MLS

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Date: August 23, 2007, Number of Replies: 54

I was talking to a woman whom had her house for sale by owner. In between times I spoke to her she had talked to a gentleman who she ended up giving 300.00 to put her house on the MLS. Naturally I checked the MLS and her house is not listed. Being a new agent I was stumped and somehow, I don't remember how, I stumbled across websites saying for a certain amount of money they will give you a sign for your yard, forms to sell your house, and if you pay enough you can even get a key box, lock box, to keep. On the websites I checked they said your house would be on the same MLS that your broker uses. The woman I spoke to thought she was on the national MLS. If I had not been a realtor I would not have known the difference. And we wonder why realtors have a bad name, grouped with used car dealers. How can these realtors get by with this? Am I showing my ignorance or does anyone else feel this isn't right?

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Ronny Geenen Licensed Real Estate Agent, Glendora, CA

Date: August 23, 2007

Sabra wrote:

I was talking to a woman whom had her house for sale by owner. In between times I spoke to her she had talked to a gentleman who she ended up giving 300.00 to put her house on the MLS. Naturally I checked the MLS and her house is not listed. Being a new agent I was stumped and somehow, I don't remember how, I stumbled across websites saying for a certain amount of money they will give you a sign for your yard, forms to sell your house, and if you pay enough you can even get a key box, lock box, to keep. On the websites I checked they said your house would be on the same MLS that your broker uses. The woman I spoke to thought she was on the national MLS. If I had not been a realtor I would not have known the difference. And we wonder why realtors have a bad name, grouped with used car dealers. How can these realtors get by with this? Am I showing my ignorance or does anyone else feel this isn't right?

You are right. Those are the bad Realtors.

You can not add a property to the MLS without a signed listing agreement.

I would go back to the FSBO and ask her, if she has a written agreement based on the $300 she paid. If she has, report that agent to the MLS.

If not, ask her to contact that Realtor and let him/her explain.

She can also file a complain at that MLS board.

Ronny Geenen
Southland Properties
211 N Glendora Ave
Glendora, CA 91741
Http://CaFoothillsRealEstate.com
Mailto:Ronny@RonnyGeenen.com
Cell: 626-278-2205

"The degree of civil liberty is not measured by the way the state treats millions of those who agree with it, but rather how it treats a dozen who don't". by Ludvík Vaculík

If you received this email in error, please contact the sender via e-mail or at 626-914-6999 and destroy all copies of this message and any attachments. Thank you.

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David Jones Licensed Real Estate Agent, IL

Date: August 24, 2007

I was talking to a woman whom had her house for sale by owner. In between times I spoke to her she had talked to a gentleman who she ended up giving 300.00 to put her house on the MLS. Naturally I checked the MLS and her house is not listed.

It’s the old saying that you get what you pay for. Buyer be ware. As for being legal, could be, for being ethical no.

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Lynnette Hajek Licensed Real Estate Agent, WI

Date: August 24, 2007

How can these realtors get by with this?

In Wisconsin its call a Limited Service Listing. These have become more and more popular with sellers. We have had Limited Service Brokers prevalent for about the last 2-3 years. Most of them do just that where the Seller pays a fee of $300 to $500 and then the LSB places it in MLS and gives them a post sign for the yard. Sellers take all appointments, negotiates all contracts themselves or with the aid of an attorney and still pay a commission. The Limited Service Broker does very little. A lot of traditional Realtors questioned it when it started and the MLS conformed and put a Limited Service box on the profile sheet so that everyone knows it is a Limited Service Listing.

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Steve Ervin Real Estate Lender, Largo, FL

Date: August 24, 2007

Sabra wrote:

I was talking to a woman whom had her house for sale by owner. In between times I spoke to her she had talked to a gentleman who she ended up giving 300.00 to put her house on the MLS. Naturally I checked the MLS and her house is not listed. Being a new agent I was stumped and somehow, I don't remember how, I stumbled across websites saying for a certain amount of money they will give you a sign for your yard, forms to sell your house, and if you pay enough you can even get a key box, lock box, to keep. On the websites I checked they said your house would be on the same MLS that your broker uses. The woman I spoke to thought she was on the national MLS. If I had not been a realtor I would not have known the difference. And we wonder why realtors have a bad name, grouped with used car dealers. How can these realtors get by with this? Am I showing my ignorance or does anyone else feel this isn't right?

What exactly is the "national MLS"?

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Melina Tomson Licensed Real Estate Broker, OR

Date: August 24, 2007

It is a limited service listing and I know that sellers sometimes get confused. I know someone who paid to be on the MLS who lived in Salem. Unfortunately they did a limited rep with a Portland based company who put them on the RMLS and not the WVMLS. So while they were on a MLS, it was not the right one to get agents to know about thier home. Most people don't realize that MLS's are regional for the most part.

It is confusing for sellers who are not internet saavy, as they think Realtor.com is a national MLS. Some sellers do just fine with limited representation listings, but most people really don't understand how the system works or how much effort it takes to sell a home. fsbo.com and forsalebyowner.com offer a referral service to limited representation companies to get on the MLS.

