MLS Standards of Practice and Fines

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE (MLS)

STANDARDS OF PRACTICE AND FINES

Reviewed by the MLS Committee

Approved by the Board of Directors

Effective August 1, 2022

Standards of Practice Section 1:

Inputting Listings

All agents included on the listing agreement must be members of the MLS. Non-members of the

MLS are not allowed to list or co-list.

The listing date and marketing date are different. You may use the marketing date for your

listing date in order to obtain pictures, etc.

Listings may not be input in the MLS as pending; all listings must be input as active. The

Association may review all listing agreements.

Members of GSMAR’s MLS may co-list with other members of GSMAR’s MLS outside of their

company, however the listing can only be entered into the MLS one time.

Duplicated Listings

Listing can be listed in Commercial and Residential if the property is zoned Commercial.

Listings can be listed in Residential and Land/Acreage, if the property can be sold separately or

subdivided.

Residential Properties with AUD’s may also be entered in Multi-Family.

No other duplications are allowed. Any Properties listed multiple times can only be closed in

one Class and the other must be withdrawn once closed.

Property Type

If the property type is incorrect, it must be changed within one (1) business day.

Condominium

Condominiums must be listed as condominiums, not single family.

Remarks and Directions

Remarks and Directions fields shall not include firm names, agent names, telephone numbers,

bonus/commission statements, rental company name, rental company phone number,

owner/agent and any and all URL’s, or any references to owner condition (i.e., divorce, estate,

out of state). These types of information must be entered in the designated data field or in the

Addendum. Specific directions to the property must be written out in the Directions field..

One-Party Listings

One-party listings are entered in the MLS as Sold before Listed after closing. When using the

Agreement to Show Property, the listing date is the first date in the Authorization Period. The

termination date is the last date in the Authorization Period.

Photos

Over use of Photoshop is prohibited.

When drone and/or aerial photography is used, specify such in public remarks.

Agents cannot remove photos once the listing is off market.

There will be no branding on signs or virtual tours for the agent or company in the MLS. A sign

can be blurred using photoshop.

The primary picture of a listing must be a ground level exterior view of the home or business. In

the case of lots it may be an aerial view with the addition of at least two (2) street shots. Use of a

collage (one photo with multiple images) as a primary photo is prohibited. Tax maps or plot

images are not allowed to be used as a primary photo. In the case of condominiums, it is

suggested that agents use the complex, not a specific door. The intent of this rule is that the

agent is insured they are at the correct location.

Sold before listed or any listing entered regardless of status requires a primary photo.

NOTE: Use of another agent’s photos without permission is a copyright violation.

Login

Sharing login information to the MLS system is prohibited.

Cooperation

MLS participants and subscribers are prohibited from allowing expired listings to be still active

in MLS without the seller’s permission.

Misrepresentation

Any misrepresentation of a property is prohibited.

First Right of Refusal

Listing may remain active but First Right of Refusal must be stated in the first line of the

Addendum and Remarks.

Bedroom

Number of bedrooms can be no more than the septic approval. If no septic approval is available,

see Bedroom Definition below. Further, extra rooms cannot be referred to as bedrooms in the

remarks.

Bedroom Definition

Bedrooms are defined as no pass-through rooms, 2 egresses, lofts allowed if disclosed.

Availability

Overnight rentals are shown based on availability; otherwise, properties should be available to be

shown within reason and according to seller instructions. Repeated requests of the inability to

show will come before the MLS Committee for possible sanctions. Virtual showings only are

not enough to be considered “available to show.”

Owner’s Name

The owner’s name of record must be in the owner’s name field. Use of “withheld” or “Owner of

Record” may not be used. In the case of owner/agent, “o/a” should follow the name.

Associated Documents

All residential listings and multi-family listings are required to have Confirmation of Agency and

either Property Disclosure or Exemption uploaded to Associated Documents as well as the

current septic permit provided by the State or Local Environmental Health Department and the

TN SSDS form at the time the listing is created. Land listings require Confirmation of Agency

only. Pre-construction requires a current septic permit provided by the Environmental Health

Department as well as the SSDS and Confirmation of Agency.

As long as foreclosure is marked in the miscellaneous features, no associated documents are

needed. HUD listed properties are exempt.

Preconstruction does not require Property Exemption. However, If the foundation of the property

was in place prior to the current preconstruction, that must be disclosed in the remarks.

Acreage

Acreage is a required field. The only time acreage is not required is if the property is listed as a

Condominium or if the listing is checked “yes” in the PUD field.

Long-Term Rentals

When a long-term rental has been leased, the broker will withdraw the listing within two (2)

business days to avoid interference with comps. If the listing is not withdrawn by the broker, the

staff will withdraw the listing from MLS.

Signage

The sign must be removed from “Temporarily off Market” properties to comply with the Clear

Cooperation Policy or a rider that says “Temporarily off Market” must be attached to the sign.

