The August issue of Realtormagonline has some great tips for blogging. The one tip I decided to use right away was the one about having a disclaimer .When we post our blogs  we are not offering legal advice and the real estate information we provide may not be applicable to all states. We do not want consumers to refrain from taking legal advice if it is needed. We do not want to be liable for our posts or for comments others make to our posts. So it makes sense to use a disclaimer like in our multiple listing we say " information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed." I used the words mentioned in the realtor magazine's article. I posted it on my profile .You can see it when you read any post. It was easier than having to post it at the end of every blog.

I thought I would share this with other rainers.

 

58 Comments on POST A DISCLAIMER WHEN YOU BLOG.

This is great, Gita. I recently wrote a post about legal liability of our blogs so this fits right in. I am going to add my disclaimer now (great idea to have it in the profile and not the posts themselves).

I have put a link from my post on legal issues to your post, Gita.

Jeff

08/28/2007 07:33 PM by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)


Great idea!  And a better idea yet to just put it on your profile sheet.  What are the specific words? 

08/28/2007 07:35 PM by Margaret Woda, Maryland REALTOR (RE/MAX VISION)


Great advice , I will remember to write that on my blogs.

08/28/2007 07:37 PM by Vicki Bishop GRI - Alabama Real Estate (Coldwell Banker United Realtors®)


Gita-great idea!  Would you mind if I used your words with my profile.  I promise to use my own name!  Thank you...

08/28/2007 07:37 PM by Midori Miller-Daytona Beach Florida Real Estate Trainer (CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty)


This is a good idea, with people looking to sue you for anything, this is perfect to "CYA"

08/28/2007 07:46 PM by HPM Financial


Good, practical advise, but a sad commentary on a litigious society.

08/28/2007 07:58 PM by Deborah Ryman, Realtor, Santa Cruz County (American Dream Realty, Santa Cruz)


Very good advise Gita, maybe its time to edit some of my blogs. Thanks for the heads up!

08/28/2007 08:04 PM by Diane Velikis Luzerne County Real Estate (Coldwell & Banker Busch Real Estate)


Great idea, Gita...thanks for looking out for us...and thanks to the folks who flagged this for feature.

08/28/2007 08:09 PM by Hemet Home Loan Guy, Joey Aszterbaum (Patrion Mortgage)


I agree.... this is a good idea...... some out there are opportunists as Hayden mentioned.... just lurking around trying to take advantage!  A disclaimer could do it.  Hmmm... think i will go to some of my OWN PERSONAL posts here on the Rain and type: 

 "READ BLOG  AT  OWN RISK - WARNING, WRITER IS  A BIT RADICAL!"

(for controversial posts)

08/28/2007 08:11 PM by Rice Property Management & Realty, LLC


Hey Gita...you inspired me.  I just changed my blog description...but had a little fun with it!

08/28/2007 08:28 PM by Hemet Home Loan Guy, Joey Aszterbaum (Patrion Mortgage)


Isn't it terrible that we have to have a disclaimer on our opinions in order to prevent someone from suing us?  Yeah, yeah, I'm going to waiver up on my blogs too... but I'm not happy about it. 

08/28/2007 08:32 PM by Lane Bailey - REALTOR & Car Guy (Diamond Dwellings Realty)


Great information and something that should be listened to. 

08/28/2007 08:36 PM by Joe Zapata - Your Burbank Real Estate Expert (Windermere Real Estate / Bill Toth)


Wow...that's all I can say! I guess we all need to add a disclaimer now!

08/28/2007 08:46 PM by Kelly Sibilsky ~ Lake Zurich RE/MAX Real Estate Agent (RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest)


I've pondered this before but have never decided whether it was a step I should take. Still pondering. Thanks for the post!        

08/28/2007 08:56 PM by Ryan Hukill - Edmond Realtor® (Hukill Group - Paradigm Realty)


Thanks for the tip, Gita. I never thought about "protecting" myself from my readers. LOL

08/28/2007 09:04 PM by Ilyce N. Powell, CMPS™ - Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist (Envision Lending Group)


Great post...I always do this if it sounds like I'm giving advice but also with statistical information or listing information. You never know these days.

08/28/2007 09:09 PM by Irene Morales Ward, Realtor, ABR, e-Pro Northern Virginia Real Estate (REMAX Absolute)


Gita -- I am glad you brought this to our attention.  The idea of adding the disclaimer on the profile is a great one!  I will have to find time to that this weekend.

08/28/2007 10:35 PM by Joan Whitebook, ABR, e-Pro, CEBA (Buyer's Option Realty Services)


Good idea in today's litigious society. I'll need to write something up for the footer section of my outside blog. Thanks for the reminder!

08/28/2007 10:56 PM by John Novak - Las Vegas and Henderson NV Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace)


Thanks Gita.............Good information.  I will put a disclaimer on mine as well.

