Currently, real estate agents are paying a fee to be a member of the Multiple Listings Service (MLS). Even though they are paying customers, they are not allowed to have any personal or company branding on their virtual tours. I completely disagree with this rule, and here is why:

You, the real estate agent, are putting in the effort to take photos, make videos, and put these homes in the best light possible in order to sell them. So why shouldn’t you be able to receive phone calls and credit for your hard work?

Instead, the MLS is turning around and selling your virtual tour to 3rd parties like Redfin and Zillow. These companies then take the product that you created and sell listings by zip code that are full of videos that you, the agents, went out and put together on your own. 

Essentially, you are making money for the MLS, these 3rd party websites, and other agents that purchase various zip codes. So, why should you have to pay to be a part of the MLS if you just end up putting in the effort to help others make money?

To me this feels like a rip off. Why pay for something that doesn’t allow you to promote yourself fully while others benefit? I am open to other points of view. What are your thoughts on this?