On July 30, 2020, the Board of Directors approved the following recommendations from the MLS Committee to amend the MLS Rules, as outlined below, and are effective immediately. For questions, please call 423.698.8001 and ask to speak with MLS Director Tonya Bell (tonya@gcar.net) or MLS Coordinator Rheta Beck (rheta@gcar.net).
Property Type & Land Use (not Zoning) to Determine Entry in Flexmls and/or Catylist
MLS Rules, Section 1.2 Detail on Listings Filed with the Service, e. Zoning: Zoning, when available, shall determine the Property Type in which a listing may be entered. If a property is zoned in more than one classification, the listing may be entered into both Property Types. Land Use & Property Type shall determine which MLS platform (commercial and/or residential) the listing may be entered. For entering a listing in the incorrect Property Type, the listing will be removed by the MLS and noticed provided to the listing agent that the listing shall be entered within the required timeframe as outlined in Section 1. Listing Procedures of these Rules.
Seller Concessions, Amount & Description No Longer Required Fields in Flexmls
While there is no reference in the MLS Rules, Seller Concessions and Seller Concessions Amt & Description fields no longer are required fields in Flexmls.
Due to the confidentiality requirements in state licensing law and the Code of Ethics, the MLS Committee removed the requirement of these fields in Flexmls. In making this decision, the MLS Committee gathered input from local appraisers, who felt the former requirement did not guarantee* accurate data entered for these fields and their ability to perform appraisals would not be impacted if this data were absent in the MLS compilation.
*Local practice had been to answer “no” to Seller Concessions when the listing agent determined (or was instructed by the seller) that information was confidential.) The former local practice was inconsistent with the Code of Ethics, Article 12, which requires REALTORS® to “be honest and truthful in their real estate communications and shall present a true picture in their advertising, marketing, and other representations.”