Listing Remarks: The Six Sections and How to Stay Compliant

NorthstarMLS is here to help ensure compliance. One question we get a lot is, “Can I add this to the remarks section?”
While it’s a simple question, the answer is a bit complex because NorthstarMLS listings actually have six different remarks sections for agents to use:

• Agent Remarks
• Public Remarks
• Financial Remarks
• Open House Remarks
• Driving Directions
• Photo Captions

Let’s take a deeper dive into what is allowed in each of these sections:

Agent Remarks

This section is used for confidential information, not to be shared with the public. A few examples of what you see in agent remarks are:

• • Contact information
  • Seller incentives to buyers
  • Private instructions
  • Lockbox codes
  • Websites

There cannot be any commission/compensation language in the Agent Remarks section. For more details about Agent Remarks, read this Rules & Regulations post.

Public Remarks

This section is used for information that can be publicly displayed. It is used primarily to describe the physical traits of the property for sale.

There cannot be any promotional types of information in the Public Remarks section. However, you may use the name of a builder or brand names only in the extent that it describes the property, for example: Anderson windows. Seller incentives to buyers are also allowed in public remarks.

A few things that are not allowed in Public Remarks include:

• • Company and contact information
  • Open house information
  • Third party promotions
  • Sale of personal property
  • Commission/compensation language

For more details about Public Remarks, read this Rules & Regulations post.

Financial Remarks

This section is used for financial information and cannot be seen by the public. Seller incentives to buyers can be included in this section, but remember, there cannot be any commission/compensation language in Financial Remarks.

Open House Remarks

All open house information, including model open houses is shared in this section. This information is publicly displayed. Here too, there cannot be any commission/compensation language in the Open House Remarks section.

Driving Directions

This section is used for directions to the listed property. It is very important to add complete and clear directions. As a best practice, be sure to add as detailed directions as possible and include at least two streets to turn onto to get the property.

Remember, GPS is not always available in some areas. Driving Directions Remarks are publicly displayed. It is not acceptable to add language like “See Maps,” “Google Maps,” “GPS,” “TBD,” “Property Address,” or leave the field blank. There cannot be any contact information or commission/compensation language in the driving directions.

For more details about Driving Directions Remarks, read this Rules & Regulations post, or this helpful past blog on the topic.

Photo Captions

Descriptions of the photos shown and any virtual staging are included in Photo Captions and these remarks are publicly displayed. There cannot be any contact information, website links, promotional information, or commission/compensation language in the Photo Captions.

If you are unsure of what can go in these sections, we are ready to help you! Please feel free to send in your remarks for compliance check to Rules@northstarmls.com.