Flowchart to help you properly enter a Listing

The question of Section 1.0 and what status to use comes up quite a bit, so I made this handy flowchart that you can reference.

CLICK HERE to download a printable PDF version of the flowchart.

This chart can help you decide how the listing should be entered into the MLS to meet the requirement of Section 1.0 that a listing be submitted to the MLS within 48 hours. Note that it says "Filed," not Active. You can be in a future, non-visible status and still meet this rule by putting the On Market Date as a date in the future.

Clear Cooperation sits on top of Section 1.0 and says that once a listing is publicly marketed, then it must go into a visible status within 1 business day. In our case, this means it must be in Coming Soon or Active. The best practice if you want to make sure you are always meeting Clear Cooperation, is simply to make sure the listing is in the MLS as Coming Soon or Active before you market it or talk about it with anyone.

Section 1 Listing Procedures

Listings of real or personal property of the following types, which are listed subject to a real estate broker’s license, and are located within the Service Area, and are taken by Participants shall be Filed with The Service within 48 hours after all necessary signatures of seller(s) have been obtained: (Amended 11/01) a. single-family detached, attached, or manufactured homes for sale or exchange b. vacant lots and acreage for sale or exchange c. two-family, three-family, and four-family residential buildings for sale or exchange,

Section 1.01 Clear Cooperation

Within one (1) business day of marketing a property to the public, the listing broker must submit the listing to the MLS for cooperation with other MLS participants. Public marketing includes, but is not limited to, flyers displayed in windows, yard signs, digital marketing on public-facing websites, brokerage website displays (including IDX and VOW), digital communications marketing (email blasts), multi-brokerage listing sharing networks, and applications available to the general public. 

Richard Gibbens is the SWMLS Director at GAAR. Richard hails from Panama City, Florida, and has been involved with CMLS and RESO to help drive the MLS industry forward. Richard, his wife Kayla, and young daughter Claire are happily adjusting to the red and green. Richard is a long-suffering fan of the Miami Dolphins, a Florida Gators alumni, an avid LEGO fan, and enjoys trail riding in his Jeep.