Asked in Real Estate Law for Virginia

Q: Can a property listing be taken off the market, then put back on a few days later?

I am caught between two agents who want to list my property for sale. One claims she routinely removes a listing from the market to save Days on Market (say, during snowy weather), or takes it off after a month or two on the market then relists it to show it as "newly listed." The other agent says this cannot be done, that if you take a property off the market you must wait 60 days before you put it back on. Who is right?

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1 Lawyer Answer
Thomas H. Roberts
Thomas H. Roberts
Answered
  • Richmond, VA
  • Licensed in Virginia

A: You are most likely referring to the Multiple Listing Service ("MLS"), which is a private organization with its own set of rules. For example the Central Virginia Regional Multiple Listing Service states that such conduct is prohibited. Section 5.26 Manipulation of Days on Market

Withdrawal and re-entry of a Listing as a marketing tool or in an attempt to alter or reset the days on

market information is prohibited.

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