Virtual Staging

Virtual staging will be allowed in vacant or new construction homes only and will include only

furniture, rugs and wall art (appliances are NOT furniture). Each photo must be identified as

virtually staged.

Bereavement Policy

Upon the death of an immediate family member (defined as spouse, parent, parents-in-law,

grandparents or children) the member will receive passes on MLS violations two weeks before to

four weeks after the date of death. If it is discovered that fraudulent information was given to the

Association, the member could be subject to suspension or termination. Documentation via

email or letter to the Association Executive must list the deceased person’s name, relationship to

member, date of death, MLS#’s and the action requested for each MLS# within the time frames

mentioned above.

Miscellaneous

GSMAR can request signed paperwork from agents, i.e., listing contracts, etc., to ensure

compliance with Multiple Listing Service. All requested documents must be sent to the

association within one (1) business day of request.

Listing agents must send any listing documents to the Association where the seller has opted out

of the MLS within one (1) business day of signed agreement. If the seller opts out, the seller

must stay out. The listing cannot be added for comp purposes. Statistics for company reporting

may not be placed into MLS unless originally placed there.

If a house has been renovated, the original build date must be used in MLS. However, the

remodel date may be mentioned in the remarks.

Put names and numbers OR email addresses regarding HOA’s in MLS within three (3) business

days of notification.

Self-Reporting

Agents that report a violation they have made in writing before the MLS staff or another agent

reports it will not be fined for that MLS number.

Fines Section 1:

There are no monetary fines associated with Section 1 of the Standards. Unless otherwise stated,

the listing agent will have one (1) business day to make the correction after notification by staff

in writing using the email address currently on file at the Association. On the close of the one

(1) business day, staff will withdraw the listing from the MLS unless the changes are made.

Designated Brokers are copied on all correspondence to listing agent.

Standards of Practice Section 2:

Status Change (from Active to Pending or Pending to Sold)

Status Changes must be made within three (3) business days.

Inputting Listings

All Non- Residential Properties to be listed in MLS must be delivered within seven (7)

business days of the start of the listing period as stated in the Listing Term section of your listing

agreement.

Fines Section 2:

On a yearly basis, beginning August 1, 2021, fines are structured collectively as follows: (NAR’s

Clear Cooperation Policy is addressed separately)

a. 1st Offense – warning

b. 2nd Offense - $100 to agent only

c. 3rd Offense - $250 to agent only

d. 4th Offense – 30-day suspension to the agent

On any fine levied, if the fine is not paid in thirty (30) days, an additional One Hundred ($100)

Dollars will be assessed. If the balance is unpaid after sixty (60) days, access to MLS will be

removed.

Standards of Practice Section 3:

NAR’s Clear Cooperation Policy

Section 1.01 – Clear Cooperation

Within one (1) business day of marketing a property to the public, the listing

broker must submit the listing to the MLS for cooperation with other MLS

participants. Public marketing includes, but is not limited to, flyers displayed in

windows, yard signs, digital marketing on public facing websites, brokerage

website displays (including IDX and VOW), digital communications marketing

(email blasts), multi-brokerage listing sharing networks, and applications available

to the general public. (Adopted 11/19)

Note: Exclusive listing information for required property types must be filed and

distributed to other MLS Participants for cooperation under the Clear Cooperation

Policy. This applies to listings filed under Section 1 and listings exempt from

distribution under Section 1.3 of the NAR model MLS rules if it is being publicly

marketed, and any other situation where the listing broker is publicly marketing an

exclusive listing that is required to be filed with the service and is not currently

available to other MLS Participants.

Section 1.3 Exempt Listings

If the seller refuses to permit the listing to be disseminated by the service, the

participant may then take the listing (office exclusive) and such listing shall be filed

with the service but not disseminated to the participants. Filing of the listing

should be accompanied by certification signed by the seller that he does not

desire the listing to be disseminated by the service.

Note 1: Section 1.3 is not required if the service does not require all (indicate

type[s] of listing[s] accepted by the service) listings to be submitted by a

participant to the service.

Note 2: MLS Participants must distribute exempt listings within (1) one

business day once the listing is publicly marketed. See Section 1.01, Clear

Cooperation.

Fines Section 3:

On an annual basis, beginning August 1, 2021, fines are structured for the NAR’s Clear

Cooperation Policy as follows:

a. 1st Offense – warning

b. 2nd Offense - $100 to agent only

c. 3rd Offense - $250 to agent only

d. 4th Offense – 30-day suspension to the agent

e. The Clear Cooperation Policy applies to Residential listings only

f. If a seller refuses to permit a listing to be disseminated by the MLS service, the

participant may then take an “Officer Exclusive Listing” and such listing shall be filed

with the MLS but not disseminated to the Participants. Filing of the listing should be

accompanied by certification signed by the seller that he does desire the listing to be

disseminated by the MLS service. Office Exclusive listings may no longer be entered

into the MLS after the listing has closed