In order to complete your RETS request, our compliance department must review your website or a demo site prior to receipt of live access to the Content. The IDX rules listed below must be adhered to at all times.
- Only Broker’s or their licensees (with broker’s permission) websites may display Bright MLS listing content.
- Brokers may display their own listing content. However, only an IDX participating broker may display Active and Contingent listings from other brokers. Limited Sold Data as determined by Bright MLS may be displayed on IDX sites.
- Written permission from the appropriate broker must be obtained for that broker’s listings to be displayed on data aggregator or other advertising websites.
- MLS participants shall present a true picture in their advertising and representations to the public, including the URLs and domain names they use, and participants may not: engage in deceptive or unauthorized framing of real estate brokerage websites; manipulate (e.g., presenting content developed by others) listing content in any way that produces a deceptive or misleading result; or deceptively use metatags, keywords or other devices/methods to direct, drive, or divert Internet traffic, or to otherwise mislead consumers.
- All websites must adhere to the Bright MLS Rules and Regulations.
- VOW sites must adhere to the Bright MLS VOW Policy.
- Information intended only to be seen by cooperating brokers may not be displayed publicly. This information includes but is not limited to showing instructions, compensation to cooperating brokers, contract information, etc.
- Addresses of listing where Brokers who have elected not to display the address may not be displayed.
- Listings from brokers who have opted out of IDX may not be displayed.
- Brokers and their affiliated licensees may exclude listings from display on IDX sites based only on objective criteria including, but not limited to, factors such as geography or location (“uptown”, “downtown”, etc.), list price, type of property, (e.g., condominiums, cooperatives, single-family detached, multi-family), cooperative compensation offered by listing brokers, type of listing (e.g., exclusive right to sell or exclusive agency), or the level of or the level of service being provided by the listing firm. Selection of listings displayed on any IDX site must be independently made by each Participant.
- Subscribers must protect IDX information from misappropriation by employing reasonable efforts to monitor and prevent “scraping” or other unauthorized accessing, reproduction or use of the MLS database. Subscribers may not use IDX-provided listings for any purpose other than display on their websites. This does not require subscribers to prevent indexing of IDX listings by recognized search engines.
- With respect to any IDX site that allows third-parties to write comments or reviews about particular listings or displays a hyperlink to such comments or reviews in Immediate conjunction with particular listings, or (b) displays an automated estimate of the market value of the listing (or hyperlink to such estimate) in immediate conjunction with the listing, the IDX site shall disable or discontinue either or both of those features as to the seller’s listing at the request of the seller. The listing broker or agent shall communicate to the MLS that the seller has elected to have one or both of these features disabled or discontinued on all subscribers’ websites. A subscribers’ IDX site may communicate the subscribers’ professional judgment concerning any listing.
Nothing shall prevent an IDX site from notifying its customers that a particular feature has been disabled at the request of the seller.
- An IDX operator shall maintain a means (e.g., e-mail address, telephone number) to receive comments about the accuracy of any data or information that is added by or on behalf of the IDX operator beyond that supplied by the MLS and that relates to a specific property displayed on the IDX site. The IDX operator shall correct or remove any false data or information relating to a specific property upon receipt of a communication from the listing broker or listing agent for that property explaining why the data or information is false. However, the IDX operator shall not be obligated to remove or correct any data or information that simply reflects good faith opinion, advice, or professional judgment.
The checklist below is provided to assist you in preparing your website; it does not guarantee that your website will pass the initial compliance review.
Bright MLS must be credited as the source of the information.
No statement may be made indicating or implying that the consumer is gaining access to Bright MLS or directly to the Multiple Listing Service (e.g., “Search the entire MLS database”, etc.).
Disclaimer about the accuracy of the information must be included.
There must be a disclosure that listing information on the web site is from various brokers who participate in IDX.
The listing broker’s name must be displayed on each listing (e.g., “Listing Courtesy of XYZ Real Estate”).
Last Update Date must be displayed. The website must be updated at least once every 12 hours.
Websites of licensees affiliated with a participant’s firm shall disclose the firm’s name and the licensee’s state(s) of licensure in a reasonable and readily apparent manner.