Congrats on your feature blog...........Duane Hosek in the Black Hills of South Dakota

08/29/2007 01:23 AM by Duane Hosek (Coldwell Banker - Lewis-Kirkeby-Hall)


Git, thanks for posting this.  I've been contemplating the same and will have to devote some time to figuring out a disclaimer I like.  Another addition to the to-do list.  =)

08/29/2007 03:43 AM by Palmetto Bay | Redland Real Estate | Maggie Dokic (EWM Realtors)


Great info Gita!  I'm going to think of a creative disclaimer that I may want to add to my own blog....

08/29/2007 05:17 AM by Jason Sardi, Pennsylvania Mortgage Broker (First Choice Equity Group Inc.)


Gita, I like the way you handle it by having it on your profile page. That should cover every post. Thanks for the great tip.

08/29/2007 06:33 AM by Missy Caulk Ann Arbor Realtor Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams Ann Arbor)


One would think that our Professional designation provides for certain expertise while everything else is simply opinion.  Can't people differentiate for themselves what's an educated opinion and what is legal advice? I guess not. If anybody out there is getting sued for blog content...gee whiz!

 

08/29/2007 06:40 AM by Chris Henault- St. Petersburg Real Estate (Realty Executives)


Gita - thanks for the advice.  This is something that I never would have thought of. I'm going to make the change to my profile now.

08/29/2007 06:56 AM by Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (RE/MAX Best)


I'm a newbie to AR and gathering as much information as possible. I have made this a part of my profile. Thank you for this great tip.

08/29/2007 09:12 AM by Debbie Small, CRS, GRI (Long & Foster Realtors)


Ah - American legal culture... I love it.  My dream TV commercial goes something like this:  Open: flying over southern New Zealand, water falls, people bungy jumping, rafting, paragliding... the scene zooms into a Maori haka paka but, after a few seconds it goes silent, one of the Maori warriors walks up to the camera, and, in his best "I'm really concerned for you legal face" says:  "You know, New Zealand isn't for everyone, some visitors have experienced jet lag, broken ankles, hangovers and, in rare cases, death.  Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should live in a padded room.  If you drink orange juice, eat pizza or blink more than twice an hour then New Zealand might not be for you.  So, talk to your legal advisor, mommy, doctor, psychic, and your favorite self-help group before traveling"... in true "cover your ass fashion" the disclaimer would be longer then the rest of the commercial.  (This might be why TLW calls me an anarchist, but, I really just want the legal system to grow up).  <laugh>

08/29/2007 09:13 AM by Ben Wiseley (ActiveRain)


Gita,
dang...of course you are right and thanks for the notice.  Sometimes it gets soooooo frutrstating to constantly be looking over your shoulder to make sure your backside is covered...

08/29/2007 09:30 AM by Brian Miller - Real Estate Entropy (Weichert, Realtors)


Damn, I hate this society that we've created where we're all deathly afraid of each other-and for good reason.  I'll add to my profile too, thanks for the advice!

08/29/2007 09:31 AM by Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties)


I agree with Leigh - it's too bad that honest practitioners and business people have to think constantly about legal liability.  When asked certain questions, I give clients answers like "I'm not a roofing expert, I help people buy and sell houses.  I suggest we get a professional opinion from a certified home inspector".  Or "That's a question you should ask an attorney (or CPA)".

08/29/2007 09:55 AM by Brian Schulman - Your Lancaster County, PA Real Estate Professional (Coldwell Banker Select Professionals)


Gita,

I think it is a good idea but will sometihing like that really hold up in court and is it worth pursuing is the question.

08/29/2007 10:07 AM by Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL (RE/MAX Premier Associates)


That is the joys of living in America. You have to tell people who buy hot coffee that it is hot and they should not put it on their laps.

08/29/2007 10:23 AM by Christopher Onwuasoanya (Merrill Lynch)


Great thought, I did not think about that disclaimer.

08/29/2007 11:27 AM by JR Sangiuliano (CENTURY 21 JRS Realty)


Gita Thank you for the great post and info!

08/29/2007 12:07 PM by Sean Guerrero (Century 21 Hart Realty)


Thank you so much. I never thought of that. I am going to add that to my blog.

08/29/2007 12:11 PM by Christy Powers - Pooler, Savannah Real Estate Agent (Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners)


Yes, that is probably a good and prudent idea.  Thanks for the tip.

08/29/2007 12:16 PM by SETH CALLEN (OKLAHOMA INSURANCE SOLUTIONS)


Jeff Dowler, Thank you for adding the link.

Margaret, The specific words appear next to my blog, in my profile, just above links.

Vicki, If you just write this with your profile, it will appear on all your blogs.

Midori, Please go ahead and use the words.They from Realtormagonline. I assume we can all use it.

Diane Velikis, Instead of editing your blogs it might be easier if you include with your profile.It will save time.

