Call me "picky" but when I continually see violations of the Code of Ethics, MLS Rules & Regulations, Delaware Real Estate Commission (DREC) Rules & Regulations, and the proper use of the word REALTOR^®, I have to speak up.

Here are some of the most common violations that I have
been noticing.

1. You must disclose on your website the State or States in which you are licensed. (Standard of Practice 12-9, Code of Ethics)
2. If you subscribe to IDX, you must also show on your website the number licensed to you to use IDX. You may obtain this number from SCAOR.
3. If you do not subscribe to IDX, you cannot advertise or display other Brokers' Active listings without their permission. (Article 12 - Code of Ethics & SCAOR MLS Rules & Regs)
4. You must display the telephone number that is registered with the Delaware Real Estate Commission on all advertising of property and personal promotion. This includes websites and business cards. (Section 7.3, DREC Rules & Regs)
5. You must ensure that your status as a real estate professional is readily apparent in your advertising, marketing, and other representations, and that the recipients of all real estate communications are, or have been, notified that your communications are from a real estate professional. Be sure your "signature" on your email correspondence indicates you are a REALTOR^® and includes your company information. Emails can be considered "personal promotion." (Article 12 - Code of Ethics & Section 7, DREC Rules & Regs)
6. You cannot advertise any property or real estate services in any medium (electronically, print, radio, television, etc.) without disclosing the name of your real estate firm. (Standard of Practice 12-5, Code of Ethics & Section 7.3, DREC Rules & Regs)
7. Websites must also disclose the name of your real estate firm (Standard of Practice 12-9, Code of Ethics)
8. The word REALTOR^® must always be capitalized. You cannot use any adjective before the word REALTOR^®. For example, you cannot say, Your Rehoboth REALTOR^® or Your No. 1 REALTOR^® or Your Neighborhood REALTOR^®. Please go to realtor.org, Law & Policy/ REALTOR^® Trademark/Logo Rules for all the regulations concerning the proper use of the word REALTOR^®.
9. Bonuses may only be offered to "Selling Agency" or "Selling Broker" (not selling agent) in accordance with Delaware law which prohibits payment of commission or compensation to salespeople, except by their Broker. (Sec. 5.4 - MLS Rules & Regs)
10. When sending out Neighborhood Newsletters and featuring a "Recently Sold" section, be sure to point out that all of the properties on the list are the subject of recent sales transactions; cite the period of time during which the transactions were closed. Also include language that the information was taken from the SCAOR MLS and clearly indicate that the properties on the list had been listed and sold by various Participants in the MLS. (Interpretation of Standard of Practice 12-13, Code of Ethics)

I hope you find this information helpful and that it will keep you "on the right side" of the Code.

See you next week!

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