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Seller Can Ask For Blogging Comments To Be Blocked

Crofton MD Real Estate - Richard Iarossi Our local multiple listing service (MRIS) is adding several fields to the data input for new listings which will require mandatory input by the listing agent, in consultation with the seller. The description below sounded pretty interesting, and difficult to monitor.

"Seller Authorizes Blogging Features – This will default to YES and be a mandatory field. By choosing NO, the web site owner must turn off any comment or blogging feature used to provide feedback about the property. A blogging feature or comments is a tool on a web site which allows a consumer to post comments about the property. These comments may be viewed by other consumers."

I believe this is intended to comply with the DOJ case against NAR regarding VOW's.

While I don't think that many sellers would actually choose to block comments, how in the world can listing agents monitor this seller requirement if they do?

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

Posted by Richard Iarossi, Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate on 05/13/2009 06:29 AM

Comments (40)

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Originally posted at: mdrealestateblog.com: Seller Can Ask For Blogging Comments To Be Blocked

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40 Comments on Seller Can Ask For Blogging Comments To Be Blocked

MAY

Hi Richard, we also have these fields in our MLS system now as they relate to VOWs (which I don't think the majority of people don't understand what that really is but that's anothe rstory). Our listing agreements have also changed to include these options so the discussion will take place right at listing with sellers having to make the choices.

Heaven help us from the knee-jerk reactions due to lawsuits - that aren't thoroughly thought through prior to the passing as "law"!

Think about it - How much more does that cup of coffee cost at that national burger business due to a lawsuit when a customer spilled HOT coffee in their lap!? That business has to pay for the signage in the windows and the new printing "contents are HOT" on the coffee cups somehow!

I honestly can't think of any seller closing any avenue of advertisement of their property!

Sylvia, I'm OK with the VOW's but what about other sites that might allow comments. Some of this data is scraped from the internet, not provided by a feed. Active Rain comments may have to be disabled in some cases too.

I am not sure what the law suit was about. Why would a seller want to block comments . As Zsa Zsa says any publicity is good

Hi Richard ~ I definitely understand the impetus behind this. On any of the large more impersonal real estate sites - local or national - the conversation about real estate often gets quite nasty. Zip I think was the first site that I saw that invited comments rating a listing - no way!! I was outraged when I discovered that - still am actually. Having snarky comments online about a property does a seller no good at all. Absolutely as a seller I would opt for comments to be turned off if possible.

Liz

We have adopted something similar down here. Seller's aren't opting out of the blogging option but most major companies are making that decision "for" them which is preventing any blogging about listings on probably about 98% or more of our inventory. Most of our leaders freak out when it has anything to do with empowering agents.

ToulaRosebrock,com

Hi Richard:

I find it interesting the your MLS has that feature in the first place!

What a great idea...

The only thing that seller's can opt out on, is whether or not they want their actual address posted, when the property is uploaded onto the internet.

Receiving feedback is great! Why wouldn't a seller want feedback on the listing?

Rich...

More and more we drift from reality into the virtual world.

Featured in the Group "Whacked!!!"

Rich,

I don't understand the verbage, however, why would anyone who is selling not want feedback?

Richard can you provide a link so I can see what your are talking about. I have not heard of this feature. I would love to see it live so if I like it can pass along to our Board where I serve as a Director.

We do not have this feature that I know of but I'm sure we will soon. Very interesting-thanks for sharing.

This can be constructive ... and destructive. What if a buyer sees it on a bad day, i.e.- they cooked fish the night before? The problem is corrected and then what? The blog floats out there for other prospective buyers to see and base their decision to see the home on. Does the seller then sign on saying it is corrected? Could happen. Is this a situation of too much information available? I agree the seller needs feedback, but anonymous feedback can open a Pandora's box.

An awful lot of potential for spam, sarcastic comment, and downright nasty comments to appear, which would detract from the professionalism and usefulness of the feature. Can comments be made anonymously?

