There are many good reasons to start off-market. Sometimes, it’s because we’re unsure whether the price we want can be achieved. Once a home hits the market, the “days on market” clock starts ticking—and the longer it sits, the less desirable it appears to buyers. Off-market gives us time to quietly test interest, without sacrificing your home’s reputation.
It’s like a private preview. We can show the home, gauge real interest, even adjust pricing if needed—without any public record of failure. Done right, off-market is a smart, strategic phase that gives us a second chance if we later decide to go public.
It’s also extremely targeted. As top agents, we know which buyers are active and which agents represent them. We promote your home directly to the right people, fast and efficiently. Here’s how we do it:
1. Top Agent Network (TAN)
This exclusive platform is for the top 10% of agents in each county—those who handle 90% of the volume. Every day, agents post new off-market listings (with or without the address), and others post buyer needs. The system automatically matches our listing with potential buyers, so we can reach out directly to the right agents and start showings immediately.
2. MLS “Coming Soon” – Agents Only
MLS has two modes: one feeds all the third-party sites (Redfin, Zillow, brokerage websites), and one is “Members Only”—visible only to licensed agents. When we list a home in “Coming Soon – Members Only,” it won’t be visible to the public, but agents with active buyers can see and inquire. This gives us early feedback and offers, without launching fully to the public.
3. Word of Mouth & Agent Networks
We’re connected with hundreds of agents through WeChat, Facebook groups, brokerage meetings, and regular calls. We tap into these interpersonal networks constantly to share new opportunities, and these channels are often more effective than any online post.
Why It Works
Off-market is an effective way to test a home’s market value without public risk. If we get a flood of calls and showings, we know demand is strong and may even consider pricing higher. If there’s little interest, we gather valuable feedback—what buyers like, what holds them back—and adjust our positioning before going public. It’s like a mock exam before the real test.
We also host what we call a “Price Guess Game” during agent tours. For unique or hard-to-price homes, we invite top local agents for a private preview with catered snacks and drinks. They walk through the home, write down their estimated final sale price on their business cards, and drop them into a raffle box. The closest guess wins a gift card.
This process crowdsources an objective view of your home’s value. It also removes the bias—since it’s a game, agents aim to be accurate rather than lowball. We then share the range with you, so you have a strong benchmark before we go public.
**And here’s the thing—**our final sale price almost always lands at the higher end of the guesses, which is another testament to our marketing and negotiation strength.
If you’d like to explore whether off-market is right for your home—or want to see what the top agents and buyers would say about your home—just say Wen!