PROview - December 2008 - (Page 16) MLS Update Mind Your Manners! Kat McCoy, MLS Manager Miss MLS Manners, I was solicited by a member who took my information from the MLS. Here’s a copy for your review: “Hello. I am writing in reference to your short sale listing in the MLS. Good News! We will handle the short sale negotiations at NO COST to you. Great News!! You will still earn your full commission; just like you would otherwise. We are professional bank negotiators who specialize in short sale transactions. We have many years of experience doing short sales and a very high closing ratio. The name of our company is XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and we are proud members of the Better Business Bureau. We are also licensed Realtors and Mortgage Brokers. As you know short sales are a very complex process [sic]; especially if you don’t do them on a regular basis. And as a Realtor you don’t make any extra money for all the extra work. With all the time you will save by working with us you will be able to: take on more listings, work with more buyers, have more closings and ultimately cash more commission checks. We also have an online tracking system where you can log in to check the status of your case at anytime. To learn more about this remarkable program click here for info. For a list of client testimonials click here for testimonials. Call our office today so we can get started. Our phone number is 727-###-####. Note: If the short sale has already been approved please keep us in mind for your next short sale listing.” Isn’t this against the Rules and Regulations? The name in the email is a member but the business name is not. I thought members could not use the MLS to solicit business. Thank you, Sick of Spam Mail Dear Sick of Spam Mail, With most communications coming via email, I understand your concern regarding spam mail, especially when it is coming from other members. Your message gives me a great opportunity to remind everyone of the purpose of the Suncoast MLS. In short (long can be found in the Rules and Regulations), the four main points of the MLS are: • Correlate and disseminate listing information to participants and subscribers in an orderly manner in order to better serve the buying and selling public. • To provide a means by which authorized participants make blanket unilateral offers of compensation to other participants and enhance cooperation among participants • To provide a means by which information is accumulated and disseminated to enable participants to prepare appraisals, analyses, and other valuations of real property for bona fide clients and customers • To provide a means by which participants engaging in real estate appraisal contribute to common databases Keep in mind the information in the MLS is considered confidential and use of information developed or published by the Multiple Listing Service is strictly limited to the activities authorized under a Participant’s or Subscriber’s licensure, certification or registration. For more information review Section 11 of the Suncoast Rules and Regulations. In the above circumstance, the member is soliciting for a bank, so they are using the MLS for a purpose outside of their licensure and they will be contacted to cease and desist. 16 PINELLAS REALTOR® ORGANIZATION December 2008
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.