What happens after you’re live on the MLS?

Once your home is live on the MLS, it begins syndicating to major consumer sites like Realtor.com, Zillow, and hundreds of others. The first 24 to 48 hours are typically when your listing gains the most online attention. You may even see it pop up in multiple places with slightly different photos or layouts depending on the site. This is normal, since each site formats MLS data uniquely.

And don’t be discouraged if we don’t receive a showing request on the very first day. Every price range and market behaves differently, and buyer activity often depends on what’s new and competing nearby. In some cases, buyer agents review listings before forwarding them to their clients, especially when they’re curating options manually rather than relying on automatic search alerts. That can delay early activity by a day or two, even when interest is strong.

Sometimes it takes 36 to 72 hours for all the different sites to refresh completely. During that time, you may notice small inconsistencies in photo order or descriptions. Those usually correct themselves automatically, but if you see something unusual, let me know so I can work to make sure it’s displaying properly.

While your listing circulates across the web, buyer agents begin scheduling showings through an app called ShowingTime. This system helps us manage all appointments efficiently and keeps you in control of your schedule.

How Showing Requests Work

While buyer agents use ShowingTime to request appointments, you use it to approve or decline them. Unless your home is vacant and set for automatic approvals, you’ll receive a text, email, or app notification each time someone requests a showing. You’ll see the date, time, and the requesting agent’s name and company before deciding whether to confirm, decline, or suggest another time. I believe you have a right to know exactly who is entering your home, which is why I provide that information to you. Other brokerages may handle this differently; I choose transparency.

To receive text alerts, you’ll probably get an opt-in message from ShowingTime asking you to reply START. Once you do, you’ll be able to confirm or decline showings directly by text, which is usually the fastest and easiest way to respond. If there’s some reason why you can’t, just let me know, and we can take the wheel!

Using the SentriKey Real Estate app, agents can securely access a property’s lockbox for scheduled showings, one of many safeguards I use to protect your home during the selling process.

Every confirmed showing logs who visited and when. After each scheduled showing, my system automatically sends a feedback request to the buyer agent, then sends periodic reminders up to three more times if needed. If there’s still no response, I’ll follow up personally to uncover any objections or insights that could be helpful for you. Of course, the best feedback is a purchase offer!

For your security, directions and lockbox details are shared only with approved agents at the scheduled time. ShowingTime and Sentrilock keep the process smooth, secure, and fully documented from start to finish.

Preparing for Showings

Before each showing, plan to leave the house about 15 minutes prior to the appointment and stay gone for approximately 30 minutes. That gives buyers privacy to look around and discuss freely. Sometimes the showing agent will text me once they’re finished, and I’ll let you know when it’s safe to return, but not all agents do that. If you arrive home and the buyers are still there, just give them a friendly wave and wait a few minutes before going in.

Be sure the lights are on, counters are clear, and personal items are tucked away. It’s a good idea to make the beds, close toilet lids, and put away laundry before leaving. Think of it as preparing your home to make a great first impression every single time.

For a simple day-to-day guide, download my quick Showing Prep Checklist, a one-page list you can keep handy before each appointment or before you leave in the mornings.

After the Showing

Once a showing concludes, feedback from the buyer agent typically arrives within a day or two. I’ll share it with you as soon as it comes in so we can discuss any helpful insights. Keep in mind that some agents are more responsive than others, but our automated system does the heavy lifting with reminder follow-ups.

Buyers’ (or buyers’ agents’) comments can range from highly specific to unexpectedly vague. I’ve written a separate post about how to interpret and use that feedback effectively. Be sure to look at my “unconventional” feedback questions below so you’re not puzzled by the quirky answers that come in!

Showing feedback questions that get results

Lastly, once your home is live in the MLS (multiple listing service), we will send you a copy of the listing sheet to review. Please look through it carefully and let us know of any errors or omissions. In addition, if you don’t like how we phrased something or feel we left out an important point, let me know. Remember, we’re a team and we want to get your house sold just as much as you do!

Questions? Call me at (405) 585-6580 or email Steve@Soldonshawnee.com.

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