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survey by StreetEasy, a Zillow subsidiary, found that most sellers in New York City support broad listing access. Those who listed off the MLS were more likely to regret their sale. The debate over private listings has become increasingly contentious, with Compass promoting them as "seller choice" and suggesting they lead to faster sales at higher prices.
However, Zillow and others argue that sellers are not well-informed about private listings, citing studies indicating that those who list off the MLS may leave thousands of dollars on the table. New data from StreetEasy's survey of over 500 NYC sellers contradicts Compass' claims. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said their agent recommended listing privately, but 1 in 3 who did experienced "seller's remorse."
Sellers reported difficulties finding and communicating with agents, with 40% citing finding the right agent as a top challenge. Those who listed privately were more likely to fire their agent (16%) compared to those who only listed publicly (5%). They were also slightly more likely to consider offers below asking or have an offer fall through.
The vast majority of NYC sellers surveyed (94%) believed that wide exposure would help their home sell faster and lead to a satisfactory offer. This aligns with a national survey conducted by Zillow, where over 4 in 5 respondents said they would want their home listed on a public consumer website. In response, Zillow has announced plans to ban listings that are publicly marketed but not widely available via the MLS, with StreetEasy set to adopt similar standards starting in June.
