I took a MANDATORY MLS 2-hour class yesterday afternoon. Although I rarely put my rental listings in our MLS, I am a member for information on current and past listings and the historical data on listings. I frequently find floor plans and other information that I can utilize in my marketing.
One of the MAIN points of our MLS IT teacher's presentation is the unauthorized use of listing photos. A few years ago, our MLS started brandng them with CAAR in the lower right hand corner and agents are taking those photos from the MLS and posting listings on our local Craigslist.
Likewise, CL SCAMMERS are finding desirable listings on our public MLS website and scraping the photos for their SCAM listings * stretching the photo to remove the CAAR watermark in the corner.
One of the FUNNIEST comments was for agents to NOT give property photos to the seller or buyer * HELLO! * MLS wants seller agents to say NO to a request for their property photos?....and tell their clients * NO, you might use them inappropriately in the future?
Some common sense needs to prevail and allowing the WATERMARKING by Agents or Brokers is the answer to much of these issues.
My rental website is hosted by HomeRentals.net * I can watermark them in my listings and the watermark transposes with the HTML that I post on Craigslist * all photos are watermarked with one-click.
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
Central Virginia
LandlordWhisperer
View our available Charlottesville, Albemarle and Lake Monticello rental homes online with photos and floor plans
"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous
I agree Wallace, but I doubt it will ever happen. The MLS will see that as a marketing free-for-all, and brokers will be water marking slogans on to the pictures also. It would definitely fix the problem though.
I agree * Common Sense is often left at the door
It is a sad that we have to worry about our listing pictures because of scammers. I think watermarking is a good idea.