Since posting this on www.NWARealEstateBlog.com I received the following comment with my response: 

Hi! I’m Rudy from Trulia. Nice to meet you… Says:
March 6, 2008 at 3:28 pm edit

Hi Ray!

All of your exclusive listings on Trulia should be directed back to your website or other website you specify - e.g. Vflyer, Postlets….

We will look into why this is happening immediately and find the remedy.

Thank you for your patience.

Rudy
Social Media Guru
# Ray Says:
March 6, 2008 at 6:30 pm edit

—***—

Thanks for your response Rudy. I’m sad I had to BLOG to get an effective response.
The website I specified was a link to more info for that specific listing on Crye-Leike.com. I have updated that information twice, only to have another company re-link them later.
Thank you for looking into this more. I look forward to your response.
Ray

It's a battleground out there! Where will it end?

OK, I'm confused....many other Brokerages show my listings on their site and in little letters at the bottom it says listing brokered by and my comany name. My understanding was we agreed to something like this with the MLS...I know for a fact  Franchises in my area have my listings on their site, and yes it looks like it's theirs.......I do have listings on Trulia.

Kathy: You are right! You must disclose the brokerage that has the listing. What is happening here is that the listings are linked to a different brokerage or listing website of some sort. Check your listings on Trulia. Find them like a prospective buyer would and check out who the link is. When I clicked on the link, I went to a form to fill out to get more info & it said crye-leike (our broker) on it. However, if you just type in the web address that is displayed, it goes to another site all together!

They are telling me that they are trying to resolve the issue, but nothing has happened. yet. What do your listings link to?

Hi Ray - OH NO  - something ELSE to worry about....

I checked my listings, they link back to my website....I don't know how all this works, but I will keep my eyes out... THanks for alerting us.

Ray - I am happy to see that Trulia is correcting the problem. Either there was a glitch in the system, or someone hacked your password. It sure wouldn't be very smart of them to hack your password and then change the listings into their name though. I am guessing that it was a glitch. 

I just updated the post with a current screen shot. Interestingly, one of the listings has stayed the same. The others all changed to a different site again. Weird.

Trulia has contacted me a few times by responding to my blog posts and they assure me that they are working on it.

Our crye-lieke guru on all of this also responded to one of my posts and told me that they also submit our listings for us and link to the same website that I sent to Trulia.

There maybe 2 glitches acting together:

#1. The service that crye-leike uses to submit listings (if they use one)

#2. Trulia somehow allowing other "listing service sites" to submit listings that are not the broker who is contracted on the listing

I'll keep you posted on what happens. 

I've had to contact Trulia a few times for minor issues and they have been very helpful each time.  I would stay in touch with them and I'm sure they'll fix the issue.

Think about this Ray.  It doesn't matter where the company is located...heck, they probably don't want people to know where they're located.  That way they can take the leads the get from your listings and sell them back to a buyer agent in your area and hit that agent up for a 25-30% referral fee. 

Guy: That is what I'm thinking too. It all boils down to greed of someone. If not Trulia, then the other "brokerages"/companies that are submitting these feeds.

Nick: I have no doubt that Trulia will resolve the problem, but hopefully it brings to light some key issues in "Agency Representation" vs/& technology.

Thanks for checking out the post. I appreciate the feedback. 

Update: New Info from Crye-Leike:

It is definately not a company that crye-leike uses because we input our listing directly.

"We give Trulia a direct feed.... there is not a company that we use to do this. So our data should always be to crye-leike.com. ..." - Angie Vandenbergh

That leaves it on Trulia's end. I'll let you know what happens. 

Something to watch out for.

Ray, Please do let everyone know  what happens.  I've had some minor problems with Trulia that they have always corrected, even if it took a couple of days, so let's hope they get this squared away.

Thanks!

Thanks for the heads up, good luck.

This could get tricky.  There are some many IDX feeds out there... am I to understand that your brokerage name is not on the other link?  I am all for my listing being out there, I have the listing, I don't care who sells it.

That is very interesting.  Is anyone else having these problems?

This is quite eye-opening.  Thanks for alerting us to this issue.  I sincererly hope that Trulia addresses and corrects it quickly. 

If only NAR's "Code of Ethics" were enforceable laws...

You probably want to check your MLS Rules and Regs. Bottom line should always be what is serving your clients' best interest. Other websites you don't have to pay for exposing your clients' homes to potential buyers sounds like a good thing.

NAR has no LAWS. They have no ability to enforce their Rules and Regulations or the Realtor's Code of Ethics unless one is a MEMBER of NAR.

