Lets all contact OHREA for change

[Thomas Fiehler]

I just sent a detailed email to Brad Knapp, President of the Ohio Board of Realtors (or is that Real-Tirds?) My main concern was with agents not disclosing/listing the sales concessions on their listings. I would like to urge all appraisers who are licensed in Ohio to log onto the Ohio Board of Realtors website and send Brad Knapp. and others, an email requesting that the Board change their policy and require of all agents, that when a property sells and the seller pays something that is usually paid by the buyer, that this be reported in the MLS. Heck. they can even make it a private issue so only agents/appraisers get this data. Since I sent this a few minutes ago, I do not expect a resposne until next week. I would urge all appraisers to contact Brad along with their local Boards and urge this outdated policy be changed.

 

[TEL2002]

Tom, thanks for the excellent idea.

I'm heading out of town in a few minutes. When I'm back in a week I will shoot him an email.

 

[nb23yrs]

How about posting his e-mail address?

 

[wickedness1]

Great thread & great topic. I will send a letter as well, do you have an address?

 

[Mike Kennedy]

President Brad Knapp
Henkle-Schueler REALTORS
110 S. Broadway St.
Lebanon, OH 45036-1728
Phone: 513.932.6070
Fax: 513.932.9988
(knapp@ohiorealtors.org)
​

 

[Thomas Fiehler]

Sorry for the delay in getting the information back to you. I did a google for Brad Knapp and received his contact data. He replied to me that he is all in favor of posting the data but it is up to each local MLS. He plans on bringing it up at the State meeting (I believe in Sept.) but suggested that we all contact our local boards and let them know of our concerns.

 

[wickedness1]

Here's a copy of my email sent this morning:

Dear Brad,

I am writing you this email in response to a thread the I read on Appraisers Forum.

My husband & I own a small appraisal firm in Northeast Ohio. We contact every realtor on every transaction that has an MLS listing, that we are considering using for a comparable. Out of all the phone calls we make, we receive very mixed feedback from realtors. Some are extremely nice & tell us that they wish all appraisers called to verify givebacks while others are extremely rude and will not disclose claiming privacy issues.

We have had un-countable conversations in which the MLS listing did not disclose givebacks and per the purchase contracts, tens of thousands have been kicked back for septics, financing and other issues with the houses. Some realtors do not understand their role in providing vital accurate information to appraisers so that we can make accurate market value appraisals. I have had to direct realtors to the State of Ohio's newsletter in which the state strongly urges realtors to disclose this valuable information to us.

In Ohio's current economy, I feel that disclosure by all realtors on the MLS listings (at the time of closing) should be mandatory not just a case by case basis determined by IF the realtors feel its necessary. Realtors should be held to the utmost standards regarding this issue as they are the only direct contact with the sellers/buyers and the purchase agreements that we rely on to establish markets throughout Ohio. As far as privacy issues, all participants in the MLS System are licensed professionals, therefore this should not be a confidentiality issue as we need this information to make accurate determinations.

In closing, I hope you find my email to be informative and I can provide you hundreds of examples of seller givebacks that were not disclosed on the MLS listings, but were verified with the realtors during phone interviews. I am hoping that you will pursue making seller giveback disclosure a mandatory part of the MLS listings with consequences (fines) for those realtors who will not disclose them.


Wow already received a read reciept from Nikki Gasbarro!

 

[Thomas Fiehler]

Nice letter but you might want to copy that to your local board. If we all put some pressure on the locals there just might be some changes made.

 

[wickedness1]

Nice letter but you might want to copy that to your local board. If we all put some pressure on the locals there just might be some changes made.

I already received a response that reads:


Your e-mail regarding the duty of real estate licensees to disclose seller concessions to an appraiser was forwarded to me for response.

While I understand your concerns, licensed real estate agents and brokers cannot legally disclose the details of a transaction to anyone (including an appraiser), without the consent of their client because of their fiduciary duty of confidentiality to their client. This does not change because the property is in the MLS or the person asking for the information is a participant in the MLS or a member of their Board of REALTORS. If you look at the last paragraph of the Division’s newsletter this need to obtain the prior consent of the client is discussed.

Thank you,
Peg Ritenour

m2:m2:m2:m2:


So, I emailed her back and asked her to forward my email to Brad & here is the response that I received from another gentleman:

Peg Ritenour is legal counsel for the Ohio Association of REALTORS and took the time to respond to the message you sent via our Web site. She has informed you of limitations imposed by law relative to your concerns. If you wish to communicate directly with OAR President, Brad Knapp, his e-mail address is bknapp@henkleschueler.com.

Don Freels, CEO
Ohio Association of REALTORS


So, it appears that this is a lost cause. We need major lawmakers to be involved in this because without laws being changed, the Ohio Association of Realtors is not going to budge on this issue.

 

[Thomas Fiehler]

Makes you wonder how some boards around the country require this information but around here it's illegal!