This training walks you through how to use Zenlist to enter and manage Coming Soon listings so they syndicate to major public portals before hitting the MLS.

The goal is simple. More exposure, earlier. More control for your sellers. More opportunities for your buyers.

This is not a replacement for MLS. It’s a strategic pre-marketing tool you use when it makes sense.

Why This Matters

For Sellers

• Pre-market the home before MLS launch

• Build early demand and momentum

• Reach a wider audience across major portals

• Test pricing, positioning, and interest

• Maintain flexibility before going fully live

For Buyers

• See homes earlier than MLS

• Access more inventory in tight markets

• Gain time to evaluate and prepare

• Compete more effectively

Where Listings Syndicate

When you publish a Coming Soon listing in Zenlist, it syndicates to:

• Homes.com

• Realtor.com

• ComeHome

Additional portals may be added over time.

When to Use Coming Soon

Use this strategy when the seller needs:

• Early exposure without full commitment

• Time to prepare the home

• Market feedback before going live

• A soft launch to build demand

Do not use this as a default. Some properties should go straight to MLS.

Compliance First

Before doing anything:

• Follow your local MLS rules

• Follow your state broker guidelines

• Confirm showing restrictions

• Confirm Clear Cooperation requirements

There is no universal rule. Every market is different.

If you skip this step, you create risk.

Getting Started in Zenlist

Step 1: Access Your Listings

• Log into Zenlist (desktop or mobile)

• Go to My Listings

Step 2: Create a New Listing

• Click New Listing

• Select eXp

• Choose property type

Building the Listing

Enter the core details:

• Property address

• Listing status → set to Coming Soon

• Beds, baths, property details

• Public remarks (this is your listing description)

• Photos

• Expiration date (your planned MLS go-live date)

Draft Mode (Important)

Every listing starts as a draft.

That means:

• Nothing is public yet

• Nothing syndicates

• You can leave and come back anytime

• Zenlist auto-saves everything

Use this to your advantage. Build it correctly before going live.

Required Fields and Review

Zenlist will show:

• Missing fields (required)

• Completed fields

Before publishing:

• All required fields must be filled

• System checks for errors

When ready:

• Click Review and Publish Changes

• Confirm

• Then publish

Only then does it go live and syndicate.

After You Publish

You can still edit the listing anytime.

You can:

• Add or change photos

• Update status

• Adjust details

• Remove or revise content

Everything is managed inside My Listings.

Zenlist Setup (If Not Done Yet)

• Zenlist is included with eXp at no cost

• No limit on listings

• No credit card required

Inside your account:

• Add eXp Listings

• Then add your local MLS

Both can exist together.

Common Questions

Can I show the home during Coming Soon?

Depends on your MLS. Some allow it, some don’t. Check first.

Do I have to go live in MLS within a certain timeframe?

Depends on Clear Cooperation rules in your market.

Do leads from portals go to me?

Not confirmed in training. Verify before relying on it.

Can I import from MLS instead of re-entering?

Sometimes. Depends on MLS data sharing. Test the clone feature.

Should I delete my Zenlist account if it’s not working?

No. Fix it. Deleting usually creates more issues.

Best Practices

• Build the listing fully before publishing

• Use high-quality photos and strong remarks

• Align your Coming Soon timeline with your marketing plan

• Coordinate with your TC before going live

• Confirm compliance every time

How This Fits Into Your Strategy

This is one more tool in your listing strategy.

Use it alongside:

• MLS launch strategy

• Pre-marketing campaigns

• Database outreach

• Social media promotion

At The Cliff Freeman Group, we don’t rely on one channel. We stack exposure.

Turning Coming Soon Into Your Competitive Advantage

Most agents will treat this like a feature.
Top agents use it like a strategy.

This is where you separate.

The Real Play

Coming Soon is not about “listing early.”

It’s about:

• Controlling attention

• Creating demand before supply hits the market

• Positioning your seller as the opportunity, not one of many

If you just input a listing and wait, you’re missing it.

1. Build Demand Before MLS

Your goal is not exposure. Your goal is pent-up demand.

By the time it hits MLS:

• Buyers already know it

• Agents already have clients lined up

• You’re not introducing the home, you’re releasing it

That’s leverage.

2. Control the Narrative

The first version of a listing wins.

Use Coming Soon to:

• Frame pricing

• Highlight upgrades

• Set expectations

You’re telling the market what this home is worth before anyone else does.

3. Create Urgency Without Pressure

You don’t need pushy tactics.

The timeline does the work:

• “Not live yet”

• “Showings coming soon”

• “Going live Monday”

That naturally creates:

• Curiosity

• Scarcity

• Action

If you want this to work, run it like a launch.

Phase 1: Build the Asset (Before Publishing)

• Professional photos ready

• Strong property description written

• Pricing strategy dialed in

• Timeline set

Do not rush this. Weak inputs kill momentum.

Phase 2: Go Live in Zenlist

• Publish as Coming Soon

• Confirm syndication

• Verify everything looks clean on portals

This is your “soft launch.”

Phase 3: Activate Your Network (Same Day)

Immediately:

• Send to your database

• Text your active buyers

• Share with your sphere

• Push to your team

Script it simple:
“This one isn’t live yet, but it’s coming. Want details before everyone else sees it?”

Phase 4: Agent-to-Agent Leverage

This is where most agents fail.

• Share in agent groups

• Message top agents in your farm

• Call agents with active buyers

You’re not marketing a listing. You’re feeding opportunities.

Phase 5: Social + Retargeting

• Post “Coming Soon” content

• Use countdown messaging

• Highlight features, not just photos

Goal:
Make buyers feel like they found something early.

Phase 6: MLS Launch = Release Day

When it hits MLS:

• You already have interest

• You already have showings lined up

• You already have conversations started

That’s how you compress days on market and increase leverage.

What Most Agents Do (And Why It Fails)

They:

• Enter the listing

• Hit publish

• Do nothing else

Result:

• No traction

• No urgency

• No advantage

That’s not a strategy. That’s data entry.

What Top Agents Do Differently

They treat Coming Soon like a campaign.

They:

• Plan the rollout

• Control timing

• Drive traffic intentionally

• Stack exposure layers

That’s how you win.

Positioning With Sellers

This is where it becomes a listing tool.

You can say:

“We don’t just list your home. We launch it.”

Then explain:

• Early exposure strategy

• Buyer demand buildup

• Controlled release into the market

Tie it back to outcomes:

• More attention

• Better offers

• Stronger negotiating position

That aligns directly with your value proposition in your listing roadmap

Simple Script for Clients

“We’re going to put your home in front of buyers before it ever hits MLS.
That way, when we go live, we’re not starting from zero, we already have demand.”

Guardrails (Don’t Skip These)

• Always confirm MLS rules first

• Align your timeline with compliance

• Don’t publish early just to “try it”

• Don’t overpromise exposure without a plan

Strategy without compliance creates problems.

Bottom Line

Zenlist Coming Soon is not the advantage.

The way you use it is.

If you:

• Build demand early

• Control the narrative

• Activate your network

You walk into MLS launch with leverage.

That’s the difference between listing a home and actually marketing one.

But the tech is simple. The strategy and compliance are what matter.

Use it intentionally.