The Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) has suspended Compass’ IDX feed, citing the brokerage’s private exclusive listings in the Seattle market.
Compass began publishing private exclusive listings in the NWMLS market last month. NWMLS did not offer public comments on the suspension, which was initially reported by Inman, while Compass stated the suspension came without any warnings.
Last week, Compass CEO Robert Reffkin ran a quote on Instagram from the law firm Crowell & Moring LLP that stated, “Washington State Law requires a seller’s agent ‘to be loyal to the seller by taking no action that is adverse or detrimental to the seller’s interest in a transaction.’ By not allowing agents to market off the MLS when their client wants them to, Northwest MLS is in effect asking agents to break the law. State law supersedes MLS rules. NWMLS is forcing agents to choose between NWMLS’s rules and their clients’ wishes.”
Reffkin followed up with his own statement on Instagram that declared, “The MLS shouldn’t be able to dictate how homeowners sell their home. The worst part: homeowners have no idea this is happening to them.”
