MLS Listing - inaccuracies

[Functional Obs]

Am doing an appraisal on a bank-owned condo in Annandale and have noticed several discrepancies between what's listed and what I found during the inspection.

I know, if you received a dollar for every time you found a mistake or exaggeration you'd all be rich It's not uncommon for me to see where the agent put "Shows well," and yet I had to hold my breath and complete the sketch outside, etc. What I'm talking about here is just plain wrong info:

For example, he states that the subject has wall-to-wall carpeting. It has carpeting in only one of the 7 rooms of the house--a small bedroom.

Further, he states it's "patio-level"--which is interesting b/c you walk into the garden unit from the street and immediately head down a flight of stairs, and yes, you may walk out the back onto a small patio (as the earth slopes from front to back) ...

Heating is described as baseboard when in fact it's central air, etc., etc. There are more minor offenses...including one not-so-minor one of polishing up the virtual tour photos in photoshop to remove all blemishes from the walls and floor.

Anyway, the problem I have is that, since this is a purchase, some other appraiser is going to use this in the near future as a comp--and he's going to read all this wrong stuff from the description.

Is there some means of asking to have the factual info in the list description changed--other than calling the LA himself (which I would deem to be both inappropriate and a total waste of time)?

Thanks for any advice...

 

[Indiana Jones]

Anytime I see egregious errors in the MLS, I contact the helpdesk and let them know. Ours is pretty good about changing erroneous information.

YMMV

 

[Bama Bayou]

Having worked with about ten different MLS boards, the only way to fix the problem of incorrect listing information is fines. Some boards take the quality of the info seriously and some don't care.

Unless you want to join the MLS committee and change things all you can do is the best you can, and take everything you read in the listings with a grain of salt.

I was pretty lucky to be on the MLS committee of a board with great directors. For instance, I was able to get them to require that basement sqft be separated from above grade. I was also able to convince them to require that the closing costs (total settlement charges paid by seller on the HUD1 less commission) be sent in within 48 hours of closing. They had a list of fines for all kinds of transgressions and they inforced them.

Call this agent's broker and let them know that they have an sloppy agent. Appraisers are not the only ones who need accurate information on the listing.

 

[Vivian Bachner]

I do lots of REO appraisals in New Jersey. Could the property have been vandalized? I had one which was relatively new construction and the day before I did the inspection the house was broken into and gutted. There are a lot of angry people out there.

 

[TJSum]

› Home › Compliance Complaint Process

To file a complaint, send an e-mail to The Compliance Department by completing the Complaint form. Please forward any supporting documentation. The MRIS Compliance Department investigates all alleged violations of the Rules and Regulations or the Subscription Agreements.
If a violation is determined, one or more of the following sanctions may be imposed.

1. Letter of Warning to Broker and Agent
2. Letter of Reprimand to Broker and Agent
3. Appropriate and reasonable charge or fine
4. Termination or revocation of subscriber's access

This is taken from the MRIS website...

 

[ZZGAMAZZ]

NDC DATA provides for appraiser input.

 

[Mike Boyd]

This is also an example of false advertising. If it is habitual, maybe the FTC should be contacted.

 

[c w d]

From experience with our MLS system you'd be wasting your breath trying to get the listing accuratized (as Bush would say, I'm sure). Anyway, if you're concerned about reviews of your work, comment comment comment. Take pictures of the discrepancies and comment.