08/29/2007 12:46 PM by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors)


Hayden,Deborah,Joey,Diane Rice,Lane, Joe Zapata ,Kelly and Tracey, Thank you for taking the time to post your comments.

Hope you had a chance to add you disclaimer.Wish you all good luck.

08/29/2007 12:50 PM by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors)


Great idea, I'm putting this on my site.  Thanks.  Soon we will have ten pages of disclosures for our blog too if this keeps up.

08/29/2007 12:52 PM by Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air)


Ryan, Ilyce,Irene, Joan,John and Duane, Thank you for the comments.

Wish you all good luck.

08/29/2007 12:54 PM by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors)


Bob and Carolin,Maggie,Jason,Missy,Chris,Adam and Debbie, I appreciate your comments  and support. Good luck.

08/29/2007 12:58 PM by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors)


Excellent!!  Thanks for saving me a "reading trip" to find out WHAT those magic words could be at the end of our blogs.  NICE POST!

08/29/2007 01:11 PM by Real Estate Specialist | Brandon, FL | Susie Roscoe (Signature Realty Associates)


Disclaimers are a great idea.  I'll use them on posts that are real estate specific although I attempt to avoid subjects that could be considered or misconstrued as advice 

08/29/2007 06:18 PM by Karen Kruschka - Fairfax Prince William Stafford County VA Real Estate Service (RE/MAX Allegiance)


Excellent suggestion...I think I will use something very close to that. Thanks for the idea and liability warning.

08/30/2007 07:23 AM by Al Maxwell - Real Estate Agent - (Coldwell Banker)


It's funny... so many people are using copyrights on their blogs, but not so many have disclaimers!  Excellent info--- thank you!

08/30/2007 12:28 PM by Chico CA Real Estate by Sandi Bauman, Chico CA Realtor (Chico Homes Real Estate)


Gita - Thanks for the heads up - it makes perfect sense!

08/31/2007 01:33 AM by Indianapolis Real Estate | Paula Henry (ReMax Excel)


Ben Wiseley, I like the commercial .

Brian Miller, I agree it does get frustrating.

Leigh Brown,  I agree. We have to be careful what we say, and get everything in writing.

Brian, I give similar answers, even if I know some answers from experience.

Neal , I have no idea. I just thought it is a good recommendation by Realtor Magazine. But we see disclaimers on multiple listing as well..

 

09/01/2007 08:28 AM by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors)


Christopher, Thats the reason they don't serve coffee that is too hot.

JR Sangiuliano, Sean Guerrero Thanks for the comments.

Christy Powers , Susie Roscoe,  hope you had a chance to post your disclaimers.

 

09/03/2007 12:43 PM by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors)


Seth Callen,  Al maxwell thanks for taking the time to comment. Hope you have your disclaimers.

Karen, If I find that my comments appear to look like I am advising, I immediately write that they should talk to their " Attorney or Accountant " as the case may be.

Sandi Bauman, Paula Henry.  Thanks for the comments.

09/03/2007 12:47 PM by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors)


I would also say this is critical for the questions posed on Activerain.

09/03/2007 08:58 PM by Tracy Santrock - Cary NC Real Estate Blog (Fonville Morisey)


Tracy I agree it is more important for the questions . I always write that they should check with an attorney and that laws vary.I try not to answer questions from people in other states.

09/04/2007 06:05 AM by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors)


Susie , I hope you have had a chance to post your disclaimer.

09/25/2007 11:11 AM by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors)


Tracy, Maybe they should have a disclaimer in the Ask a question section to protect everyone who answers the questions. and they should ask the appropriate professionals for answers.

10/06/2007 04:04 PM by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors)


This comment is the opinion of the posters personal views and is not to be taken, read or interperated as being expert, legal or any other type of opinion.  What was my comment  again?  :^O 

10/08/2007 09:06 AM by Rob Robinson- Lehigh Valley PA (Bertrum Settlements (Title & Abstract))


Rob, I love your disclaimer. Maybe I will change what I wrote.

10/08/2007 09:39 AM by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors)


You are right and unfortunately, we most remind people that real estate and tax laws are complicated and they must consult an expert for more information. Great post.

10/08/2007 09:42 AM by Nancy Moeller (RE/MAX Real Estate Services)


Nancy, Thank you for taking the time to comment. Some people do not realize they have legal issues and rely on free information they can get from reading and misinterpret what they read.

10/08/2007 09:47 AM by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors)


This blog does not allow anonymous comments

 
Real Estate Agent: GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA  HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors)
GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES
Warwick, PA
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ReMax Centre Realtors

Office Phone: (215) 343-8200 Ext.: 124
Cell Phone: (215) 275-8491
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DISCLAIMER: Gita Bantwal disclaims liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect that may result from use of or reliance on, information contained in the blog or for accuracy of comments or opinions of visitors to my blogs.


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