There is a large assumption that the agent did not explain the paperwork or the limited nature of the service. While this may be true, I know that I completely explain everything to clients and some people just don't get things. It took me 4 HOURS one time to explain an offer to a client. This may be a bad agent, or someone who just doesn't get things. It really is the seller's responsibility to READ and understand what they are signing. Agents can only do so much.

Melina Tomson, MS
ABR, e-PRO
melina@tomsonburnham.com
www.TomsonBurnham.com
ph: 503-371-6515
fax: 503-588-1628

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land1942

Date: August 25, 2007

In Wisconsin its call a Limited Service Listing

Back in August, 2004, when some Illinois Brokers got really excited about getting up front fees for just putting a listing in MLS, the state of Illinois passed a law which required minimum standards. To wit:

1) Explaining agency and all related documents that the seller signs.

2) Negotiating all contracts (no more having the buyer's agent directly negotiate).

3) Handling all the paperwork thorough to closing.

So, those brokers who tried doing nothing but getting the listing into MLS very quickly closed up shop.

During that time period I sold one of these types of listings...and the alleged broker refused to sign the Federal Lead Paint disclosure, because he said that he didn't have to! And, I just found out that if EPA audits your files and finds unsigned or non-initialed lead paint forms their fines are really huge.

Illinois now also requires that all licensed brokers take 18 hours of CE...and six of those hours are a new mandatory class, Broker Management. You'd be surprised how many agents with broker's licenses have no idea of the rules, regulations or law governing their business. But, then again, you might not!

Cordially,

Eileen Landau, ABR, CRS, e-Pro
Realty Executives, Realtors
Naperville, Il 60540
Over 800 homes sold!
630-961-2600 & 630-961-2700
www.MoveUPtoNaperville.blogspot.com
www.MoveUPtoNaperville.com
www.EileenLandau.com

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Helen@HRCProperties.com

Date: August 25, 2007

“It is a limited service listing and I know that sellers sometimes get confused.”

There seems to be some concerned regarding the limited service rep. being a new trend. It has been around since the beginning of brokerage and probably is now coming to the forefront of REALTORS® windows. Here in Virginia, the state just implemented regulations that require the agents to disclose the fact there is the availability of limited service brokerage and it must be in bold in the agreement. Also if you do limited service you must explain what you will be doing and have the seller check off. YOU MUST inform the seller and provide forms to them of any required disclosures (Lead base paint, property disclosure/disclaimer/HOA/Condo docs, etc.).Our VAR has instituted new forms for this also. Local Associations are also discussing new forms. Being a member of Northern VA Association of REALTORS standard forms committee, I can say that we have discussed this and decided to use the VAR form for now with possibility of instituting one in the coming year. All licensed agents are now required to take 2 hours of CE on limited service before their next license renewal. Our licenses are renewed every 2 year.

Helen Chapman, CMCA, ePRO, ASP

Broker, HRC Properties, LLC

Falls Church, VA 22046

703-237-7344 (O)

hrcproperties@mris.com

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Deede Wockenfuss Licensed Real Estate Agent, Chandler, AZ

Date: August 26, 2007

Helen Chapman writes,

All licensed agents are now required to take 2 hours of CE on limited service before their next license renewal. Our licenses are renewed every 2 year.

As a former Top Producer in Leesburg, VA (pre-1994), I am astounded that the VAR has seen fit to have a form disclosing 'limited service'. My company, Assist 2 Sell, is routinely confused with these companies by other agents. To have to 'disclose' their existance puts my company, which is the same as any other full service company (we just have a set flat fee for the listing side) in jeapardy by association.

I know that I sound like the proverbial cheerleader for the Assist 2 Sell model, but I am sick and tired of having my company blatantly lied about. My sellers tell me daily how other companies put us in the same catagory of 'limited services' which could not be further from the truth.

Now, I have not seen this form from VAR, but does it specify only the companies that just put the home in MLS and do nothing else? Or does it disdinguish between the 100's of models out there that could be misconstrued as 'limited service'? Quite frankly, this 'disclosure' could be more discriminatory than doing nothing at all.

In your class on 'limited service companies' are you going to teach that Assist 2 Sell, and other similar models are FULL SERVICE, but just cost less?

As the owner of a 'discount company', NOT a 'limited service' company, I am just not comfortable with the development of this form.
--
Deede Wockenfuss
Marketing Manager
Assist 2 Sell, Buyers and Sellers Best Choice
Go To:
www.4GilbertHomes.Com
for your FREE "Real-Time MLS Market Report!

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Hank Roeters Licensed Real Estate Broker, Darien, IL

Date: August 26, 2007

Eileen Landau wrote:

Illinois now also requires that all licensed brokers take 18 hours of CE...and six of those hours are a new mandatory class, Broker Management. You'd be surprised how many agents with broker's licenses have no idea of the rules, regulations or law governing their business. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Eileen is right. I have a Brokers License, but am not a managing Broker. I took the Broker Management course on Friday and was shocked to learn what the fine is for not having both agent's signature on the lead paint disclosure. I also wasn't aware that the EPA could audit those records.

Hank Roeters, ABR, GRI, e-Pro
Broker Associate
Platinum Partners Realtors
http://www.HankRoeters.com
Hank@HankRoeters.com
Dupage County and Chicago's western Suburbs

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