> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.fortifylistings.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How Fortify Works: From Address to Active MLS Listing

> Walk through every step of the Fortify listing process — from entering your address to closing day — with a licensed broker at every stage.

Most flat-fee listing services ask you to fill out a long form before you've seen what you're getting. Fortify works differently: a licensed broker prepares your listing preview first, so you can evaluate the actual product before you select a plan or sign anything. From there, the process moves at your pace — with broker review built into every submission stage and your listing typically live on the MLS within 24 hours of your final approval.

## The full process, step by step

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enter your address — nothing else yet">
    Go to [app.fortifylistings.com/start](https://app.fortifylistings.com/start) and enter your property address. That's all you need to do to get started. No account, no credit card, no plan selection, and no long intake form. Fortify uses your address to pull public property records and begin preparing your listing preview.

    This step takes about 30 seconds and carries zero commitment.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Receive your free listing preview">
    Fortify's team pulls public property data for your address, drafts an MLS-formatted listing, and has a licensed broker review it for accuracy and compliance before delivering it to you. You receive a complete draft — formatted exactly as buyer agents and buyers will see it on Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin — typically the same day you enter your address.

    You're not asked for any decision at this stage. Just review what you'd be getting.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review your listing preview">
    Open your preview and evaluate it on its own merits. The preview shows you the listing copy, property details, and MLS formatting before you've committed to anything. If everything looks accurate, you move forward. If something needs correcting — square footage, bedroom count, property features — you'll have the opportunity to update those details once you're inside the platform.

    This is the moment Fortify earns your confidence before asking for anything in return. There is no obligation to proceed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose your plan and sign the listing agreement">
    Once you're ready to move forward, select the plan that fits your sale:

    * **Essentials — \$995 at closing.** MLS entry, syndication, and 25 photos. For confident sellers who will manage showings and negotiations independently.
    * **Pro — \$2,495 at closing.** Everything in Essentials plus electronic lockbox, ShowingTime automated scheduling, unlimited edits, broker pricing review, and priority support. Most sellers choose Pro.
    * **Elite — from \$3,995 at closing.** Everything in Pro plus broker guidance for offer review, negotiation, inspection response, and closing coordination.

    After selecting your plan, you review and sign your listing agreement digitally. It's the same agreement published on the Fortify website before you ever entered your address — no new terms appear at this step.

    <Tip>
      You can upgrade from Essentials to Pro or Elite — or from Pro to Elite — at any point during your listing period with no upgrade fees and no penalties. Start lean if you prefer; add support as your sale develops.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Answer a few clarifying questions in the platform">
    Now that you're in the platform, Fortify asks for the details that public records don't contain: your asking price, buyer-agent compensation amount, property photos, required seller disclosures, and your showing preferences. This is a short, guided process — most sellers complete it in under fifteen minutes.

    **You provide:**

    * Asking price and buyer-agent compensation amount
    * Property photos (up to your plan's limit)
    * Required seller disclosures
    * Showing preferences and access instructions

    **Fortify handles:**

    * MLS field formatting and compliance structuring
    * Required disclosure formatting
    * Step-by-step guidance through each input
  </Step>

  <Step title="Broker review and your final approval">
    Before anything goes to the MLS, a licensed broker reviews your completed listing for MLS rule compliance, disclosure completeness, listing field accuracy, and photo quality. If anything needs attention, Fortify will reach out — most listings clear this stage without changes.

    Once the broker approves the listing, you see the final version and give your explicit sign-off. Nothing goes live until you have reviewed and approved it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Your listing goes live everywhere buyers search">
    Within approximately 24 hours of your approval, your listing is active in your local Florida MLS and syndicated to Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, Homes.com, and 100+ additional sites. Buyer agents can see it, request showings, and submit offers — exactly the same as any traditionally listed home.

    Your listing appears identical to every other active MLS listing. Buyer agents cannot tell from the MLS that it was listed through Fortify rather than a full-commission agent.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Showings, offers, and closing">
    From here, your level of support depends on the plan you selected. Pro and Elite sellers have showing requests routed through ShowingTime automatically, with an electronic lockbox handling agent access. Elite sellers receive direct broker guidance when offers arrive — including offer review, response strategy, negotiation support, inspection guidance, and closing coordination.

    Essentials sellers manage showings and negotiations directly, with the seller portal always available.

    At closing, your Fortify flat fee is settled from your sale proceeds — exactly the way a buyer-agent commission is handled on your closing disclosure. There are no surprise charges and nothing due before that moment.

    <Note>
      You can upgrade your plan at any point during your active listing — including after you receive an offer. If you're on Essentials and want broker guidance reviewing an offer, upgrade to Elite before responding. No upgrade fees apply.
    </Note>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Roles & responsibilities

Fortify is not a hands-off filing service, and it's not a full-service agent. Here's exactly where the lines are drawn — consistent across all plans.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="What you control" icon="user">
    * Setting and adjusting your asking price
    * Deciding whether to offer buyer-agent compensation and how much
    * Approving or declining showing requests (Essentials)
    * Reviewing, accepting, rejecting, or countering offers
    * Deciding which offer to accept
    * Managing inspection requests and repair negotiations
    * Communicating directly with buyers and buyer agents
  </Card>

  <Card title="What Fortify handles" icon="building">
    * Preparing your listing preview before any commitment
    * Licensed broker review at every submission stage
    * MLS entry and compliance verification
    * Syndication to Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, and 100+ sites
    * Electronic lockbox setup (Pro & Elite)
    * ShowingTime scheduling configuration (Pro & Elite)
    * Offer review and negotiation guidance (Elite)
    * Closing coordination guidance (Elite)
    * Support throughout — you're never left on your own
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Frequently asked questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How long does it take to get my listing live?">
    Most listings go live within 24 hours of your final approval. The timeline has two phases: Fortify prepares your listing preview typically the same day you enter your address. Once you've signed your agreement and submitted your listing details, broker review usually completes within a few hours during business hours. From your final approval to MLS activation is typically same-day.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if my preview listing has wrong information?">
    Your preview is built from public property records, which aren't always perfectly current. You'll have the opportunity to correct anything — square footage, bedroom and bathroom count, property features, and any other detail — once you're inside the platform. Nothing is submitted to the MLS until you've reviewed and approved the final version, so any inaccuracies in the preview are caught and corrected before your listing goes live.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I change my plan after I've started?">
    Yes. You can upgrade from Essentials to Pro or Elite, or from Pro to Elite, at any point during your listing period. There are no upgrade fees and no penalties. Many sellers start with Essentials and upgrade to Pro once showings begin and they want the ShowingTime automation and lockbox. If you receive an offer and want broker guidance reviewing it, you can upgrade to Elite at that point — even before you respond to the offer.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if my home doesn't sell?">
    You pay nothing. Fortify's flat fee is due only upon a successful closing. If you cancel before accepting an offer, the only charge is a \$149 processing fee. If your listing expires or you withdraw before any offer is accepted, no flat fee is owed. There is no other scenario in which you owe Fortify money.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>