Letters to the Editor

Re: 'MLSs attack for-sale home 'relisting' practices' (Sept. 21)

Dear Editor:

I loved this piece! Relative to your article, no matter how many Realtors try to justify the practice, "re-listing" is inherently deceptive and runs counter to the underlying concept of honesty in the code of ethics (on which NAR has spent gobs of money to promote) and would seem to run afoul of Articles 1 (treating "all parties honestly"); 2 (avoiding "exaggeration, misrepresentation..."); and 12 ("be careful at all times to present a true picture in their advertising and representations to the public.")

If the same agent continues to represent a seller in an uninterrupted manner under a common listing agreement, the days-on-market clock should start when listed and continue until the property goes under contract or the agreement is terminated. Further, momentary termination or withdrawal for the purpose of listing the property anew under essentially the same terms and conditions as were previously in effect is little more than a sham.

Either we as an organization believe in our principals or we don't. If we do, this practice should be terminated. If not, then the NAR's ethics blitz needs to be publicly footnoted to suggest that ethics counts only when it does not interfere with marketing a property.

Richard B. Newbert
Keller Williams Commercial Real Estate
Newtown, Pa.

Dear Editor:

If you get rid of the days-on-the-market number, everybody will be better served. Days-on-market numbers hurt the agent's role with sellers and buyers -- more with sellers, but also with the buyers who worry about something being wrong with the house they just fell in love with. Eliminate days on the market completely!

David Kropp
Scottsdale, Ariz.

Dear Editor:

This story has no value. All people interviewed need to get a life. Real estate practitioners like to use big words and talk about ethics like they are peanuts. The whole Realtor concept is based on that, and people are stupid to subscribe to it. There is no use for its existence, as every licensee has to take a course on ethics to get licensed by the state. It is a mere marketing tool.

Same thing with re-listing; the whole idea is to expose the property and sell it. This article describes the art of taking a simple concept and making it an issue.

Chris Eliopoulos
Metropolitan R.E.S.
Beverly Hills, Calif.

All rights reserved. This content may not be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, in part or in whole, without written permission of Inman News. Use of this content without permission is a violation of federal copyright law.