Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I contacted my agent about this. She stated our local MLS rules preclude posting online reviews of homes...
In my MLS, there is an option to allow public comments on 3rd party websites. I always check NO for my sellers. You need to check with your agent to see if she has to actually opt out of this. It's probably not an automatic thing.
Someone mentioned they felt it was considered marketing a property they aren't the listing agent on, and that's way trying to reach for a violation. The agent isn't marketing the property, merely providing a commentary to the listing.
In my MLS, there is an option to allow public comments on 3rd party websites. I always check NO for my sellers. You need to check with your agent to see if she has to actually opt out of this. It's probably not an automatic thing.
Someone mentioned they felt it was considered marketing a property they aren't the listing agent on, and that's way trying to reach for a violation. The agent isn't marketing the property, merely providing a commentary to the listing.
"Commentary" IS marketing.
That is why we have "comments" in our MLS listings.
Of course, Redfin is using the commentary to market their services, and that too is marketing.
And that marketing without permission was the cornerstone of the NAR action.
If the agent brings a client in to our home and they have feedback -- whether it can be construed as positive, negative or neutral -- I am happy to hear it when it is done in the proper manner, i.e., directly to me and my agent.
I'm not really "worried about it a lot", but I think they should not be in the business of potentially driving people away from viewing my home based on their cherry picking of which facts to reveal.
I also thought there were MLS rules against this sort of thing, but that they had chosen to ignore them. Perhaps I'm wrong.
Thanks for your advice. I will contact my agent.
Keep in mind a lot of reviews will be taken with a grain of salt—or ignored. Apartment complexes that suck still manage to get people renting their properties.
Why not call the agent who made the remark? If it is strongly negative, ask that it be removed. For example, if it says, located on a busy street, or in a 10 yr flood zone. If it is positive, leave it be. For example, nice hardwood floors. If it is useless also ask that it be removed, because it implies that is the only nice thing that can be said about it. For example, three bedrooms, 1.5 baths, attached garage.
Most MLS's allow syndication but not marketing. At what point does offering an opinion become marketing as Mike alluded to? Me- I don't know. That's for the powers that be to decide. File a complaint and let us know how it goes.
OP, when I recently sold a place I was asked by my agent if I wanted remarks as you mention to be displayed on Redfin, Trulia, etc. I said no. There was a form with a box to check. I was also asked if I wanted to show the "Z estimate" or make my place available to pull comps from what the sites deemed "similar" properties. Again, I checked "no." Perhaps your agent can help with this? I am not sure that an existing remark can be removed, but additional remarks may be prevented.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
