Building Systems: Lessons from My Flat Fee MLS Listing

January 6th, the first week of the new year, and I’m already neck-deep in the kind of work I dreamed about doing two or three years ago. Today, I listed a flat fee property—a milestone that feels both exciting and chaotic. Reflecting on the process, I see not just what I accomplished, but what I need to refine to keep moving forward.

This was my fourth time listing a property on the MLS, and every time I do it, I’m reminded how detailed and tedious it can be. The last time I touched the MLS system was back in October, and diving back in after months felt like trying to navigate uncharted waters. To make it harder, my day was full of interruptions: agents calling about photos, my own distractions with social media, and the endless juggling that comes with running a business. Yet, I pushed through. I promised the owner the listing would be live by noon, and while I missed that mark by a couple of hours, I got it done.

From Chaos to Clarity

What this experience taught me is that my approach has been chaotic because I don’t have a system in place yet. It reminds me of when I first started in real estate photography—those early days when I didn’t have workflows and everything felt a bit improvised. But now, I can walk into a home, shoot efficiently, and deliver top-notch results. I know I can bring that same structure and confidence to this process, but it starts with a system.

The Plan Moving Forward

In an ideal world, the MLS listing process shouldn’t take more than two hours. To make that happen, I need to prioritize preparation and communication. Here’s how I envision it:

1. Gather Everything Upfront: Before I even think about starting the listing, I’ll require all paperwork and details from the homeowner. Nothing happens until I have the MLS worksheet completed.
2. Set Clear Expectations: Let the homeowner know the listing will go live within five days of the contract. This gives us both a clear timeline to work toward.
3. Focus on Execution: Once everything is in hand, I’ll block out the soonest uninterrupted two-hour window to get it done. No distractions, just focused work.

Why This Matters

This flat fee listing symbolizes more than a transaction—it represents the intersection of my creativity and my business acumen. It’s a step toward disruption, something I’m drawn to as someone who grew up during the collapse of the Soviet Union. Disruption, for me, is about building toward a better future, and this flat fee model feels like a way to do that—not just for me but for the homeowners I work with.

By building this system, I’m not only refining my process but also proving to myself that I can scale this idea into something meaningful. It’s not just about listing homes; it’s about creating a premium, personal service that stands out in a crowded market.

Today was a reminder that even in chaos, there’s progress. And with the right systems in place, I know there’s a way to turn this chaos into clarity. That’s why I’m committing to building a highly functional website for my flat fee service in the next 90 days—one that not only educates homeowners about what I offer but also helps turn their visits into action.