Skip to content
Home Blog News & Trends

Honestly, I’m Not Making This Up: MLS Rants

Florence Foote
1 min read

Last week, I criticized the practice of some agents who hide potentially important information from buyers by putting it in the secret “agent’s only” section of the MLS called “private remarks.” I stand by that post: if it is important enough for the buyer’s agent (and would not cause embarrassment or a security risk) I really think it should be disclosed to all.

This week, we shall travel a slightly different road – the agents who are honest, and sometimes brutally so. I recently came across a closed listing on the MLS that had some rather fascinating private remarks. Intrigued, I read the whole listing, and was surprised to see this in the public section:

“If you want to go through hell, try presenting an offer and closing it. . .. and if you have to ask for an extension, just cancel while you have a chance.”

(I won’t embarrass the listing agent by identifying them here, but if you really want to, you can go ahead and Google that remark and you will likely come up with it on your own.)

What were they thinking?
I can only surmise that the listing agent was having a very difficult a time with their client getting a deal done on this property and put this up in frustration. While I can certainly commiserate with the agent, I don’t think this sends the right message to anyone involved: the buyer, the buyer’s agent, or most certainly, the seller (likely an institution that the seller’s agent wagered would never bother to read the MLS.)

Here’s another one: From a current listing

“TLC required. Property must be purchased in AS-IS condition and buyer will assume all rent controls ordinance placed on both properties. Neither Bank nor seller will pay for any repairs or inspections or termites on this property. Must submit offers without seeing the home.”

While this listing was not openly dismissive of the seller, I just love that the last part – and the invitation to go ahead and buy a pig in a poke. Maybe you’ll get lucky. On the other hand, maybe there’s a reason why the seller/Bank won’t pay for any repairs. You decide.

Who says real estate agents are dry? They can be quite funny sometimes.

Photo: Jason Rogers, via Flickr (CC license)

Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.