An MLS rule needs to change

The problem with needing permission is it becomes "The Good Old Boy" network.  New business models are less likely to GET permission, and leaves them at a disadvantage.  Something the DOJ frowns upon.

How do you pick whom you want to leave out in the cold? 

Not a good answer.

Pointing out both the strenths and weaknesses is the problem.  It sounds "fair", but a seller only wants to see their best foot forward in print.

Can you imagine a property flyer with the homes weaknesses listed?  That's what a blog article would do.  If not in the post itself, then in the comments.

Similar to the Q & A problems of Zillow.  Sellers would have to own their negatives.  We all know most don't. 

Bill,

I think the two sides of real estate representation need to be delineated. When an agent takes a listing, they are agreeing to market and sell the property for the seller to the best of their ability, as the listing agent. A buyer's agent brings the buyer. Right now the social dynamic is biased against realtors, that we don't provide enough value, etc. Hypothetically speaking, as a buyer's agent, I need to display my intimate market knowledge to show value to clients. Possibly the best way to do that is by blogging about the community and local listings. Listing Agents stand to gain because their listings can now receive far more attention and marketing, for free! And listing agents still get paid once the sale closes. It seems that if a listing agent were truly watching out for the interest of the seller, they would welcome extra marketing and appreciate the attention their listings receive.

It would be important to be transparent - i.e., be sure the reader knows that it is not the blogger's listing (unless it is, of course).

At least one agent I know comments on houses he previews on his website, but in a section that is password protected so that only his buyer clients can see the blog - he just puts it on his site because it's easier than calling the buyer to tell them what he thinks of the homes he's previewed.

Jonathan, I offer the following points for your consideration with respect to an MLS rule.

• The listing contract creates a contractual realtionship between the consumer and the Agency or Brokerage or however it called in the legislation governing the profession in the applicable jurisdiction.
• Listing contracts may give the Agency or Brokerage the right to advertise the consumer's property for sale.
• Licensees / salespeople employed by the Agency or Brokerage must adhere to the policies of the Agency or Brokerage. This would include policies about advertisng the listings of the Agency or Brokerage.
• Any rules of a Multiple Listing Service are subordinate to the governing legislation and the listing contract.

Jonathan, I checked out the blog post on Socketsite and the poster's identity is unknown so I'm assuming the blogger/poster is not licensed, merely a member of the public.
What you are talking about in this post is licensees / REALTORS® blogging about the listings of other licensees / REALTORS®, isn't it?

Jonathan - I guess I take a different view of the rules on this - at least in our area - there is no specific mention of a blog.  In my mind, I could certainly argue that blogging someone else's listings falls under IDX and is not considered an advertisement. Being part of the MLS committee when those IDX rules were drafted here, the "no ad" rule only applied to print and not to the web.   I guess the real question, as you mention in the comments is that a blog is a commentary. I am thinking about many of the condo websites out there, you would typically see photos of the  building, a listing box with all of the available inventory (all IDX information- sourced as MLS info only) and then some commentary of the hosting agent about the building - it's web page, not specifically a blog, but as long as you follow the IDX guidelines and credit the source of the listing info - you are in "safe space".  If you can comment on an entire building or neighborhood, why would any one listing be any  different?  I look at the sockesite post and I think agents could blog that all day long here - and in fact are.  I guess the rules really are different here... maybe everyone will start blogging South Florida listings - we have about 80,000 of them- there is room for everybody!

Larry, Oops! I looked back and saw my comment came in right after Jon's...  hope you didn't feel we're ganging up on you (not the intention).

I'm planning on doing an architecture series about current homes on the market, and am prepping to get broker and agent permission on blogging about those listings. I can see how negative statements about a property can be detrimental to its sale. My strategy is a little different. Similar to a large, glossy book of Italian rental properties I received when planning my honeymoon, I intend to talk honestly and positively about the features and benefits each property offers. Just as the rental book never said, "Old home with tiny rooms, passed-down furniture, no tv or phone access" but instead "cozy, historic rooms with original period detailing and clean, heirloom furniture, and devoid of the usual city distractions (phone and tv)", a blogger can be accurate without being degrading of the listing. I imagine that "negative talk" (as opposed to positive but objective talk) is a key part in the controversy...

Sara,

A bigger part of the issue is that the blogger will get the buyer calls, vs. the listing company.  So even when the post is positive, some brokers viewed it as trying to steal their buyer leads.

Ardell, that's a problem... makes sense however. I guess I hope I find those that are comfortable venturing out into new territory... If not, I will blog about expired listings (might be a great way to get myself in front of the sellers without specifically leading in with listing) and properties that have already sold (although it might be hard to get interior pics). I think in the long run, though, people like me who blog about listings and architecture etc (haven't delved into it yet) will be getting so much benefit that traditional business listing agents will start seeing the benefit of letting others blog... (Much like how the mls opened up to all agents, as opposed to office-run mls's which require you belong to a specific company) If you wanted to blog about my Seattle listing on Rain City Guide, I would think that's the best  marketing possible... I wonder if agents who don't let others blog are more or less blog savvy? How much of a blog presence do they have? How much of their hesitation is fear based?

Maybe it's the traditional question of "Do we see blogging in real estate as a zero sum game or a win-win?" I'm inclined to think there is plenty for everyone. My blog will appeal to certain types of clients, and not others, and your blog with likewise draw certain clients and not others. If you blog about my listing, in my mind, you are just picking up the slack where I left off. If you get those clients, fine, because they were on your site anyways. Listing blogging to me is just another feature that adds value. Those reading my blog about my listing aren't going to somehow leave my blog and magically go read yours about my listing. Even blog readership itself is particular, such as the readership for Women's Home Journal or Reader's Digest. Blogs aren't area home searches---they're a destination site, involving the development of online rapport (even if the rapport is internalized without producing blog comments). The client comes back for that, not just for "listing info". Thus blogs about listings are like adding cherries to the pie---they increase the blogger's credibility, and I think we should all be doing it.

If we haven't established that type of online rapport with our blog readers so that , there's a good chance they're not going to call us anyway.

I don't see a difference between blogging about a listing and/or advertising it on your web site. I think the IDX/Broker Reciporicity rules could apply the same to either situation. I consider them the same situation. I'm actually surprised that a board would differentiate between blogging about a listing and advertising it on a web site.

And let me add to that.... even without IDX I think an agent should still be able to blog about a listing for sale. Any agent can help a buyer with any available property if that buyer comes to them for assistance. I can think of a lot of situations where it might be nice to blog about another agent's listing.... maybe an agent specializes in selling horse farms and they just toured a new horse farm for sale. They have an extensive horse following and they want to share it with their customer.... tons of examples of why an agent might want to do that.