Agents that are subscribers to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service have been put on notice! There are many rules that agents must abide by outside of licensing laws and REALTOR(R) code of ethics. A large number of those come from membership in the local NWMLS which is a cooperative of the brokers in the Puget Sound region who allow access to each other’s listings via this online vehicle. We all pay membership dues into it and the brokers are the owners.
Our daily business revolved around proper data and information being provided via the site – and that translates also to what is seen by the general public as data feeds from the IDX to broker and individual agent websites proliferate. The folks here at Team Reba are occasionally flummoxed by the lack of photographs, driving directions and other missed data points but it seems that the NWMLS has decided to implement a new tool that will provide automatic fines for the most common transgressions of the system. We welcome it even though we know that we could slip up some day and get tagged ourselves. Our support of the NWMLS implementing this program comes from the fact that we want to see each and every agent putting out their best efforts, all the time, for the benefit of the public and, more specifically, to our clients. Every step taken to improve, we believe, helps to improve the image of the real estate agent and our overall industry in the eyes of the public and that’s a good thing.
Below is a snippet of the language that was provided to all agents that puts us on notice:
Starting July 22, NWMLS will phase in automatic, escalating fines with lengthy grace period of at least 90 days. During that period, notices of violations will be sent to agents who violate NWMLS’s rules, but they will be sent as a warning only and no fines will be imposed. Under the new provisions, agents who violate the rules will receive a warning letter. The second violation results in a $250 fine. A $500 fine is imposed for a third violation. The fine increases to $1,000 for the fourth violation. For additional violations, NWMLS may proceed with formal disciplinary action.
