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Compliance and Why it Matters

Picture of Jamie - Marketing Director

GREC Advertising Blog

There's a little department that we all fall under called the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC). The GREC ensures that we are all working both ethically and legally when helping others buy, sell, or lease real estate. If you didn't know, the GREC also provides advertising guidelines for us to adhere to. Did you know that ALL advertising MUST BE approved by the Broker? 

This article will touch on a few items that are ABSOLUTELY required in ALL of your advertising. 

Per the GREC, the following are key advertising rules you MUST know:

Rule 520-1-.09. Advertising

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through September 21, 2022

(1) Definitions.
(a) Advertising or Advertisement. For the purposes of this Rule, the term "advertising" or "advertisement" means any manner, method, or activity by which a licensee through the use of any media makes known to the general public real estate for sale, rent, lease, or exchange.
(b) Media. For the purposes of this Rule, the term "media" includes, but is not limited to, print, photographs, broadcast, and the Internet, including but not limited to, such examples as newspapers, magazines, flyers, posters, business cards, billboards, radio, videos, television, signs (including office, directional," for sale," "for lease," "sold," or vehicle signs), newsletters, voicemail, email, facsimile transmissions, Internet websites, blogs, video blogs, property listing database services, email farming, news groups, discussion lists, bulletin boards, social networking/social media, instant text messages, multimedia advertising, banner ads, pop-ups, and similar media.

Summary: Everything you do that promotes your services or properties falls under this definition. This includes all forms of social media, sharing through digital or print materials, etc. Just assume that anytime you promote, it falls under "media".

(7) Firm Names and Telephone Numbers in Advertising. In advertising specific real estate for sale, rent, or exchange in any media:
(a) firms must include in the advertisement a name of the firm as registered with the Commission and a telephone number for the firm, except when complying with lawful restrictions (such as covenants or local governmental ordinances) that forbid the use of the firm's name on a particular type of sign;
(b) the name of the firm advertising the real estate for sale, rent, or exchange shall appear in equal or greater size, prominence, and frequency than the name or names of any affiliated licensees or groups of licensees;
(c) the firm's telephone number shall appear in equal or greater size, prominence, and frequency than the telephone number of any affiliated licensee or groups of licensees, and it must be a number at which the public can reach a broker or a manager of the firm without going through the affiliated licensee(s) listed in the advertisement;
(d) whether contained in a logo or standing alone, the name of the firm must be in equal or greater size, prominence, and frequency than the name of any affiliated licensee or group of licensees; and
(e)

a block advertisement in any print media that advertises various listings of a firm and includes the name of the listing agent next to each listing shall be in compliance with this rule if the name of the firm appears only once at the top of the advertisement in equal or greater prominence and print size than any of the listing agent's names. The firm's name may be located in other positions in such block advertisements if the firm name appears clearly larger and more prominently than the name of any other licensee in the advertisement.

Summary: The B&C Logo and your Office number MUST APPEAR on ALL MEDIA. Your name and cell number must be EQUAL or SMALLER than B&C. Your name, your logo, or your phone number can NEVER be bigger. 

While there are several brokerages that have agents who don't follow the rules, we are a brokerage that adheres to all policies, rules, and regulations. And I do understand that sometimes it's not convenient to have all the required information on your posts, a fine from the GREC will cost more.

If you are unsure if your asset is in compliance, please email or text it to me (or the marketing team) for a check. All marketing materials provided by the marketing team are in compliance with GREC. 

For a full read of the advertising Rules and Regulations, please click here. If you have any questions, please shoot me a message or leave a comment! 

 
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