"comfree"

Have you seen the ads on TV for "comFree"?

I first thought this was a new entry in the flat-rate listing segment.  Given the timing -- with the recent news items around opening up the MLS® system, etc -- it made sense that somebody would start some heavy promotion.

Early in my initial investigation, I started getting agitated counting up how many Board and  rules they were breaking on their site.  Then I figured it out!

It seems that this is NOT an MLS® listing service.  It is, in fact, a juiced-up "For Sale By Owner" package.  You get photos, signs and some other support.  You also get on their website and in a "magazine" they publish. Even the market comparison to determine price appears largely do-it-yourself.

The packages list from around $500-900, though they are currently heavily discounted.  You can also buy additional ads in their magazine.

As I read it, you DO NOT get listed on any MLS® system. It would not surprise me if their representatives did offer some sort of listing service or referrals while signing you up for the basic stuff -- but I don't know this and don't see anything on the site that suggests it.  Anyone out there know the answer to this one?

You may have seen "By The Owner" signs in the past, with a traffic light logo.  This is in fact the same company, renamed.and relaunched.

FYI

Update: beyond housevalues.ca to justlisted.ca

A while ago, I did a quick explanation of how the tv-advertised housevalues.ca works. That post is here, or see below. Now there is another ad airing for a site called justlisted.ca. What's it all about?.

Same company, same deal. It's a US company whose product is leads for agents. So yes, you can sign up for new listings to be emailed to you, but you will also be immediately contacted by whatever agent has purchased the rights to your area.

You can get the same information from the local agent of YOUR CHOICE. Any Toronto Board agent can set up a "match" which will automatically email you listings or changes that match your criteria -- criteria much more refineable than the justlisted.ca options. They aren't evil, but you should know what you are getting into.