Summary of Aiken MLS Rules Changes

May 2023

Changes to MLS Violation Fines

• Clear Cooperation Violations
  • Rule
    • Within one (1) business day of marketing a property to the public, the listing broker must submit the listing to the MLS for cooperation with other MLS participants. Public marketing includes, but is not limited to, flyers displayed in windows, yard signs, digital marketing on public facing websites, brokerage website displays (including IDX and VOW), digital communications marketing (email blasts), multi-brokerage listing sharing networks, and applications available to the general public.
  • Fine
    • First offense: $100 fine plus $100 per day until violation is corrected.
    • Second offense: $250 fine plus $100 per day until violation is corrected.
    • Third offense: $500 fine plus $100 per day until violation is corrected and agent must appear before the MLS Committee.
• MLS Email
  • Rule
    • Emails seeking or describing upcoming listings will not be allowed as they violate the Clear Cooperation Policy.
  • Fine
    • First Offense: Warning Letter + Reminder of Rule
    • Second Offense: $25 fine
    • Third Offense: $100 fine
    • Fourth Offense: $200 fine + agent must appear before the MLS Committee

MLS Rules and Regulations Changes

• Several “Housekeeping” changes were made.
  • o   Changed all instances of Aiken Board of REALTORS® to Aiken Association of REALTORS®.
  • o   Changed all amendment dates to be consistent.
  • o   Misplaced headings or mis-numbered sections corrected (sections updated to match NAR MLS Handbook numbering).
  • Changed “Participants” to “Principal Broker Participants (Participants) for clarity. 
• Section 6(b) and 6(c) updated to reflect billing individual agents. 
• Section 6 updated to reflect annual key billing (removed July)
• Updated IDX and VOW sections to match NAR MLS Handbook
• NAR Mandated Changes Incorporated: Click here to view

MLS Policies and Procedures

• Several “Housekeeping” changes were made.
  • Changed all instances of Aiken Board of REALTORS® to Aiken Association of REALTORS®.
  • Changed all amendment dates to be consistent.
  • Changed any instance of “Navica” to “MLS System”
  • Changed “Temp Off Marker” to “Withdrawn” to reflect labels in Flexmls
  • Changed “FTP” and RETS to “IDX”
• Added new Team Policy
  • A team is defined as two or more Aiken MLS Participants or Subscribers working or acting as one for all transactions.
  • To create a team, the Participant/Subscriber will need to complete the team application.
  • he Participant/Subscriber must notify the MLS Office of all team changes, including removing a member from the team, the addition of a team member, the transfer of a member to a new team, or termination of a team. Please email mls@aikenrealtors.org to make changes to a team. 
  • Participants/Subscribers may only be on one team at a time. 
  • Team members may access the MLS at the same time. 
  • Teams must identify a team leader. Team email addresses must be unique. 
  • Aiken MLS does not allow teams to register names that imply the team is an independent brokerage. Team names should not indicate in any way that the team is its own business or entity.
• Added full language from NAR’s Lockbox and Key Security Regulations.

Aiken MLS Listing Status Definitions: Click here to view

• Active with Contingencies: Listings under contract with contingencies. Once contingencies have been lifted, except for financing contingency, agents should Pend the listing. (Displayed on IDX sites with a note indicating the Under Contract Status.)
• Pending: Listings under contract and contingencies have been met, except for financing contingency. Pending listings will remain in the system as pending until closed or brought back to ACTIVE status. (Displayed on IDX sites with a note indicating the Pending Status. Ex: Zillow.)

Other Changes

• Brokerages will be charged the current Quarterly MLS Fee starting with Quarter 3 2023 for licensed staff members.

Please send us an email with any questions.