| Lately I have been coming across more and | | | | (Reprinted, in part, from the Fifteenth |
| more real estate boards that having been | | | | Edition of the Handbook on Multiple Listing |
| banning the use of the word "MLS." They can't | | | | Policy, 2001) |
| use it in print, radio, TV and especially | | | | |
| Internet to convey the service they offer. | | | | Multiple listing, in one form or another, |
| The public knows what the MLS is and expects | | | | dates back into the nineteenth century. The |
| their agent to offer it. If they don't see | | | | first Boards of RealtorsÂ(R) were |
| that, they are going to go to the next guy | | | | established as "Real Estate Exchanges." On |
| that does. So if agents have their hands tied | | | | certain appointed days, the Members of a |
| and the boards are selectively enforcing this | | | | Board of RealtorsÂ(R) gathered at the |
| rule, it makes for quite an unfair business | | | | Board offices and "exchanged" information |
| environment. | | | | about their listings. They, in effect, |
| | | | carried on an auction as they frequently came |
| It's akin to a car salesmen not being able to | | | | prepared to purchase certain property desired |
| use the word car because a corporate lawyer | | | | by their principals, but listed by another |
| felt it was leaving the company open to a | | | | broker. This practice was common in the 1880s |
| lawsuit because they were being bias to | | | | and 1890s. Shortly after the end of the |
| trucks and SUVs. The corporate lawyer | | | | nineteenth century, the term "multiple |
| recommended the salesmen only use the words | | | | listing" was in use. It is mentioned as an |
| automobile or personal transportation device | | | | activity of Boards of RealtorsÂ(R) as |
| to cover their asses (I mean bases). | | | | early as 1907. In the 1920s, multiple listing |
| | | | had become widely accepted. The expansion of |
| This is basically the same reasons some Board | | | | this function continued through succeeding |
| of Realtors are banning the use of the word. | | | | years and spread throughout the country with |
| They feel since some brokerages opt out of | | | | the result that today hundreds of local |
| the MLS, the public is getting only a subset | | | | Boards of RealtorsÂ(R) provide Multiple |
| of the data and that would be misleading. | | | | Listing Services, in one form or another, to |
| Thus the board's corporate lawyers are afraid | | | | their Members. |
| this will leave them open to legal action. | | | | |
| Hogwash, just because some stingy brokerages | | | | This little tid-bit of knowledge may have put |
| want to keep everything in-house shouldn't | | | | you to sleep, but if you read carefully it |
| affect all the other agencies from being able | | | | unveils an important tool in your tool belt |
| to use a word on their advertisements. This | | | | to quash the insanity. The tool is the fact |
| is border line insanity and the only way it | | | | that the word MLS was in the public domain |
| is going to stop is if you, the broker, stand | | | | before NAR or any other formalized real |
| up and flex you legal muscles. You need to | | | | estate board was in existence. Thus, the word |
| make the board more afraid of a lawsuit, from | | | | is public, out there and no one can limit the |
| their reaction to being afraid of lawsuit, | | | | use of the word. Stand up to the board, it |
| then just being afraid of a lawsuit. Whoa, | | | | only exists because you pay your dues. The |
| lots of lawsuits. | | | | board of Realtors is set up to represent you |
| | | | and make you job easier not harder. Stop this |
| If any broker out there wants to flex their | | | | craziness right now, before they try and tell |
| muscles here is some ammo to help them out. | | | | you can't use the word realtor or something |
| | | | crazy like that. Oh shucks they already did. |
| History of the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) | | | | Good luck out there, don't let the man keep |
| | | | you down. |