Photographs and Listing Content People own the rights to their own images (face) and images of their real estate (home). Some real estate imaging is in the public domain. Example: The White House and it can be used freely. Private homes cannot be freely used in photographs without permission. REALTORS/brokerages create copyrighted and owned intellectual… Continue Reading Photos
Potential Buyers, Try Using Your Cell Phone At the Property Potential buyers should inspect how their cell phones (and other wireless devices) work in the property they are considering buying prior to contract. Many things affect wireless devices (e.g. distance from cell towers, electrical interference, man made interference, natural interference (geographic/vegetation), materials interference). There are… Continue Reading Test Cell Phone
Scams! 1. Nigerian scam. Hack your email. "Help, I am traveling and lost my wallet. Please wire money to me at ___________________________." 2. Craigslist scam. Scrape your listing info and re-post online as a rental. Defenses: google alert your listing information (address, photos, etc.). Report to SCR and FBI at www.ic3.gov and Craigslist 3. Wire… Continue Reading Scams!
Good Tree, Bad Tree http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2014/04/07/cities-in-search-more-storm-proof-trees?om_rid=AAEG6Z&om_mid=_BTQw0iB85KQF-U&om_ntype=RMODaily
Eavesdropping Crime - Don't Eavesdrop, Peep, Film, or Record If people have a reasonable expectation of privacy, it can be crime to eavesdrop or peep or film or record. See Section 16-17-470 http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t16c017.php
Don't ask "Where are you from?" http://massrealestatelawblog.com/2014/01/26/asking-where-are-you-from-results-in-60000-discrimination-penalty/
Psychologically Affected Properties. For business reasons, brokerages may want to go beyond the state law below. Listing brokerages get seller to disclose upfront. Buyer brokerages recommend buyers hire private investigators to check out the property and surrounding area. All brokerages want happy clients and customers for referrals and repeat business. Some buyers will care. Some… Continue Reading Psychologically Affected Properties
E-Sigs, No Not E-Cigarettes, E-Signatures! Everyone is moving toward the 21st century goal of a paperless real estate transaction. So, all laws and SCR forms reflect that. SCR forms require everything in writing and delivered and notice of delivery. Because SCR forms have a non-reliance clause, SCR recommends that all electronic contractual negotiations be conducted… Continue Reading E-Signatures
Fair Housing Month, Fair Housing Quiz http://www.realtor.org/rmoquiz2.nsf/fairhousingquiz
NAR on Copyright, Listings: http://www.realtor.org:8119/topics/mls/managing-listing-content/how-to-manage-and-protect-listing-content