We haven't seen this yet in our MLS but I know it will be coming soon. Thanks for the preview!

Richard - I have no idea how they expect scraped data to be the responsibility of the LA. Sounds like blaming the the bullet.

Hi Richard...You're exactly right, it's for compliance regarding VOW's and IDX. There will be more changes coming along, some we won't like very much....but the hand was played and we must move forward.

Rich, I wish I could remember where I saw it, or the names of the sites, but there was talk recently about a couple of sites where people were posting extremely negative feedback comments about particular properties. It was something I scanned and intended to get back to, but obviously didn't, or I'd remember more about it. Anyway, there can be nasty people out there with vicious intent. In any event, it would be nearly impossible for the LA to monitor every site a post might show up on. Perhaps they are referring only to THAT agent's blog? The sites I'm thinking of were not agent's blogs, but sites geared just for consumers opinions on properties.

If I happen to remember anything more - I'll pass it on. Jeez, getting older is not for the faint of heart....

Debi

Congrats! Just noticed your feature!

I hear this is coming and I have to wonder.... is it really a good thing? Who really cares what lookie-loos have to say about a listing? Are they going to buy it? I think this just invites negative comments.

There is an old adage in advertising; even bad publicity is good publicity. Sellers hire brokers and agents to sell their home. Sellers expect their agent to use the newest and best tools available to create interest and buzz about their property.

Have we come too far when now we need to ask "Mother may I"? Blogging is a great tool to create the buzz. Unfortunately, blogging is also very transparent. While local agents can be very publically correct with their opinions, the consumer will tell the truth. If the home is priced too high, buyers will tell you the value is not there (cleaned up for public consumption).

One man's trash is another man's treasure. I don't trust the opinions of "all the people", and all consumers are not equipped to know how to value property, or what the cost is to make minor improvements. I have had buyers comment that they would never buy a property because of the pink walls, or the carpet color in a room. Fifty buyers have fifty opinions, and all are not equal. Interesting option about being able to turn off the blogging comments in certain markets.

I can see both the good and the bad in this. Allowing no comments prevents negative comments, but it prevents positive comments as well.

Interesting. I also have to wonder, with IDX, how the listing agent could possibly control all comments across the web on said listing.

MAY

Having left real estate in favor of copywriting about 6 years ago, I guess I missed something. I just read all these comments in hopes of learning "What in heck is a VOW?"

I see someone else said they didn't get the terminology, so guess I'm not the only one.

Somebody enlighten us please!

If you read it carefully, you will see that it is written for SEO on the word "blogging." Obviously a thinly veiled scheme to gain more Google Juice!

Marte, It stands for Virtual Office Website (I believe). And yes, it is all very confusing. I have been looking into what this new rule means for one of my clients. Essentially, a LA can do nothing about those who scrape sites or third party vendors that pull from the MRIS. It seems to only refer to those with DIRECT relationships with the MRIS and the LA him/herself.

Ideally the LA should tell their clients that it benefits them to use the blogging feature (if available), because a LA has more control over what shows up on his/her site than he/she does on a rogue site.

My 2 cents

Social networking thrives on drama and there are plenty of people who love to dish it out. Whether it's a book review on Amazon (not quite anonymous, but pretty close) or a blog on a real estate property, the fact that the comment is received shows someone is looking at it, I guess. Social networking has blurred the distinction between providing information and asking for validation. Journalism is no longer a business of reporting the facts, its more likely to be commentary to invite reaction.

Recently, I was trying to find funeral arrangement information for a former collegue of mine who had lived in another state. I Googled his name and location and immediately found an online article from a community newspaper which referred to him. The reporter described the victim of a commuter train fatality was a 56 year old financial planner with three children. Below that, over 25 anonymous comments aooeared, most of which were making fun of the tragedy. I hope they never see the article. Later I found the obituary which referred to the funeral home in charge of arrangements. I was invited to "post a comment" or remembrance on his life for all to see.

