A new Northwest MLS policy will give Seattle sellers much-needed flexibility in how they market their homes
In a historic first for the region, homeowners in the Seattle area are about to have more freedom to market their property as they see fit.
That’s because today, Northwest MLS (NWMLS) announced a new First Look status, giving sellers real flexibility in how and when their listings hit the market. This is exactly the kind of innovation sellers, agents and major industry players—including Redfin—have been calling for, and we salute NWMLS for pioneering a pro-consumer, pro-competition solution.
More choice for sellers, plain and simple. Some sellers want their home in front of every buyer the moment they hit go. Others want breathing room to fine-tune pricing. Still others want to customize their marketing plan around privacy, timing, or lifestyle needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy. This new policy better reflects the choices sellers are already making—and gives brokers more flexibility to serve them.
Practically, this means sellers can take advantage of programs such as Redfin Early Access without running headlong into restrictive rules designed for a different era. Whatever path they choose, what we’re most excited about is a Seattle market where the rules are catching up to consumer expectations.
More supply for buyers. Though First Look will immediately benefit sellers, more competition and more choice are good for everyone in the market — including buyers. Our research shows that giving sellers more control over how they market can actually increase the number of homes for sale. And in a region where buyers are stretched thin looking for anything affordable, more inventory isn’t just nice. It’s essential.
None of this happened by accident. Earlier this year, Redfin asked NWMLS to offer more marketing flexibility. And we asked that brokerages be allowed to compete and innovate, while preserving the features that make the MLS so valuable. Clearly, others agreed and we applaud NWMLS for responding with a policy that reflects both the needs of its members and the clients we all serve.
The result is more choice for sellers, more opportunity for buyers and more room for agents and brokerages to compete. That’s the future of a strong MLS: preserve the cooperation that makes the system valuable, while forging policies that give consumers and agents greater freedom.
