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Ronny Geenen Licensed Real Estate Agent,  Glendora,  CA

Date: May 6, 2008

Our broker tells us to report MLS violations. For example someone has a listing as active, when in fact we know its pending or withdrawn. Or something as simple as a photo of the listing is not in the listing within the required time. I'm wondering how many of you click that button to report violations? If we don't report them, these listings are skewing our CMA #'s in some cases. Your thoughts?
 
As a Committee member of the MLS I think any violation should be reported.
This is the only way to clean up the MLS. We have even implemented hefty penalties.
 
RG
Southland Properties
211 N Glendora Ave.
Glendora, Ca 91741
 
 
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Linda k. Smith Licensed Real Estate Agent,  Los Angeles,  CA

Date: May 6, 2008

Sheila Cohen writes... Our broker tells us to report MLS violations........
 
You will see lots of Active/Pending violations if you get picky.  Some agents don't report the listing as pending until all the contingenices and/or inspections are over.  I feel they should show them Pending w Back Up Offers wanted.  However, when searching you search Actives not Pendings, so....??  Some MLSs drop Pending into the Expired if the Listing contract expires while in escrow.  In a busy Listing market it is  hard to keep track of every status and time limit if you don't have an automatic flag/calendar set up for each of your transactions. 
 
Some owners don't want pictures, some want lots of them.  That shouldn't be a violation.
 
Now doing things like adding an "a" or "b" or N./S. to an address to bring it back as New with no history, that definitely should be a violation.  Same with using different APN numbers if the property covers several lots.  Those I would report.
 
Lots of mistakes/violations are just typos.  A friendly call is better unless it is a deliberate "trick the system" violation.
 
For you to know that an Active listing is really Pending or Withdrawn that person would probably be in your office.  Best to just mention it to the Agent or your Broker.
 
Granted it will mess up the MLS's CMA, but you can tweak it or just use Excel and do your own.  Sometimes these are more impressive if you do it on Power Point.  Then you can manipulate the columns or numbers right there at your clients and play "what if" and back there "6 months ago" game.
 
But to answer your question, Yes, I report real violations.
 
Linda Smith, Realtor
& Property Manager
Dry Creek Realty
818-472-0090 Southern Calif.
209-745-4627 Central & Nor. Calif.

E-mail: Linda4properties@aol.com


Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food.
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Kris Coutant Licensed Real Estate Agent,  Hudson Falls,  NY

Date: May 6, 2008

I have to agree with Lindy. As Realtors® we need to police ourselves. The rules are there for all, not just those of us who choose to follow them. Unfortunately reporting the violations is only one part. The board also needs to enforce the rules. And a violation has to result in a fine that really hurts, or for repeat offenders, a suspension.

I love the idea of a button to click to report a violation. I have to confess some days I just don’t bother taking the time to call or email the board with the violation. Especially since I know it won’t change a thing. Do others have the same problem?

I can’t imagine what you have to do in our board to actually get fined. I can tell you it takes more that yard signs in the photos, lack of photos, listing agent contact info in the comment section and even sharing your login/password for the MLS system. One agent even listed a mortgage broker and contact numbers in a house that needed extensive renovations- that the house was perfect for a renovation mortgage and to contact so and so.

 

 Yes I know- if I am not happy with in, get involved with the board. I’m working on it. I am still fairly new – about a 1 ½ years doing this full time. So I am still working on building my business enough so my husband stops pointing out “real jobs” that I might want to apply for. Hopefully in another year I will be in a position where I can give the time commitment to serving on the board. In the meantime I do try to keep my witching to a minimum. J

Kris Coutant

Balfour Realty

Serving Upstate NY – Warren, Washington

            and Saratoga Counties

KrisCoutant@roadrunner.com

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INFO@homestahoe.com

Date: May 6, 2008

 
Yes report violations (agent name and number in public text the worse violation). Our Board and MLS committee take violations very seriously. With our Rappatoni system we just have to click on the report violation button and the violation is reported to the board who then notifies the listing agent and if it is not corrected they will be fined. With the increase in out of area agents joining the board and listing properties we see more and more violations especially photo violations. Michelle Benedict California Realtor/Owner Pinnacle Real Estate Group of Lake Tahoe www.homestahoe.com info@homestahoe.com 888 827-8957
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Amy Elftmann Licensed Real Estate Agent,  Seminole,  FL

