Frequently Asked Questions

A Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a cooperative effort among real estate brokers to share data on homes for sale. It is the most comprehensive and up-to-date database of properties available within the real estate community, and the majority of property sales are directly related to MLS exposure. When you see a home for sale on Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow and other national sites, that information most likely originated from the MLS database.

Typically your home is listed within 24 hours after I receive payment and you have completed the listing agreement, the MLS input form and the seller disclosure forms, and uploaded your photos.

The Gold package is valid for 6 months and the Platinum package for 12 months. Both can be cancelled at any time. If your listing is approaching expiry you can buy a six-month extension for $250. The extension form must be submitted at least 5 days before your original contract expires so your marketing is not interrupted.

They differ in the duration of the listing and the level of support.

• Gold — valid 6 months. You handle offers and negotiations directly with the buyer’s agent. No realtor assistance with contract review, negotiations or closing.
• Platinum — valid 12 months. Full realtor support: reviewing offers and contracts, advice and assistance with negotiations, home inspection review and repair request guidance, and review of closing documents.

Yes. If you have the Gold package and decide you want help with an offer, you can upgrade for a $200 purchase plus an addendum to the listing contract agreeing to the $2,000 closing fee. You then get full Platinum support, including contract review, negotiation assistance, repair request guidance and review of closing documents.

I leave pricing up to the seller. It is very difficult to set an accurate price without seeing the property in person, and as the homeowner you know what you paid, what you have upgraded and how your home compares to your neighbours’. I provide a “What’s my home worth?” tool that sends you comparable properties in your area. If you are still unsure after reviewing the comps, it is worth having the home professionally appraised.

No. Your personal phone number is not displayed on third-party sites. Mink Realty’s number, (270) 719-5346, is listed on the national websites. When a buyer calls, they are directed to www.minkoffers.com to enter the property address, where they can message you or request a showing, and they are given your number so they can contact you directly. Your number also appears in the agent-only MLS notes with a message asking agents to contact the seller directly.

No. MLS rules require that only the listing broker’s sign is displayed on a listed property, so any FSBO signage must come down once the home is listed. Any costs or fees incurred because an FSBO sign stayed up are the seller’s responsibility. You can order a Mink Realty yard sign on the website — be sure to add your own phone number before placing the order.

Yes. A lock box makes it far easier for buyer agents to access your home, so you do not have to coordinate schedules or be present for every showing. A combination lock box costs under $30 on Amazon and usually arrives the next day. The code goes into the showing service and is released to an agent only once you confirm their showing.

No. Buyers and their agents feel more comfortable exploring a home without the seller there, which helps them picture themselves living in it and often leads to stronger offers. When the seller is present buyers can feel rushed, which hurts their impression of the home.

Before your listing goes live your listing team emails you a DRAFT to review. You must review and approve that draft before the listing becomes active, and it is your responsibility to make sure all property details and descriptions are accurate and complete.

Buyer agents upload offers directly to Minkoffers.com. The offer is then automatically emailed to both you and me, with a clear summary of the key terms. For Kentucky properties the email also includes a link to the Kentucky Seller Agency Disclosure Form, which must be completed before negotiations begin on the Gold package. With Gold you negotiate directly with the buyer’s agent; with Platinum I review the offer with you, explain the terms and guide you through the next steps.

It is always negotiable and is typically addressed in the purchase agreement when an offer is submitted. It is likely that an offer will ask the seller to pay a buyer’s agent commission, so be prepared to review and negotiate those terms as part of the offer process.

If you find a buyer who does not have an agent, you owe no buyer’s agent commission. You still owe Mink Realty the closing fee set out in your listing contract — $500 on the Gold package, $2,000 on Platinum.

A purchase agreement still has to be prepared. You can hire an attorney to draft it, or I can prepare it for you and the buyer for a flat fee of $1,000. That fee can be paid by the seller, the buyer, or split between both — but it must be paid up front before the contract is prepared.