The Rules Roundup provides a monthly accounting of RMLS rules violations and courtesy notifications. Our Data Accuracy team manages all reports of property listing errors, tracking 34 specific issues outlined in the RMLS Rules and Regulations, and is responsible for addressing subscriber questions and concerns regarding listing accuracy.
HIGHLIGHTS
Personal promotion is consistently one of our top violations, and a good many of them result from virtual tours. While virtual tours are an excellent tool to give buyers a feel for a home and help them decide if they want to see it in person, there are rules which govern these tours.
Keep in mind that personal promotion is not allowed anywhere in the virtual tour or on the website you use to host them.
Hired photographers will often offer you branded and non-branded versions of your tour. Only the non-branded version is allowed to be hosted with the listing. Neither you or anyone associated with you is allowed to be on the tour. We have seen many cases where the photographer will host your tour as well as other non-branded tours on their channel, which is a great option.
There are many websites and services that provide packages and host non-branded videos, including Vimeo and Matterport, and YouTube is a great free option. Make sure the website you are using is not affiliated with you in any way. This means not including your first, last, or brokerage name, or any contact information. Remember that the purpose is to advertise the house and all its attractive features, not yourself. It’s a good idea to have one channel dedicated to non-branded virtual tours and nothing else.
FORMAL VIOLATIONS
The RMLS Rules and Regulations Committee reviews all formal complaints which allege a violation of the RMLS Rules and Regulations. The committee has the power to impose sanctions.
The committee reviewed one case in August of 2022.
Type of violation: Unauthorized use of RMLS lockbox access
Resulting fine: $2,000.00
INFORMAL VIOLATIONS
Listings missing Tax ID information are consistently the top informal violation within RMLSweb. Sometimes the missing tax information is due to an error of omission. Other times, it may be because the listing is a new construction property that does not yet have a tax ID number available. Data Accuracy sends courtesy notices out to remind agents of the need to provide the tax information (when available).
The chart below shows the next three most frequent informal violations from August 2022.
This pie chart shows the remainder of the informal violations last month.
Data Accuracy Department Statistics
- Listings Reviewed: 19,448
- Notices Sent: 3,168
- Violation Notices Received: 387
- Courtesy Notices Sent: 2,381
- Phone Calls Received: 413
How to Report Violations
Subscribers have multiple options to report violations, including a Report Issue button on every RMLSweb listing. Subscribers can email our Data Accuracy team at dataaccuracy@rmls.com or call them at 503.395.1916. When there are increases in specific violation types, we sometimes place notifications on RMLSweb.
Just a late night inquiry. How are agents advertising listings on certain sites without branding. For instance, how would one do a You Tube Video without personal branding?
I would like a deep dive on this subject and more information on this topic.
Great question, Susan! We’re working with our Data Accuracy division to put together more information for you and we’ll have a full response soon.
Susan, in terms of non-branded advertising, basically the approach is to use sites that do not contain identifying characteristics (no first or last name, or broker name, or contact information).
This is a good example: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY0NqCE-8iRatmOAvGBNPNw
It may be the photographers page, but it could also be for a REALTOR. You can use a professionally-sounding name that isn’t affiliated with your own or that of your business.
Here is another example of the same thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLikeJaOeyE
Essentially the page should act as a gallery. The whole channel should be dedicated to personal tours and nothing else.
We hope that helps but if you have more questions, please reach out to our Data Accuracy department (da@rmls.com).