How Do You Approach Listing Agent?

Question

There is an agent in Orlando,FL who posts a ton of home tours on youtube and they are not his listings (I did some digging to confirm this).  I'm sure he's made arrangements with the listing agents to get permission.  And he doesn't give specific addresses on the properties, just areas/town.

But I wonder what kind of written agreement would you need to use?  And what rules do you need to follow to keep it legal?  Technically, we are not allowed to market another agent's listings, without permission.  Has anyone done this and if so do you have a written agreement (wording?) that you use to CYA?

Kristin Kiddy · Answer

@Jonathan Greene they definitely feel like a buyer's tour and he is doing it as part of his social media personality.  He is not trying to pass the property off as his listing and includes a link to the mls idx feed on youtube where you do see the listing agent information.  I get the feeling he has permission.  I would like to do some select videos myself as a broader series on some of the neighborhoods in my area and I wanted to know how to go about an approach another agent/broker.  Do you have any wording you use in your emails?

Dan Maciejewski · Answer

As @Bruce Lynn says, they are most likely their own broker's/another agent that works for their broker's.

Just ask and CYA confirm in an email.

We share listings all the time with newer agents for Open Houses.  And with Opens going virtual, there's a big opportunity to advertise listings online.

Marian Huish · Answer

Talk to your Broker @Kristin Kiddy!

Jonathan Greene · Answer

@Kristin Kiddy as others have alluded to, for you to do it, it's much easier to ask the big hitters in your office if they mind because why would they mind. That can also help get Open House opportunities if you are looking for those as well. I would always just make sure to tell anyone you ask that they will be listed as the listing agent and that will be clear. No one should have an issue with that. My realtor friends show my listings all the time and post on Instagram and tag me, whether they are with my brokerage or not.

Bruce Lynn · Answer

Are they his broker's listings or other broker's listings?   Remember the listings aren't those of the agent, but the broker.  I've had plenty of agents in my office ask if they could market my listings and that is fine with me.   Maybe he has the blessing of his broker and is just doing this on his brokerages listings, (not necessarily ones he has signed up himself.) Not sure I would want other agents from other brokerages shooting video/pictures inside one of my listings, but everyone is different.

I guess you could probably get some kind of release drawn up by an attorney.

Wayne Brooks · Answer

@Kristin Kiddy Your Broker can tell you what your local mls rules are and what you need to do.

Jonathan Greene · Answer

There's a big difference between posting them as buyer's tours and crediting the listing agent and pretending like they are your listings. Which one is he doing? If it's not specific addresses, it's likely he is not getting permission, but he absolutely needs it. If I use something from a listing for my buyer's agents, we credit the agent in the photo or marketing so it's clearly not our listing and we are working cooperatively. In most cases, an email acknowledgment is fine from the other agent, but I don't see it as a way to build business to market other people's listings.

How Do You Approach Listing Agent?

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