Link to this site: <a href="http://www.freethemls.com">Amend the NAR Code of Ethics</a>
Sarasota Association of Realtors - not Friendly to its Own
Author: Ryan Ward | October 20, 2008
Well, the Sarasota Association of REALTORS has gone and used article 12 to take down one of its own members, Marc Rassmussen. Fotunately, Marc has been planning for some time a new website - just in case. Marc’s new Sarasota real estate website has been in the works and many friends across the web have been supportive of his efforts to pick up where is own association left off.
After a drawn out fight with the ethics comitee (which Marc apparently one), the association went off and went to ICANN to block Marc from using thesarasotamls.com. You can read more about the case on Ryan Giles blog here. Freethemls.com was originally started as a place for us to petition the NAR to recind the language in Article 12 that allows for local boards to try to work over their own members and has morphed into a place where we can help our own where our national board will not. I’ve taken this opportunity to help Marc and ask that anyone else out there reading this helps as well, if they have time, by writing about this or to otherwise link to Marc’s new website www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com so that we can help where the National Association of REALTORS simply will not.
After telling us back in 2002 that using terms like “mls” in our domains and other marketing materials would be a good strategy, they have now changed their tune (why, really?) and have left numerous agents around the country open to the possibility of losing a significant portion of their livelihoods by allowing local MLS boards to take away from them something that they themselves have no right to.
Ryan Ward, REALTOR - Atlanta real estate - 404.630.3187
Topics: MLS |
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No Updates on NAR Changing These Rules and Ethics Issues
Author: Ryan Ward | September 30, 2008
I haven’t posted anything up here in some time because I really don’t have any new information so if there is anyone out there with anything, please post some comments. Until we have something more clear, I would recommend staying away from “MLS” type domains and focus on link building with other terms as anchor text such as Atlanta real estate instead of words such as Atlanta MLS.
I find it more than unfortunate that the organization that used to give us advice to use “MLS” is now the organization that allows us to get burned. There may be some news coming from some cases that have taken place and others that are ongoing so over the next month and if I have anything new to add, I will be sure to post it.
Topics: Uncategorized |
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Petition Update
Author: Ryan Ward | March 28, 2008
Just a quick update to everyone. Thank all of you for the support we have received thus far with the petiton. An update is that we currently have about 265 signatures with about 40 of those unverified. If you haven’t signed the petition yet, please take the time to do so. We need all of the support that we can get from concerned agents and brokers around the country and you can help by writing about and linking to us from your websites and/or blogs.
Rememebr that if we do not take a stand here, someone else will be calling to sell you a lead that at one time was a consumer who was looking for information from a real estate professional about a home and instead got picked up by a third party vendor because we cannot use “MLS” who in turned sold the lead.
I really need someone to tell me how that helps the consumer. One thing it does do is add another layer of costs to the transaction and that is never a good thing for the consumer.
Step up and help now!
Topics: MLS |
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Email to Send to NAR Members
Author: Ryan Ward | December 4, 2007
We ask that you send a copy of this letter to local REALTORS® in your area
Dear NAR (National Association of REALTORS®) member,
Please take a moment to read this letter as the information is very important to the ways in which we (agents and brokers) are permitted to market in the highly competitive internet marketplace. The NAR passed an amendment to Article 12 which can prohibit the use of the term ‘MLS’ in our marketing materials. The implications of this amendment will have a detrimental effect on our ability to compete on a level playing field with non-members as well as to make it more difficult to provide the public with a “true picture” of MLS listings. Here is a copy of the newly passed amendment:
- Four New Standards of Practice to Article 12
Recognizing that more and more advertising and business is being conducted via the Internet, this new Standard provides:
- 1) REALTOR® firm websites shall disclose the firm’s name and state(s) of licensure in a reasonable and readily apparent manner.Websites of REALTORS® and non-member licensees affiliated with a REALTOR® firm shall disclose the firm’s name and that REALTOR®’s or nonmember licensee’s state(s) of licensure in a reasonable and readily apparent manner.2) The obligation to present a true picture in representations to the public includes information presented, provided or displayed on REALTORS®’ websites. REALTORS® shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that information on their websites is current. When it becomes apparent that information on a REALTOR®’s website is no longer current or accurate, REALTORS® shall promptly take corrective action.3) REALTORS® intending to share or sell consumer information gathered via the Internet shall disclose that possibility in a reasonable and readily apparent manner.
4) REALTORS® obligation to present a true picture in their advertising and representations to the public includes the URLs and domain names they use, and prohibits REALTORS® from:
a. engaging in deceptive or unauthorized framing of real estate brokerage websites;b. manipulating (e.g. presenting content developed by others) listing content in any way that produces a deceptive or misleading result;c. deceptively using metatags, keywords, or other devices/methods to direct, drive or divert Internet traffic, or to otherwise mislead consumers.This leaves open to interpretation for individual MLS boards to dissallow the use of the term MLS anywhere on our websites.
We feel that it is imperative that the NAR clarify this position and allow all REALTORS® to use the term MLS on our websites as it is a true picture because the information displayed is in fact data delivered from the MLS.
The Consequences:
The Consequences to us as agents and brokers who are members of the NAR are that we will lose the ability to:
- Market directly to buyers using a term that they are already familiar with.
- Be unable to compete, on a level plating field with non-member agents and brokers as well as third party websites who do not have access to the MLS data feed that we use on our websites, but, will be able to usurp us in the ever important ability to be found on the search engines. They will have free reign to market for this term because consumers use it. This fact alone should serve as reason enough to protect and preserve the use of ‘MLS’ by NAR members across the country.
Our ability to use and market the term ‘MLS’ is the very best way that we can provide a “true picture” of real estate listings to the consumer.
Please take a moment to pass this email on to as many agents and brokers that you can and don’t forget to sign the petition to have NAR rescind the amendment.
Thank you for your time,
Topics: Code of Ethics, MLS |
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Petition to NAR (National Association of REALTORS®)
Author: Ryan Ward | November 29, 2007
Fellow members of NAR (National Association of REALTORS®)… We need your help!
Our primary order of business is to provide insight and education on a recent addition to Article 12 of the National Association of REALTORS® code of ethics.
Our goal is to have this addition modified to clarify and strengthen our position as REALTORS® in the rapidly changing world of online real estate.
It is our opinion that this recent change to Article 12 of the REALTOR® code of ethics does a disservice to member brokers, agents and consumers as a whole by denying access to a term that has long been understood as a primary marketing tool for customers to buy and sell properties throughout the United States and Canada.
We seek to protect this most valuable asset by having the new code of ethics revision allow REALTORS® to continue to use the term MLS in all marketing materials. We firmly believe that the use of the term MLS does in fact provide consumers with a “true picture” of the MLS.
The consequences of disallowing the use of the term MLS are such that it permit other non-member entities and businesses to usurp the term thereby diluting the ”true” meaning of the term MLS.
In an effort to help to protect consumers, the NAR has set on a path of unintended consequences which will be more detrimental to the consumer than the intent of the initial change.
Topics: MLS |
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