Facts Over Opinions & Co-Broker Initiative

Colleagues –

A number of voices across the residential brokerage industry have been raising claims and concerns related to Compass' advocacy for seller choice in our industry.

As a consultant performing the role of Chief Real Estate Strategist for Compass, I shared my thoughts on recent posts. Compass is a public company [NYSE: COMP]. Our statements must be verifiable and factual.

While industry opinions are exciting, dynamic, and fuel controversy, the facts of this debate can often be missing. I am willing to debate facts but not opinions.

Compass facts, as reported in our Q4 2024 earnings report dated February 18, 2025, covered our trades from January 1 to December 31, 2024:

• Homes pre-marketed as Compass Private Exclusives and/or Compass Coming Soon before going active on the MLS were associated with an average 2.9% higher close price compared to those that were not pre-marketed. 
• Homes with pre-marketing received an accepted offer 20% faster on average – 8 days sooner – once active on the MLS. 
• Only 13% of pre-marketed Compass listings experienced a price drop, compared to 19% without pre-marketing. This translates to about 30% fewer listings taking a price drop once active on the MLS.
• 94% of the time, the Compass Three Phased Marketing Strategy results in Compass Private Exclusives and/or Compass Coming Soons, and end up going to the MLS and portal sites, reflecting the primary value to the client is pre-marketing, including ever-important price discovery.

Of course, please see Compass’ disclosures for the details about how we calculated and reported this data.

In the categories above, the sellers that elected Compass Three Phased Marketing strategies benefited from an increased average sale price, fewer days on the market, and fewer price reductions. This is a function of price discovery in pre-marketing activities. 

Yesterday, Compass issued this press release inviting the entire industry to join in the benefit of Compass Coming Soons. The action steps required are very simple.

Course correction is required. The NAR and MLS mandates need modification immediately.

Let’s give sellers a choice, give buyers access, and sunset the industry noise and mandates. After all, our focus is our real estate professionals and their clients. 

This is Where We Are Now!

Thanks!
Mark