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Am I allowed an opinion and can I share it?

By
Real Estate Agent with Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 PA License - AB067198

Social Media encourages people to share their opinions, we have all read how consumers share what they think about company A or B, or Product x, y and z and how that influences others.

Many real estate sites show properties, Trulia allows agents to check in to properties, allowing consumers to know they have seen plenty of properties and know their neighborhood and share these check ins on Facebook and Twitter. In checking in they can leave a comment. Should we? Does it cross a boundary ethically, or under the Realtor Code of Ethics.

code of ethics

What comments can you leave? How about "wonderful!" or "Dated". Could either of these get you into trouble?

Maybe. What if you say a property is wonderful, a consumer sees your comment, goes to see the property ends up buying it, then later has a problem. Can they sue you because you commented it was a wonderful property?

"Dated" - can the agent or seller complain under the code of ethics? Is a comment subjective, or if the property has bathrooms and kitchen from the 60's or 70's and wood paneling is it dated? Would it affect buyers coming to see the property, even if the photos reveal these elements, can you be blamed for slow showings because of your comment? Is there a difference between a consumer and an agent leaving a cvomment on social media?

We have been discussing this in our office today after I had a phone call from an agent who raised this issue with me yesterday after I had left a comment on a property. Where do we draw the line? When are we allowed an opinion and when can we express it and where? We decided we don't really know, so maybe 140 characters does not allow enough room to post a disclaimer to every comment you make on social media.

I know when blogging took off it was also brought up, how we were opening ourselves up to lawsuits because of opinions and personal comments. But, it did not hold many of us back and we have seen blogs blossom and transform many of our businesses.

So what do you think? To comment or not to comment when checking in at properties on Trulia and other similar sites

Posted by

 

Nick Vandekar
Nick is a Tredyffrin Easttown Residential and Commercial REALTOR selling The Main Line, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties.

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225 W Uwchlan Ave
Downingtown , PA 19335
Office 484-237-2055
SellingTheMainLine.com
Mobile: (610) 203-4543 [call or text me]
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Tredyffrin Easttown or along the Main Line, 
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Comments (1)

John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

Sounds like an important issue - I think it's issues like these that people aren't really sure of that result in an awful lot of disclaimers and fine print.

Kind of a bummer though to leave a disclaimer after each and every thought you have!

Oct 22, 2012 04:28 AM