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Is It OK to Copy a Sacramento Real Estate Agent's MLS Comments?

By Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Real Estate Agent with Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker DRE #00697006

July 13, 2013 01:57 AM

L sacramento home photographer ittle amazes me in the real estate business anymore. Not the back-stabbing nor the jealousy nor the petty arguments that exists in the underbelly of this business. The practice of this particular Sacramento real estate agent is to ignore it, walk around it or cross the street. I'm way too busy to get involved in office politics and discuss who's getting favorites and whose head is on the chopping block, and those of you in Sacramento real estate probably know what I'm talking about.

Agents who aren't very busy tend to have a lot of time to devote to extracurricular activity, which isn't always in that agent's best interest, but I disgress.

I do find it a bit appalling when I discover that another Sacramento real estate agent had copied and pasted my marketing verbiage into that agent's new real estate listing. It's lazy behavior, for one thing. For another, I consider it plagiarism. Read more in my professional blog on my business website today about A Sacramento Real Estate Agents Words and Photography.

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Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL

Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Sounds familiar. We see our photos stolen. So far not descriptions, which only tells you that we are better with photos than with words :)

Love you website, but I am sure I already mentioned it to you. But guess I am not lazy enough to just copy it and hope nobody notices :)

P.S. Actually, because we are predominantly buyer's agents, and have just a bit over a dozen listings, we are less vulnerable to stealing

Jul 13, 2013 02:30 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Hi Jon: Well, I have a sneaky feeling this agent might have swiped my photos if I had left them in MLS, but I deleted them upon cancellation. Plus, the seller asked me if she could use the photos. So, yeah, if they could have gotten their hands on the photos, no doubt, they would have been snatched. Instead, they stole the next best thing: my words.

The offending agent just emailed to say she thought I would consider her theft a compliment. That excuse doesn't deserve a response.

Jul 13, 2013 03:14 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Annoying. She can have your phots and wording, but when the rubber meets the road, and she needs to negotiate on her client's behalf, that is all her. And that is when those sellers will know they messed up by firing you.

Jul 13, 2013 03:59 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Well, no, Chris Ann, the agent and seller can't have my photos, not without permission, as they are copyrighted. So are my words, for that matter.

The real estate market established the value of that house already, which was unacceptable to the seller, so I wouldn't call it case of firing. But I see what you're trying to say. Sometimes, however, you've got to let things go. What comes around in this life tends to go around.

Jul 13, 2013 04:07 AM

Pamela Smith

Award Realty - Sun City West, AZ

Sun City West, Corte Bella, Sun City Grand

I have had this happen to me also. Nothing makes me madder that a lazy business person.

Jul 13, 2013 04:18 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Hi Pam: Lots of things make me madder than a lazy person but let's not split hairs as I get your drift.

The thing that gets me is when I am listing a home, one of the first things I do is run the history of that home through the archives. I pull up previous listings from when other agents had the listing. I read the comments.

Then I make sure that my comments do not in any way, shape or form remotely resemble the previous comments. Even if I know nobody will ever read the marketing comments from a listing sold in 1999, I would know. And so, I just don't plagiarize. I would be crushed and mortified to be accused of plagiarism.

But I guess nowadays, it seems perfect acceptable for an agent at my company to say she thought it was a compliment to me to steal my words.

Jul 13, 2013 04:32 AM

Laura Allen, Lake Tahoe - Truckee Real Estate for Sale TahoeLauraRealEstate.com

Coldwell Banker Realty, Tahoe City, CA (530) 414-1260 - Tahoe City, CA

Tahoe Real Estate Agent Helping Buyers and Sellers

Elizabeth - This is why buyers and sellers really should do research on who they are selecting to work with when it comes to their real estate purchase, or sale.

Not all agents are the same and just because an agent has a real estate license does not mean we can all do the same job! While I would say be flattered someone wanted to use your MLS Commentary, the reality is, it is not okay.

This is when I think the agent wronged should get to contact the seller directly and tell them just how lazy the current agent they hired is, and if they liked the commentary they should have hired you!

Jul 13, 2013 09:12 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Hello Laura: I would not let the seller know what happened for 3 reasons. 1) it would make me look like I might want the listing back, which I really don't; 2) it would make me look like a tattletale, and 3) I would never intefere in another agent's listing.

Jul 13, 2013 10:02 AM

Myrl Jeffcoat

Sacramento, CA

Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

First off, I just want everyone to know it WASN'T me:-) I also agree with your comment #8. I've been fortunate to work in offices that have always been copacetic for the most part! But, difficult times sometimes brings out bazaar behavior in the ranks.

Jul 13, 2013 12:31 PM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Hey Myrl, I kinda doubt that anybody who reads my blog would ever in a million years ever suspect you of such a thing. The Lyon agent who pulled this maneuver is not from my office, either. I'm a bit biased, I suppose, but my Midtown office at 28th and J Streets (which we call the downtown office) is to me the best office at Lyon Real Estate. Pretty laid back group of easy-going and friendly agents. Just like you, Myrl.

Jul 14, 2013 02:05 AM

Sally K. & David L. Hanson

EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI

WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Hmmm..lazy at it's best...professionalism at its worst !

Jul 14, 2013 09:02 PM