lot sizes, is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be personally verified through personal inspection by and/or with the appropriate professionals.
The purpose of this blog post? To remind everyone that we really do need to inspect, inspect and inspect. Really need to view lots of properties almost as if we haven't read anything but the price on the MLS.
But, even that is erroneous sometimes, more often than the good agent would like to see, I can tell you that. A house that should be listed for 450 is listed for 375? Gets clients excited unnecessarily and causes more frustration for client and agent alike.
So, go with an agent that recognizes the errors, purposeful or not. One that knows at least a little something about what kinds of things may be wrong. One that does a tad of research on title records or looks for old listings that may tell you if that's a 1/2, 3/4 or really a full bath with that downstairs bedroom......or, really, should they just have called that bedroom an office when you see there is no closet once you actually get there?
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