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These days, the MLS is an amazing tool for buyers, sellers and REALTORs and in Montana this is no exception. New technology has allowed information to flow in all directions for great searching to help real estate and business opportunities to change hands.  Modern MLS software allows listing agents to offer virtually unlimited photos, visual tours, maps, related documents like covenants, water rights and zoning information to be at buyers, sellers and agents fingertips.  What used to be days of waiting for information to arrive, can now be received virtually instantaneously. 

MLS advantages to the Montana seller, selling real estate or business property is two-fold.  First, the obvious, is to the buyers.  With seller agreement, properties automatically go online in the Flathead Valley on NMAR.com, the NW Montana Association of REALTORS' MLS website.  Then within 24 hours, the most common data fields (home size, acreage, bedrooms, bathrooms, price, etc) flow through to REALTOR.com, a popular national real estate website.  With data agreements and a custom website, that same MLS information also flows into the Scott Hollinger Team's website.  Buyers not only see the team's properties for sale in the region, but also can search all the MLS listings in NW Montana.  Within a day of entering a listing, active buyers can see whats new and any price changes in NW Montana real estate.

The second advantage of the MLS to the seller is that statistically about 60% of all sales are done cooperatively with another agent or broker.  That is why it is best to allow your property to be put into the MLS.  While each agent does their own marketing to attract a buyer, over half of the deals are put together through another agent.  Full time agents typically look at new listings, price changes and sales daily so they are up to speed with the marketplace. Agents continually monitor the MLS so that they can inform their buyers of a great new listing!

If you are choosing a listing agent, you should ask them for a list of their other active properties so that you can see what information is included in their MLS listings.  See how many photos they enter and what kind of additional information about the property they make available.  Look at the presentation using a buyer's eyes to see if the properties are presented in an attractive and comprehensive way.