. Our MLS ...Metromls...is known nationally so we have been told a number of times is one of the least progressive in the country...nothing we are proud of..something we live with and dislike as agents....as do many Sellers. MLS in general purports to promote cooperation among agents and the the public....hmmmmm. If you look at the far too lengthy and to our mind "kindergarten like rules" that employees are paid to uncover and then levy fines against agents....you have to look again at the spirit of cooperation which is not evident in these kinds of practices.
When we read on line in AR and other places that a particular MLS "requires" the front of a house to be the main picture in the listing...you ave to question how far over the line MLS will go in telling agents...and their Sellers as well....HOW to market listings...that should not now or have ever been their mission. How do such dictitorial policies "enhance cooperation" They do not.
We have been fined...but of course for such grave offenses as listing an address as ....123 Elm Drive...NOT Elm Dr. (Dr. ...doctor...is somehow clearer to the consumer...uh huh.)
Think about it...we are paying dues to an entity of non licensed dictating rulers who ignore the desires of Sellers...harrass agents with fines for ludicrous "infractions" ...and not only are forced to accept the RULES....but now the continue as the marketing restriction noose around the Agent AND the Seller(s)' Necks gets tighter.
The latest campaign to further dictate to agents how they should run their business...and Sellers should agree...centers around the concept of "delayed listings...or coming soon" as your market may choose to label them. Whether you like them or not...or use them or not is not the issue...No one should make the decision how or when to do any kind of marketing other than the Seller and their agent.
In our market...we are required to attach 3 pages of our listing contract to the listing...which is not visible to anyone other than the unlicensed "Watchdogs" of MLS. Some agent some time...must have put a property in MLS without a contract and now the kindergarten rules come out...and we all have to add contracts to listings.
If you are a licensed realtor and don't like "professional surprises"take 3 minutes...click HERE and watch how once again we are being told what to do...how to do it...and implying that this is some sort of "enhanced" service.
I have a strong belief in the "Fat Lady Song",,,it is my anthem...or as David says,...."Try saying No to Sally..." are we all just going to sit back and watch MLS run our real estate practices ? Let's not. We are IN dependent contractors not DEpendent on MLS to tell us how to market our business.
WHO'S IN ? Where do we start...?
This is a professional watch cat post (sorry cats deserve equal time) brought to you by Sally K. & David L. Hanson, Broker Associates with EXP Realty honored to be of service for all things real estate in southeastern Wisconsin.