Clear Cooperation is a good thing
What was Clear Cooperation and what was it’s purpose?
This first is easy to answer, this was a requirement implemented in 2019 that required all MLS members will have their listings in the MLS (publicly listed, this is crucial) within one day of openly advertising it.
Two questions then pop up:
1. What is openly advertising?
2. Why would this be implemented at all?
The answer to the first question is a little nuanced. So as I understand it, this meant that it was any kind public acknowledgment, even to the waiter or bartender at your restaurant, that the property will be for sale. However, that rule did not apply to in house marketing at a brokerage. This leads to more questions, but without going to deep, this exception shouldn’t exist. It potentially promotes self dealing.
The answer to the second question has two answers. The first is pretty simple, by listing your home on the MLS and making it publicly available to the largest audience of buyers and agents possible.
The second half of that answer is unfortunate as it may be, there are bad actors in every business. There were starting to be more and more “off-market”, “in-house”, and “listed under contract” single family homes coming onto the market. Essentially, agents would get market share in an area and would try to control the sale in order to dictate the most profit for themselves, and not their clients.
Not all dual agency, off-market or in-house deals are bad for sellers or that their aren’t good reasons for people to not list their home. However, your agent needs to be working to make you the most amount money and trying to make themselves the most amount of money.
Doing a good job listing your home and bringing it up to date and maximizing your curb appeal are still the best way for you as a seller to make the most money. Don’t ever let an agent tell you they can beat the internet, they can’t. The internet is undefeated.
