1 CRMLS Compliance Top 5 Violations and How to Avoid Them
2 Our Coverage 100,000+ Listings 85,000+ Real Estate Professionals 35 Association/Board of REALTORS
Where Do the CRMLS Rules Come From? 3 They are based on Model Rules developed by C.A.R. and N.A.R. Additional Rules are proposed by the CRMLS Rules Committee (The committee includes a representative from every CRMLS member AOR/BOR) All Rules must be approved by the CRMLS Board of Directors
4 Where Can I Access CRMLS Rules and Policies?
5 What Happens If I Break The Rules? CRMLS Citation Policy Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 First Violation Warning Letter (Only if Violator has not already received two prior Warning Letters) Warning Letter (only if Violator has not already received two prior Warning Letters) $1,000 fine Second Violation Warning Letter (only if Violator has not previously received two prior Warning Letters) Warning Letter(only if Violator has not previously received two prior Warning Letters) Second and Subsequent Violations: $2,500 fine Third Violation Attend Class in Lieu of Fine (if such class offered by AOR/MLS) or $100 fine $250 fine Fourth and Subsequent Violations $300 fine $500 fine Violations are tracked on a calendar year basis and each member receives 2 warnings per calendar year before fines are assessed (with the exception of Tier 3). In order to avoid the issuance of additional citations, violations must be corrected within two (2) business days of notice. Violations which remain uncorrected subject the violator to the imposition of new penalties and removal of the listing from active display.
6 Top 5 Violations in Matrix 1.Late Entry of Listing - Enter your listing into the MLS within 2 business days or submit a listing exclusion form (Rule 7.8 and 7.9) 2.No Listing Photo -Add at least one photo of the exterior structure of the property within 5 calendar days of listing input (excludes Business Opportunity) (Rule 11.5) 3.Branded Photo/Virtual Tour Photos and virtual tours must not contain promotional pieces or branding related to the listing agent or listing brokerage (Rule 11.5) 4.Misuse of Public Remarks - The Property Description field should only be used to describe the property s physical and aesthetic characteristics (Rule 12.5) 5.Inaccurate Information and Auto Sell Listing Broker shall use good faith efforts to determine the accuracy of the listing information. Listing Broker must properly and manually manage their listings in the Pending/Backup status to ensure that listings are accurately reflected in the system when they are Sold(Rule 8.3)
7 Late Entry of Listing: 7.8 Mandatory Submission All new listings must be input into the MLS within 2 business days of the Effective Date of the Listing. The effective date is when: o All necessary signatures have been obtained; or othe beginning date of the listing as specified in the contract, Whichever is later.
8 7.8 Mandatory Submission: Exclusion Form A listing agent may withhold the listing from the MLS if: othe seller has signed a specific written request (exclusion form) that the listing not be input into the MLS for a period of time. othe exclusion form must be submitted to CRMLS within 2 business days after the Effective Date of the Listing. Exclusion forms should be submitted online at: crmls.org/excludelisting
9 Listing Photos: 11.5 Photographs on the MLS A listing must include at least 1 photo of the exterior of the structure listed in the MLS. This photo must be added to the listing within 5 calendar days of entering the listing into the MLS. If a listing is canceled within the first 5 calendar days after entry of the listing, the exterior photo requirement will not apply. If a listing is sold within the first 5 calendar days after entry of the listing, the exterior photo is still required. Business Opportunity Exclusion. If the listing is classified as Business Opportunity, a photo is not required.
10 11.5 Branded Photographs/Media on the MLS Photographs/Media must not contain the following: o Agent, Broker, or Brokerage names or photos or logos o Phone Numbers o Website addresses o Email Addresses o For sale or for lease signs, billboards, open house signs, promotion signs, or any other advertising material with identifiable information o Messages or solicitations o Images of people, animals, or other items not directly related to the listing CRMLS reserves the right to remove any photo from the MLS that is not in compliance with this section.
11 Photograph Violation Examples
12 Photograph Violation Examples
13 11.5 Branded Virtual Tours on the MLS Virtual tours and links to virtual media must not contain promotional pieces or branding related to the listing agent or listing brokerage. All virtual tours in the MLS should be limited to descriptive information regarding the listing. Virtual tours must be listing specific and must not link to an agent s or broker s website or any other website. The virtual tours may not include: o Any advertising, marketing, or branding of any kind o Messages or solicitations of any kind CRMLS reserves the right to remove any virtual tour from the MLS that is not in compliance with this section.
14 12.5 Misuse of Public Remarks The Property Description field should only be used to describe the property s physical and aesthetic characteristics. The Property Description field may not include: o Gate codes o Showing Instructions o Compensation Information o Lockbox information o Occupancy status of the property such as vacant o Email addresses o Website addresses o Phone numbers o Agent or brokerage information o Open house information o Language that violates applicable fair housing laws and guidelines. CRMLS reserves the right to remove any language from the MLS that is not in compliance with this section.
15 Syndication Remarks Field The CRMLS Matrix platform features a field on the property listing record that is used for Syndication purposes and is designed to help increase your exposure on public internet portals. This field may contain agent contact information such as phone number, email address, branded virtual tours, YouTube Videos and website URL s in the Syndica on Remarks field.
16 8.3 Accuracy of Information Including Auto Sold Responsibility: The Listing Broker represents that the information input into the MLS is accurate to the best of the listing broker s knowledge. The listing Broker shall use good faith efforts to determine the accuracy of the information and shall not submit or input information which the listing broker knows to be inaccurate. This information includes but is not limited to: APN, Area, Bedrooms and/or Bathrooms, Square Footage, etc. Auto Sold: When changing the status of a listing to Backup or Pending, the listing Agent is required to enter an Estimated Close of Escrow date. If your listing is not closing on the date entered, the Estimated Close of Escrow date must be extended within 2 business days. If the listing s status is not updated within 5 days of the Estimated Close of Escrow date you entered, the CRMLS Matrix platform s Auto Sell rule will automatically change the lis ng s status to Auto Sold ( ). CRMLS reserves the right to remove any inaccurate information from a listing. *Notification Schedule: 14/7/1/Day of
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