The ethical (and legal) debate over social networking boundaries has only just begun.

Liz is correct with her commenting points. I have also seen assine comments from people after posted local newspaper articles and I choose not to have that done to my listings. Once the info is out there in cyberspace, how can you retrieve it? You can't, so I don't allow it and I tell the seller so. The same with totally ridiculous ZILLOW reports that are also allowed! Why should I let an unproven, invalid website giving a mini-split second CMA on my listing? The numbers are never correct for my area. In fact, I've had a bad price experience with them and could not get it removed!

I actually applaud my MLS now with this great decision to let us choose instead of just throwing the listing into a feed over which we really have no control over. In the end, once it goes out in cyberspace, we loose control and the ability to remove our information. For once my MLS is being proactive instead of reactive.

This could open an entire new can of worms. Seems impossible to monitor if you have MANY listings.

The Georgia Association of Realtors listing contract changed on May 9 (with no real notice to the members... thats another story)

The "Marketing" paragraph gives a seller three options:

a) seller does not wish to have information about the property displayed on the internet

b) seller does not wish to have the address of the property identified on the internet, but does wish to have all other information about the property displayed on the internet

c) Seller does not wish for third parties to be able to write comments or reviews regarding the listing or display a hyperlink to such reviews on an internet website of a broker or affiliated licensee of a broker.

I assume this is also in response to the DOJ action. Just wish they be more proactive about educating members about the underlying issues involved. Our clients (for better or worse) rely on our explanations of these contracts, and I for one do not feel competent to accurately explain the issues in choice (c).

anyone want to help give be a succint summary?

We do not have this capability on our system, but I can see the reality of the situation you are facing. I think the Seller does have that right.

Sounds like you have a good MLS system. The privacy issues will only get worse and drive cost. I cannot imagine most people minding how we market thier property, just get it sold.

Richard: Our MLS has not addressed the issue of blogging yet. Sounds like you're part of a progressive, pro-active MLS. I agree with Gene: "Just get it sold!"

I can't think of a reason why a seller wouldn't want comments on their property, ever comment is a vote for that post and Google loves to see votes for a blog, the more points, the higher the rating on Google. Now, the agent can always delete bad comments, but I've never seen one.

goodness gracious, how am I to keep up, I haven't even begun to blog yet and already they are blocking me.

Shelton

I think this would be an interesting and potentially very helpful feature. It could give selling agents, consumers, and other users of this data perhaps a more realistic assessment of the listed property. Often views, quality of upgrades are overstated and proximity to negative land uses or other issues or understated.

Obviously, most everyone here sees the potential for anonymous users to abuse this. If there was a control, such as having to log in to the local MLS (subscription), than REALTORS and other professionals would carry the responsibility to be professional, while having the opportunity to contribute with their clients honest opinions and of course their own professional opinion.

--Andrew

Rich, I got your message. Sorry. I didn't mean that YOU were working the SEO angle. I was teasing the your MLS was trying to capialize on the blogging generation. Sorry for not being more clear.

MAY

I think this may be a good idea. At least on Activerain we can monitor the blog and delete bad comments. I just started a blog in the local online newspaper and don't allow for comments. Who wants to be upset by idiots?

MAY

Why would a seller not want feedback? Well - how about the possibility that a po-ed neighbor or other ne'er do well might post negative comments just for spite? How about some "helpful neighbors" posting comments that actually turn out to be negative ("our home was broken into last month...")

There are a whole SLEW of reasons why a seller would not want comments allowed on their property!

MAY

Well, I can understand the seller or the REALTOR to not want the entire public to see the feedback comments some buyers may have on their home as it can be negative comments and just that persons opinion. Which may in fact detour a great buyer from viewing the home based on someone else's opinion. But I also agree that we as a REALTOR have enough to worry about and cannot check every site out there and be responsible for some comments that may get posted without our knowledge.

This blog does not allow anonymous comments