When I show properties to my buyer clients, I give them a printout of the data sheet from the HRAR MLS with lots of pertinent information about the property for sale.  This data sheet used to include a DAYS ON MARKET field that would show how long a property had been listed.  No longer....



The data sheet doesn't really say CLASSIFIED --- but the entire field is now gone.  The information is, however, on the Realtor version of the data sheet, which begs the question --- is this change solely to provide opportunities for small talk amongst shy buyers and timid Realtors?  Here's the Realtor version of the same data sheet....



As it has been explained to me, the DAYS ON MARKET field was taken off the buyer data sheet for a few reasons:

1. I could print the data sheet on Day 2 of a listing, leave it in a vacant home, and thoroughly confuse someone who comes in three months later and thinks that the house has been on the market for only two days.  Also, to a lesser extent, if I print the buyer data sheets on Monday for showings on Fridays, all of the data sheets will be inaccurate as it pertains to DAYS ON MARKET.
2. There is now a new field, shown above, called "Cumulative Days on Market" which shows how long a property has been listed by any Realtor, even if the listing agent has recently changed, or if the property temporarily came off the market.  (Read more here:  Harrisonburg / Rockingham MLS Changes Days On Market Accounting Practices). 
   

Whether I agree with it or not, I have already had some feedback from buyers who are frustrated that they can't immediately view that information themselves.  Apparently they would prefer not to speak to me or ask me any questions.  :)  Only time will tell whether this is a helpful change in our local MLS --- for now, I'll be reading that data aloud to lots of buyers as we go through each house.