Sign The Petition to Keep The MLS Free??

**Jim B** · 02-27-2008, 08:36 PM

Have you all stopped by my friend Ryan Ward's blog and signed the petition to keep the term MLS free for all of us REALTORS to use in our marketing, and on our websites?

MLS Search

Please stop by and sign the petition, before your board of REALTORS decides that it is a Ethics violation to use the term MLS on your website, or in your URL.

There are already many REALTORS in several market places tied up in legal actions trying to protect their way of life.

**realestate360** · 02-29-2008, 08:06 AM

That is crazy! I am not a Realtor, but I understand that most Realtors rely heavily on the MLS for traffic and exposure to their listings. Why would local MLS services start considering it a violation when it is a service provided by the National Association of Realtors? If every Realtor who uses the term MLS on their sites (and links to MLS listings) is a member of the NAR, then they are actually supporting the MLS, rather that deterring visitors!

Unfortunately, I feel this is a ploy by the NAR in response to the current real estate industry's condition. They need money, and they're going to extremes to get it. If Realtors have to pay to become members (I'm not sure about that, so correct me if I'm wrong) of NAR, then why would they be prohibited from using anything related to a service provided by the NAR? It just doesn't make sense! This petition you mentioned is a wonderful idea. I don't know that my opinion could count as I'm not Realtor, but I do know that there is already so little provided to Realtors in terms of marketing, that they need something to help out!

Good luck with the petition, and let me know if we as outsiders can do anything to help! I can at least spread the word through our blog and other means, if you like!

On a more positive note, Realtors do have many other options besides the MLS for promoting their listings. My company just released a survey to collect data on the methods of search that home seekers prefer to use and/or use most often. We plan on running the survey for a period of 3 weeks and publishing a formal report just before April, which I understand is the very start of the busy season for real estate in most areas. Our findings will perhaps help Realtors to incorporate newer, more popular methods of advertising in the promotional plans, based on home buyer preferences. If the MLS system proves not to be the most popular search method for home buyers, maybe the restrictions they're trying to impose will backfire and help them to see the error of their ways (especially if Realtors are using cheaper/more popular advertising methods.

Good luck to you all, and let us know if we can help!

-Real Estate 360[SIZE=-1]

**Home Brochures** · 03-07-2008, 02:17 PM

So what is NAR going to do, sue every home seller that decides to use the MLS number on a self printed brochure that sits in front of their home? Home Sellers have been doing this for years with or without the input of their Realtor.

Bottom line, its not enforceable.

**norinepeardon** · 03-09-2008, 09:33 AM

I'm not a realtor . . just a first time home owner. My experience with brochures is very successful ! First, you can match the selling price against your budget. If you feel the specific house is over your budget, you have not wasted the time, making an appointment and viewing the property. Second, the brochure will introduce you to some of the details about the interior of the home.

I'm not saying that this will be a total picture but it is the place to start.
Obviously, the total picture will be evident after viewing the interior of the home.

If it were not for brochures, I probably would not own this house today and it wasn't my first choice because another seemed to be more in my price range. It took me about 14 years to find the house I wanted to buy!

Norine Peardon