Blog This House? You Better Not If You Are A Realtor
Should Realtors blog about houses? Is blogging the same thing as advertising? A fascinating story evolving in Seattle raises these issues, specifically: Can Realtors publish blogs with comments about houses listed by other Realtors? The answer from the MLS in Seattle appears to be "No way."
From the Seattle P-I: "The Northwest Multiple Listing Service has fined Redfin $50,000 and asked the company to stop publishing a popular blog in which the online real estate brokerage posted reviews of Seattle-area homes. ... MLS rules prohibit brokers from advertising another member's listing without permission."
This prompted a vigorous debate on the Seattle real estate blog "Rain City Guide":
In defense of Redfin's blog:
--"This is absurd... The MLS seems to be arguing that any public mention of a listed property by a member is advertising."
--"If the truth harms the seller, then the seller SHOULD BE HARMED. If it ain’t truth, it’s libel and there are legal recourses for that."
In defense of the MLS:
--"The reality is that talking about someone else’s listings steals their business. It’s true. If I write posts about the best properties out there, it is likely some people will call me to buy them."
--"What if a post about your listed property said, 'This property has now been on the market for 4 months. Come on in and make an offer, now. The Seller is probably getting desparate!' If you were the Seller, or if you were the agent, how would you feel about a post like this?"
--"It is no one’s inherent right to throw eggs at someone’s house."
Thoughts? Comments? Don't be Shy. Email story tips to lalandblog@yahoo.com
Thanks to Manhattan Beach Confidential for this story tip.
