Tips for Making “Coming Soon” Work for Your Clients

Should this listing be a Withhold, Coming Soon or Active?

Here’s what to remember: If your client signs a contract with a list date 4/6/2023, it must be entered into the MLS within two (2) business days, no matter what status of the listing is going to be.

This should NOT be the Coming Soon Availability date.

Note: If there is any form of public marketing, the listing needs to be added to the MLS within one (1) business day.

What if your seller needs time to get ready?

Your client is asking, “Can we wait a few days or a week?” so they can clean up, stage, prep, get professional photos taken etc.

In this case you would have them sign both a Withhold and a Coming Soon Authorization form.

The Withhold agreement, which allows you to advertise within your Brokerage only as an Office Exclusive, would be input within the two (2) business days of the list date of the contract and the Coming Soon agreement would be uploaded at the time the listing switches over to Coming Soon.

What if your sellers don’t want to sign a Withhold agreement?

In this situation, have them sign a Coming Soon Authorization form only. But remember, the listing must be entered within two (2) business days of the list date of the contract, NOT the Coming Soon Availability date.

The listing would be entered into Coming Soon status, at that time you load the authorization form and enter the number of days your sellers picked in coming soon (again, the maximum number of days is 21 for a Coming Soon status).

The system automatically changes to active on the Active date that is entered in the MLS.

Entering Correct Dates on Contract and Authorization Forms

Say your sellers sign a contract with your broker on April 6 and sign a Coming Soon agreement indicating they want an additional nine days to get ready.

You would indicate the contract date of April 6 on the Exclusive Right to Sell contract:

as well as on the Coming Soon Authorization form:

But on the Authorization form you list the Availability Date as April 15.

Additional Resources

Have additional questions about the Coming Soon status? Check out these resources:

Rules + Regulations Coming Soon Information

Wondering if it’s right?

The NorthstarMLS Rules + Regulations team is here to help! We’ve compiled great information addressing important compliance topics including MLS Field Requirements, Photos, Virtual Tours, General Rule Policies, Rules Statistics and more! Check them out today at our Rules + Regulations Site or contact us.