That is why we are Realtors. Non-Realtors are free to do what they wish unless they violate State Law, which last time I looked, NAR is not a state.

Broker reciprocity is what you are talking about and that requires that you fully read and understand your local MLS Rules & Regulations to understand what can and cannot happen to your listings. You have the right to opt out of Broker Reciprocity, so if you don't want some other broker or company or website to use your listings, then they can't. It is up to you to know how to manage your business and listings accordingly.

Read your MLS Rules and Regulations and you will find your answer.

I agree with Mr. Davies. Most brokers have given EXPRESS PERMISSION for other brokers to advertise listings via broker reciprocity. It's an all or nothing proposition, can't have one agent in, another out at the same firm!

Thanks for opening my eyes... I have always uploaded all my listings into Trulia, and any other online sites. But rarely do I go back to the site to pull it up to see what the consumer sees. I will do this from now on. And with your efforts, in contact with Trulia, I'm sure we will all be grateful that this does not happen to any of us other Realtors and it will be corrected. Thanks Ray! - - Tasha Currie

Kim: I have NO PROBLEM with other agents selling my listings! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT when they put my listings on their websites! However, I don't agree with letting everyone be a credited source for a listed property by me. That is when it gets into "representation" of the listing & I want to be SURE that my clients' properties are treated with care & professionalism. About the IDX feeds: I know this stuff is relatively new & I think what is happening is some brokers (on purpose or not) are submitting feeds of their entire mlx vs their own listings. I'm not sure how all that works, but that is what it seems.

Weisser & Davies: (sounds like a law firm) You are right about the "express permission" and "broker reciprocity", but in those pesky MLS Rules & Regs, it clearly states (Ray-a-phrased) that another brokerage can list your property on their website but they have to give the listing brokerage credit for the listing and they have to include all the info on the MLS. So, under all of the listings on my website it says, "Listing Courtesy of Crye-Leike" or "Provided by Re/Max" & so on.

This DOES NOT allow other brokerages to Submit information about these listings to internet search engines and then be cited as the source. There is a big difference there. If there isn't, then who is to stop a brokerage from listing YOUR properties on www.SexualOffendersLooking4Homes.com or www.FindHomesInCrappyNeighborhoods.com or www.HomesForDecentStrippers.com. I don't think your clients would appreciate the "exposure" - pardon the pun. I know the example is extreme, but if this type of thing isn't caught on this level, then it will never be stopped at the next.

The law of NAR is contract LAW, I believe. Try violating one of the rules and tell the judge in front of the board that you don't have to pay the fines because it is just a rule, not a law. I don't think you'd get very far.

Shannon: I agree with you about being in my clients best interest. That is why I launched the complaint. I can't see how being represented by www.MichiganHouseHunter.com was in my clients best interest. They don't know ANYTHING about NWA, much less my clients home. When I submitted my clients information, I added quality links so that they would be represented well. That is why this link changing thing got on my nerves.

Here is a faded example from my site, in accordance with MLS rules & Ethics and all that jazz with the Key phrases highlighted.

Thanks again yall! 

good to know,,, going to check Trulia right now.  Although I've had issues with some of their agent tools not working properly and never hear back from someone.

Hi Ray!

I'm happy to report that our engineers have been working really hard on this and the technical issue has been resolved. We will pick up the latest feed tonight and the issue will be resolved after tomorrow’s data cycle completes. So, your listings on Trulia will be updated tomorrow morning.

Once again, we thank you for your patience Ray.

Note: If anyone experiences this issue or anything else I can be reached at rudy [at] trulia.com. Or you can always leave a comment on our  facebook group or just put up a blog post and I'll find ya :)

Have a wonderful weekend all.

Rudy

Social Media Guru at Trulia 

Ray, Thanks for bringing this to light.   I think some of your commentators were referring to an IDX agreement in your board/associations.  Check with your state law as well: the listing brokerage name or principal broker's name must be listed in all advertised in my state of KY. I have reason to believe your state has similar statutes as well. DEFINITELY keep us posted on how this gets resolved.

thanks for posting this. I've noticed the same thing, and I am glad to see that response you got that you posted

Hi Ray - I see you got featured on Active Rain for this... Controversial title will work wonders :)

Just thought I would update here on my end as well, since this has become such a public topic.

(Crye-Leike IT person here for anyone following the comments)

Our contact at Trulia has been very helpful and responded quickly etc. They are fixing it so that our feed will be the authority source for our listings and our links will remain etc (just in case someone else posted one of our listings somehow). They are also investigating the sources of the alternate links as well (ie if it came from a service the mls is paying for or something like that.) Once we find the source, then we can address that part further.

