The mandate has been adjusted to the 30 percent standard we pushed for. It has been an exhausting road to get here but I am relieved that our businesses can finally function without this overreach. We still need to keep our eyes on the board to ensure they hold to …
May 11, 2017
Final supporters
RE: SB 26
Dear Michigan Realtor Association Leadership,
I believe thousands of real estate agents & brokers in the State of Michigan, whom are believers and supporters of "Agent Branding" as a critical aspect to their businesses health and growth are extremely disappointed that you have thrown your support behind these “new” signage rules.
Your proposal requiring the brokerage name to be 100% of the size of an agent's name on any & all advertising is believed by many as an overreaction, overreach, and anti-competitive.
We believe that you could have easily accomplished your stated goal of reducing confusion and clarifying which brokerage an agent is affiliated with by creating a rule that compelled the brokers name to be a minimum of 30% in type size of the agents name rather than 100%. By requiring the brokerage name to be the same size or larger than the agent name, you have clearly chosen the side of one business model over another. This is wrong.
We strongly & respectfully request that you revisit SB-26 and support an amendment to the law changing your requirement of Brokerage name size from 100% to 30%.
The legislators who supported this new rule did so on the assumed basis that there was no controversy surrounding this ruling and that all Michigan Realtors and Brokers agreed that the 100% rule was fair. This discussion was compartmentalized to a very few "in the know" realtor, brokers and associations. This was not a transparent discussion by any means.
Many agents have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars over an extended period of time to drive business to their websites, phones, Facebook Business pages, etc. Far beyond what any broker can do & does for any agent. The institutional advertising being paid for by any broker helps and expands no individual agents business. Agents must brand & differentiate themselves to be noticed. This is not bad. This is how modern advertising works.
In most instances, the individual agent is paying for all of their marketing and advertising. It is good for our industry. Our industry needs new and creative ideas. Which is what these agents bring to the table. This law is forcing us back into the dark ages. Diminishing competition. This is not good for our industry.
The public is not the largest complainer. It is and has been our peers who have disapproved of this practice for the past 20 years.
You can accomplish your goals without this anti-competitive overreach.
Please reconsider,
Greg Carlson
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 14, 2017
February 12, 2017
Reaching this level of visibility proves that the industry is finally waking up to the unfairness of this mandate. It has been an exhausting uphill battle but seeing this many people push back convinces me we are right to fight for a fair amendment.
Reached 100 supporters
February 11, 2017
February 9, 2017
The climb toward one hundred signatures is slow and exhausting but we are sticking with it. Please get this in front of anyone else who understands how much these signage rules hurt our individual brands. We have to keep pushing even when it feels like we are hitting a wall.
230 Comments
It's going on 2 decades and my entire 12 years in the industry where the billboard on US 96 West into Muskegon has a very prominent realtors name all huge with their companies name in micro font in corner. What's the big urgency for now? This is petty imo.. ~Scott
These changes were not transparent and handled in the way sweeping changes should be made. These rules are an over correction handled by a few rather then an appropriate response to the changing market conditions for brokers. Please address the needs of all Realtors before making these changes.
I believe this new law would be very unfair to agents. We each own our own business and should be able to promote them. As a business owner I pay for my own marketing, not my broker - so why am I paying to market my broker.
Equal size is ridiculous ... maybe 20 or 30 percent. And that is on sineage only.... it would be nearly impossible on promotional items such as calendars os ball point pens or keychains etc ... due to space limitations.
I don't know if any other industry of independent contractors that require this. Specifically the securities industry, which is very heavily regulated, doesn't even require this. This is completely excessive.
I agree with the petitioners explanation as to why this ruling is unfair. As an independent contractor, I should have the final say in my marketing strategies as long as my broker agrees
I
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The mandate has been adjusted to the 30 percent standard we pushed for. It has been an exhausting road to get here but I am relieved that our businesses can finally function without this overreach. We still need to keep our eyes on the board to ensure they hold to …
May 11, 2017
Final supporters
RE: SB 26
Dear Michigan Realtor Association Leadership,
I believe thousands of real estate agents & brokers in the State of Michigan, whom are believers and supporters of "Agent Branding" as a critical aspect to their businesses health and growth are extremely disappointed that you have thrown your support behind these “new” signage rules.
