Letters to the Editor

Re: 'Flat-fee company protests MLS rules in Washington' (Nov. 9)

Dear Editor:

Listings placed in the MLS are to display not only listings as a service to sellers but, more importantly, to solicit the service of "cooperating brokers," with compensation being offered to those cooperative brokers.

Unfortunately, in the case of the flat-fee, limited-service listings, there is NO COOPERATING BROKER. All transaction details, including the contract negotiation, are being handled directly with sellers. I feel this is nothing more than a FSBO listing and a way that predatory salespersons are making money by nothing more than advertising. Let these folks use the FSBO site or -- better yet -- create their own site for networking these listings. Name it, "I'll pay for this one advertisement, but then you are on your own!"

MLS systems are in place for Realtors who are willing to cooperate with each other, to network with each other on behalf of their customers, and for members to jointly work together as transaction brokers.

Flat-fee brokers are being allowed to use a well-oiled machine designed with a completely different purpose in mind, to gain something for nothing. It seems a most self-serving purpose.

I can't help but think that these people would be the first to toot their own horns as local, perhaps even, national, "top producers," etc., to sit on top-producer panels at local, or perhaps, NAR roundtables or conferences and tell young aspiring Realtors their views on the get-rich-quick approach to real estate sales. Perhaps they will title their lectures, "How to make money by spending the least amount of time with a customer."

What happened to integrity and the personal service, not to mention the professional integrity Realtors have worked so hard to represent to the public for all these years? I think this is a slap in the face to those of us who work to uphold that level of representation! We've allowed this to happen by not speaking out; but again, I support MLS boards to make independent decisions on what type of listings are entered into the IDX based on the type of listing agreement.

The public is not being protected, but taken advantage of by flat-fee brokers. Our profession is being weakened and as they say, "You are only as strong as your weakest link."

Perhaps we'd all feel better if there were a standard disclaimer required of these brokers that again says, "I fully understand that I am getting an advertisement only and that I am on my own from this point forward!"

Debbie Kirkland
Realtor
Tallahassee, Fla.

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