I will also check, but please check your listings tomorrow and let me know if they are now staying linked to crye-leike.com...

Thanks.

Wow, Ray,

Thanks for your knowledge of this problem, your perserverance to solve it, and for sharing the 'work in progress' with us.

I am new to blogging, and was considering posting my listings on Trulia.  If I do, I will watch them like a hawk.

Angie: Thanks so much for helping to resolve this so quickly! From what I have heard, this has happened to a few people and others have never had a problem. I'm happy to report that since the posting, Trulia has been super busy in corresponding with me about the progress of this thing. You Crye-Leike IT people are incredible! Thanks for handling all of that on our behalf.
Controversial? Maybe! ;) But how else can I get all of the pros to stop their busy day and give me a few minutes of reading time!

Active Rainers are GREAT!

Rudy: Thanks again for all your help in activating the Trulia Computer Wizs to find a solution to the problem. Yall have been wonderful in helping to resolve the issue! As Angie said, our contact at Trulia has really helped get everything straight, so I REALLY appreciate it.

I will check the listings tomorrow and report back to you & everyone else.

THANKS! 

Isn't Rudy Great!! Count me in as a huge Rudy Bachraty fan!

Really when you think about it... Realtors should not be posting there.  You are not criticizing an MLS! They do not have to answer to the state real estate commission. It isn't an MLS exclusive to the licensure of real estate agents and brokers, it doesn't have to worry about compliance and a prime center for...fraud!  Why bother complaining?  What were youthinking you were getting there?  Want a buyer want to look for home?  Have them come to you!  Have you ever wondered why there are no walk-ins in real estate any more? They do not have to.  It is our own fault!  Unless we as an industry wake up before it is too late.  We are our own worst enemies.

Wonderful that Trulia (Rudy) stepped in and took care of this.  What a nightmare. 

Jim: I can tell that your glass might be half empty?
Why bother complaining? #1: it worked. Trulia is resolving the issue as you can read from Rudy. #2: Because Trulia isn't about taking over as an "MLS", they are about providing the best home search tools for Buyers & great tools for Real Estate Professionals to market listings & themselves & I've gotten more leads from it & more listings because of it!! I get several calls a month from buyers who I have helped on Trulia or buyers who have seen my listings and were interested!!

If a Realtor gives you a listing presentation without Trulia, Zillow, & the like & I give my presentation with them & talk about how I use them to promote your property where 86% of buyers in the general public are looking... who would you choose to market your property? Do you want your property marketed where 14% of the buyers are looking? or where 86% of the buyers are looking? To me, this is a no brainier.

The Realtors left in the dark will be the ones afraid of new technology replacing them. The Pros are those who embrace this "classified listing" type of space and use it to their advantage, marketing themselves along with the list! There will always be a need for Realtors.

PS: That being said, at Crye-Leike, we still get walk ins. LOTS of 'em! ;) #1 in Arkansas, #1 in the MidSouth, & #4 in the Nation!

Rudy: What kinds of "agreements" if any are there between the MLS's/Brokers/NAR/Boards & websites like Trulia? Does the Broker Reciprocity & MLS rules carry over onto your website? Why is it in your best interest to keep complaining Realtors like me happy?

Very informative post. I am going to have to check my listings now. Thanks for sharing this info.

Is Trulia a member of the NAR?  If not, they are not bound by our code of ethics.  Kind of makes for a one sided fight. 

You are right -- this is really wrong for a website to do this without your permission. It is so hard to keep track of all these issues. We had a situation of some other agent linking and framing our site and it too forever to get it resolved. One has to watch every day for this stuff.

"The End"

Kinda....

The post was updated. Check out the bottom of the post to see what happened with me and what is going to happen next!

Threw this whole thing, I added another listing and it has changed links a few times, but now I know that Trulia is actively looking to fix this issue so I know it will be corrected soon. My 4 originals have been fixed and I'm grateful for that. Although I did lose a photo in the process?? Not sure what happened there. 

Lane Bailey: Please see the above discussion in the comments about NAR applying to Trulia or not.

Thanks everyone for reading! Thanks to Crye-Leike & Trulia (Rudy) for addressing the issue!

If any of you have similar problems, contact RUDY BACHRATY!

I had the same problem with Zillow, I did change the linked web site to my website. and correct the listing agent information to my information.

I hope they aren't violating any codes. That wouldn't be a very good thing. I have no idea how those things work.