The for sale sign. It’s typically installed when the listing is taken and displays the name of the brokerage and the agent listing the property.
But did you know that it’s a violation of the ARMLS rules to have that sign visible in the listing photos in many cases?
Per Section 8.23 of the ARMLS Rules, “A for sale sign located on the property may appear in an image of the exterior of the home or property so long as the sign does not convey any specific contact information or company identification.”
The purpose of this rule is to ensure that listings sent to a client don’t cause confusion or encourage the client to contact the listing agent instead of their own buyer’s agent. The sign itself is not the issue it’s the contact information. It’s also a problem if the brand of the brokerage is recognizable from the sign.
What To Do Instead
If the sign is already up and you need to take pictures, do one of two things:
- Take the picture so the sign isn’t visible
- Use software to blur any contact information in the sign