Pre-Schedule Showings During Coming Soon

Beginning Wednesday, April 21, Agents will be able to pre-schedule showings on listings while they are in the Coming Soon status.  All time slots will be automatically be blocked until the beginning of the date showings are expected to begin as entered on the listing. 

We have received many requests for this functionality and are excited to make it possible finally. This change will allow agents and buyers who see a Coming Soon listing to schedule a showing without continually monitoring the listing for when it goes Active. This will also give the seller a clear indication of the property's interest before accepting an offer submitted sight unseen during the Coming Soon period.

IMPORTANT: If the date showings are expected to begin is postponed, it is the listing agent’s responsibility to cancel any scheduled showings.

Is Coming Soon fair?

Because of the shallow inventory we are experiencing, we are getting more questions about Coming Soon. The TMLS Directors have been continuously monitoring the use of Coming Soon to ensure it is used fairly. Whether there is a cooperation between brokers taking place and do buyers have equal opportunity to submit offers are sometimes questioned. Data shows a higher degree of cooperation between brokerages on listings that start as Coming Soon instead of Active (See graph below). As could be expected, DOM is lower for listings entered as Coming Soon, and more listings are sold with 0 DOM than those starting as Active.

Frequently Asked Questions
[UPDATED]

Can offers be submitted while a listing is in the Coming Soon status?

Yes. In the current market, offers are being submitted sight unseen much more frequently than we have seen in the past. According to the NC Real Estate Commission, all offers must be presented to the Seller, who has the right to accept or reject the offers.  If accepted, the listing MUST be changed to the Contingent or Pending status before the potential buyer can view the property.

Can my buyers pay a Showing Fee to see the listing while in Coming Soon?

NO. There is no such thing as a Showing Fee that will allow the showing of a listing while in the Coming Soon status. Showings are ONLY allowed when a listing is in the Active or Contingent status.

What is Tiered Due Diligence?

We have been asked if it is ok for an Offer to Purchase to include a tiered due diligence fee that consists of one fee for seeing the property and the “normal” fee if the buyer is still interested after seeing the home. Triangle MLS has no opinion on how contracts between Sellers and Buyers are written. If the seller accepts the offer to purchase AND the listing agent has updated the listing status to either Contingent or Pending, the buyer can view the property. If the buyer decides to terminate after having seen the home, the Listing Agent can update the listing to Active or No Showings. Coming Soon will not be an option as it can ONLY be a listing’s initial status.

Why am I getting the message that the listing agent is not accepting online appointment requests at this time?

If you get a popup message when trying to pre-schedule saying "This listing is not accepting online appointment requests at this time. See MLS for scheduling instructions." This means that the showing instruction set up has not been completed. The scheduler can either wait until the listing agent has completed setup or they may reach out to the listing agent to inquire when pre-scheduling will be available.

Why is the schedule calendar blocked out when I try to Pre-Schedule?

This can mean you have not scrolled far enough to the date for which Showings are Expected to Begin. This can also mean that the there are no available showing slots due to already scheduled showings or showing restrictions. Please hit the orange arrow in the upper right side of the scheduling calendar until you get to an available showing slot to schedule.

Why is the Schedule a Showing icon not visible on a Coming Soon Listing?

When the Schedule a Showing icon in not visible on a Coming Soon listing, it means that the Listing Agent has opted out of accepting Pre-Scheduling showing appointments.

How do I Opt Out of Accepting Pre-Scheduling for my Coming Soon Listing?

To turn opt out of accepting pre-scheduling appointments for your Coming Soon listing, please follow the instructions HERE.