The delayed listing status allows a seller to give potential buyers a sneak peek of a property before it becomes active. It also lets the seller prepare the home for showings while the listing agent begins advertising and generating interest.
Visibility of Delayed Listings
By default, delayed listings are not included in IDX feeds. Only active, pending and sold listings are distributed through IDX for public-facing and third-party websites. However, a brokerage may choose to include its own delayed listings in its IDX feed for its public-facing website. Delayed listings have always been part of Virtual Office Website (VOW) data feeds and will continue to be. Unlike public-facing IDX sites, VOWs are behind a registration/login page, allowing brokers to share more MLS data with registered users.
Marketing a delayed listing is permitted through signage, advertisements, social media and broker websites. No showings, including agent previews, broker opens or public showings, are allowed while the property is in delayed status.
Listing agents cannot use delayed status to create pocket listings or circumvent other MLS policies or rules.
A property must be entered as delayed from the start, and the seller’s consent is required. It can remain in the MLS as delayed for up to 21 days. Once a start showing date is selected, it cannot be moved to an earlier date.
The start showing date may be extended as long as it does not exceed 21 days. If the date is extended, a revised form with the seller’s approval must be uploaded, and Metro MLS must be notified by emailing admin@metromls.com.