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Is it OK to have your unlicensed assistant write and post your blogs

By Nick Benavides

Real Estate Agent with Gateway REO Properties

October 26, 2010 10:48 AM

Hi There,

I am curious what the community thinks about this. I have heard some say it is unethical, and some simply do not care. It seems that there are some members out there who do not write their own blogs. Blogs are being written by unlicensed assistants usually making $10-12 per hour. What is wrong with this??? Well some ask the question "How can a $10 an hour assistant write a blog about real estate and dealings with clients when he or she actually has no first hand experience in those dealings?" That is a good question of course. The other dilemma is ethics. How can a Realtor allow someone else to write blogs or give advice on real estate matters under his or her name. Is this Fraud? Well, sort of I guess.

I understand we all get busy but should we be paying our assitants to speak for us in the active rain community? I guess it is like paying for marketing in some aspects. For me, if I dont have the time to write in MY blog then I will wait until I have time. I would not want my $10 an hour assistant to wirte something in my name that I may regret.

Thoughts?

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Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

What is the law and what are the rules???

There is no rule against having a ghost writer.

It doesn't violate any license law for an agent to hire someone to write blog copy.

You don't have to be licensed to write about real estate. Look at all the journalists that do it daily.

It doesn't violate any rule or law for a person to write for someone for an hourly wage. The employer owns the copyright under "work for hire".

If I paid someone to write something for me, I'd want a release to make sure they didn't claim copyright ownership. Never know what someone is likely to do.

One thing for sure, having a ghost writer is far more respectable and acceptable than plagiarizing copyright protected content, which goes on every day on ActiveRain.

Oct 26, 2010 10:59 AM

Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate

Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL

Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

The CEO of a company valued at $40,000,000 told me that he outsources his blogs to a guy in the Philippines for $20 per blog.

Go figure...

Oct 26, 2010 11:01 AM

Robert Laird

Laird Realty & Investments - Apache Junction, AZ

Robert Laird, Laird Realty & Investments

Nick, I agree with you that unlicensed people should not write blogs for real estate licensees which imply that they are written by the licensed real estate agent. This is especially my view if the blog covers real estate information.

Oct 26, 2010 11:02 AM

Nick Benavides

Gateway REO Properties - Temecula, CA

Of course this is not Illegal. There are no rules or laws against it. To me thats why its a good question and topic for discussion. Thanks for the inputs.

Oct 26, 2010 11:03 AM

Nick, I would like to know where the unlicensed person gets their real estate information from, was it plagiarized, was it based on their own experience or based on what? I believe it is much better that the experienced real estate agent write their own blogs.

Oct 26, 2010 11:07 AM

Pat Fenn

Marketing Specialist for CJ Realty Group/Cindy Jones Broker - Springfield, VA

I'll just say "ditto" to Lenn's comments. I don't write blogs for the agent I work for but do post my own from time to time. Just because someone is unlicensed doesn't mean they don't have real estate experience. There are plenty of agents with licenses who have no business and are blogging away. What's the difference?

Oct 26, 2010 11:11 AM

I am not sure where they get their info. Perhaps it is directly from a licensed agent. Maybe they make things up everyday just to increase their agents exposure. It could be anything.

Pat, thank you for you comment. I guess if we put it into perspective Realtors are licensed for a reason. You would not go to a financial planners assistant or receptionist for advice on your 401k or IRA right? I would not go to my doctors nurse for her opinion on heart surgery either.

Oct 26, 2010 11:22 AM

Lori Bowers

La Quinta, CA

The Lori Bowers Group

Everyone in our company is a licensed agent. We write our own blogs.

Oct 26, 2010 11:57 AM

Mike Jaquish

Realty Arts - Cary, NC

919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

I think "Live and let live" is in order, Nick.

Much of what we discuss is openly available for interpretation and discussion, license or no license.

Not much of what I see on AR or blogs is a function of agency and representation, and I believe that agency and representation are what licensing is about.

Oct 26, 2010 12:25 PM

Troy Funk

Allison James Estates & Homes, Sarasota 941-957-3737 - Sarasota, FL

Broker / Associate

Interesting question ... good comments. I don't see anything wrong with it as long as the agent approves the informatrion before they click the "Submit" button.

Oct 26, 2010 12:41 PM

Anonymous

mindy

Ok I know this thread is a few years old. But I have a question that is similar to the original question. I work as a real estate assistant for an agent. Am I allowed to post his listings on my facebook page? I don't receive a commission but I'm trying to get our newly developed "team" some buyers. I had a real estate agent message me and tell me I couldn't do this. I just passed my real estate course and plan on taking my test next week, but in the mean time am I allowed to be doing this?

Dec 04, 2014 11:20 PM

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