Date: May 8, 2008

 
I wish she would do it or our admin would to give some anonymity.  To me, that's a major problem--the complainer's name is given immediately to the complainee.  Some agents who often place incorrect or incomplete info on the MLS are known for being hostile and aggressive, and I'm sure a lot of agents don't want to mess with them, therefore no complaint is made.  I really think the broker or board should step in instead of making the complainer take all the flack.
 
my prospects get a listing sent to them through the automated searches, ask to see it and then I have to tell them it's got a contract or is pending and wasn't labeled as such. They think I'm dumb or lying.   When prospects use the automated searches and come up with one that's under contract or otherwise unavailable, don't worry that they think you're dumb or lying.  Simply say, very gently, that the MLS is the only up-to-the-minute accurate source for information, and as much as the automated searches may try, they simply will never be quite as good as the MLS.
 
~~Amy
Amy Elftmann, REALTOR, e-PRO
Florida--St. Petersburg and the Gulf Beaches
(727) 365-2467
Century 21 Grant Realty of Florida, Inc.
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Melina Tomson Licensed Real Estate Broker,  OR

Date: May 9, 2008

I think I report about one listing a year for a violation. I focus on what I consider the biggies like saying the house is active, but then writing that we can't see it until a month from now, changing the address slightly, putting commissions in the address field, etc. Our MLS allows you to keep the active status as long as you write in the private remarks that their is an offer.

We do have a "correction" button as well, so I have emailed agents directly letting them know they made a "mistake" on their listing.  It kind of depends on how serious the violation is.

Melina Tomson, MS

Serving the Salem, OR Metro area
www.salemoregonrealestatehomes.com

melina@tomsonburnham.com
www.TomsonBurnham.com
ph: 503-371-6515
fax: 503-588-1628

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Ronny Geenen Licensed Real Estate Agent,  Glendora,  CA

Date: May 9, 2008

Here is our board MLS Citation Policy:

http://www.cvar.net/FormsInfo/MLS/RulesPolicies/tabid/310/EntryId/196/DMXModule/735/Download/inline/Default.aspx

Beside the above we have also a MLS Photo Violation Policy with the same Fine Schedule.
The MLS Citation Policy was implemented on 04/01/2005 and since that time we have seen a tremendous decrease in violations.
Many violators were high listing producers with many years of experience and a team behind them, who never read the MLS Rules & Regulations. We had some with 3 violations and that was costly.
And each listing has at the bottom a button to report to the board or MLS and they will notify the person of the violation. The reporting Realtor will not be involved. Also a panel of 3 Realtor members of the MLS Committee, who do not belong to the office of that Realtor, will determine the violation.

RG
Southland Properties
211 N Glendora Ave.
Glendora, Ca 91741
 
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Paul@SouthJerseyHomes.com

Date: May 9, 2008

 

I couldn't help but respond. I ALWAY click the little button in TREND our MLS to report suspected violations. Over the time that has been available I have probably used it a couple hundred times. When I am scheduling and a home shows active and they say it is not available to be shown for ANY reason I click it and report it. I make special pains to report violations that waste my time or the time of my clients.

Paul Howard, NJHomeBuyer.com Realty Cherry Hill

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Paul Silver,  Portsmouth,  RI

Date: May 12, 2008

my prospects get a listing sent to them through the automated searches, ask
to see it and then I have to tell them it's got a contract or is pending and
wasn't labeled as such. They think I'm dumb or lying. When prospects use
the automated searches and come up with one that's under contract or
otherwise unavailable, don't worry that they think you're dumb or lying.
Simply say, very gently, that the MLS is the only up-to-the-minute accurate
source for information, and as much as the automated searches may try, they
simply will never be quite as good as the MLS.

~~Amy

---

Of course, MLS is not accurate either, since like other sites, agents
frequently do not update listings as they should, or post incorrect
information... we see this quite frequently in the several markets we
operate in...

Paul Silver
Focus Professionals, Inc.

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Amy Elftmann Licensed Real Estate Agent,  Seminole,  FL

Date: May 13, 2008

That's too bad that there are so many errors in the MLSs.  Thankfully I haven't come across that many. Our local board is becoming more and more strict about violations in the local MLS.  Either way, I still think the MLS is better than the various sites that promise real estate listings that are just advertising culled--from where?-- and that are not as up-to-date and complete as the MLSs are (or are supposed to be).
 
~~Amy
 
Amy Elftmann, REALTOR
Florida--St. Petersburg and the Gulf Beaches
Century 21 Grant Realty of Florida, Inc.
(727) 365-2467
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