Your proposal requiring the brokerage name to be 100% of the size of an agent's name on any & all advertising is believed by many as an overreaction, overreach, and anti-competitive.
We believe that you could have easily accomplished your stated goal of reducing confusion and clarifying which brokerage an agent is affiliated with by creating a rule that compelled the brokers name to be a minimum of 30% in type size of the agents name rather than 100%. By requiring the brokerage name to be the same size or larger than the agent name, you have clearly chosen the side of one business model over another. This is wrong.
We strongly & respectfully request that you revisit SB-26 and support an amendment to the law changing your requirement of Brokerage name size from 100% to 30%.
The legislators who supported this new rule did so on the assumed basis that there was no controversy surrounding this ruling and that all Michigan Realtors and Brokers agreed that the 100% rule was fair. This discussion was compartmentalized to a very few "in the know" realtor, brokers and associations. This was not a transparent discussion by any means.
Many agents have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars over an extended period of time to drive business to their websites, phones, Facebook Business pages, etc. Far beyond what any broker can do & does for any agent. The institutional advertising being paid for by any broker helps and expands no individual agents business. Agents must brand & differentiate themselves to be noticed. This is not bad. This is how modern advertising works.
In most instances, the individual agent is paying for all of their marketing and advertising. It is good for our industry. Our industry needs new and creative ideas. Which is what these agents bring to the table. This law is forcing us back into the dark ages. Diminishing competition. This is not good for our industry.
The public is not the largest complainer. It is and has been our peers who have disapproved of this practice for the past 20 years.
You can accomplish your goals without this anti-competitive overreach.
Please reconsider,
Greg Carlson
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 14, 2017
February 12, 2017
Reaching this level of visibility proves that the industry is finally waking up to the unfairness of this mandate. It has been an exhausting uphill battle but seeing this many people push back convinces me we are right to fight for a fair amendment.
Reached 100 supporters
February 11, 2017
February 9, 2017
The climb toward one hundred signatures is slow and exhausting but we are sticking with it. Please get this in front of anyone else who understands how much these signage rules hurt our individual brands. We have to keep pushing even when it feels like we are hitting a wall.
230 Comments
The listing agent is most knowledgeable and be the best point of contact when calling off a sign rather then the old system call into a office and hope the agent taking the call if familiar with the listing . Please reconsider not to mention the cost of replacing the signs .
It's going on 2 decades and my entire 12 years in the industry where the billboard on US 96 West into Muskegon has a very prominent realtors name all huge with their companies name in micro font in corner. What's the big urgency for now? This is petty imo.. ~Scott
These changes were not transparent and handled in the way sweeping changes should be made. These rules are an over correction handled by a few rather then an appropriate response to the changing market conditions for brokers. Please address the needs of all Realtors before making these changes.
I believe this new law would be very unfair to agents. We each own our own business and should be able to promote them. As a business owner I pay for my own marketing, not my broker - so why am I paying to market my broker.
Equal size is ridiculous ... maybe 20 or 30 percent. And that is on sineage only.... it would be nearly impossible on promotional items such as calendars os ball point pens or keychains etc ... due to space limitations.
I don't know if any other industry of independent contractors that require this. Specifically the securities industry, which is very heavily regulated, doesn't even require this. This is completely excessive.
I agree with the petitioners explanation as to why this ruling is unfair. As an independent contractor, I should have the final say in my marketing strategies as long as my broker agrees
I
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The listing agent is most knowledgeable and be the best point of contact when calling off a sign rather then the old system call into a office and hope the agent taking the call if familiar with the listing . Please reconsider not to mention the cost of replacing the signs .