Naples Florida Real Estate: Is Your Property Marketed Through Broker Reciprocity?

What is Broker Reciprocity?  In a nutshell, it's a policy created by the National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors in early 2000 that authorizes MLS participants to display the listings of other participants on their Web sites.  (Read more about the history of Broker Reciprocity) 

Why is Broker Reciprocity important to Sellers? According to a survey conducted by the National Association of REALTORS® Over 80% of home buyers surveyed searched the Internet for their next purchase.  If your property can't be found on the Internet, is your agent or company doing their best to expose your property to ready, willing and able buyers?  

Is your property appearing on other company's websites?  Some sellers may be surprised to find their property is NOT appearing on sites offering Broker Reciprocity.  It is a term that may be agreed upon during the time a listing is taken between the agent and/or company and the seller.  (Please note, all states may not work the same way, consult your agent for details.) When using a NABOR (Naples Area Board of REALTORS) listing agreement, it looks like this:

 This topic is addressed in Paragraph 3 Section H, Page 2 .  Here's what it looks like:

Would you like to know all the good reasons why you don't want your listing involved in the Broker Reciprocity Program?  I would too.  I don't know one good reason why any listing should not be involved. 

Here are some hocus pocus reasons to not be included in Broker Reciprocity:

1.  We don't want agents from other companies to show our listings because they're not going to do as good of a job as our agents will.  This reason could easily be resolved by making sure an agent from that company accompanies all showings.  Next... 

2.  Our listings are very exclusive and we don't want just anybody to know too many details.  Under the Broker Reciprocity provisions there is a limited amount of information that can be shared in the first place.  The ONLY way private or personal information could be shared is if the listing agent and/or company typed those details in the remarks section.

3.  I don't want other companies to advertise my property.  What a shame as there are many competent agents who work for many professional companies in the Naples real estate market.  Sellers who think this way are only hurting themselves especially in a market where property values have yet to bottom out. 

In closing I'd like to add that all of the Naples properties I list are marketed through Broker Reciprocity.  I've never been challenged on the topic nor have I ever witnessed a negative experience regarding Broker Reciprocity.  It has neither slowed or prevented any of my listings from selling.  I strongly believe in cooperating fully with other agents and/or brokers and offering Broker Reciprocity is just one example of doing so. 

I have been blessed to have worked with many sellers who entrust me to handle my business appropriately.  Some seller's have offered their opinions, asked questions and from time to time offered advice regarding how I run my business which I am much appreciative.   I have never had a client who has felt like they knew my business better than me and demanded I run it differently.  I have been very fortunate to have worked for them.

If you have any questions regarding your listing, please contact your agent. 

If you are interested in allowing me to help you sell your Naples property or you would like for me to be your Naples REALTOR, feel free to call me at 239-595-6223 or email me direct at shannon@shannonlefevre.com