Checklist To Make Sure Your Social Media is TREC Compliant

Social media is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to marketing your real estate business! The most highly used platforms are: Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 77% of Realtors use social media and 47% report getting great leads. Get this: 99% of millennials and 90% of baby boomers house-hunt on social media! You can’t afford to “not” be on social media. However, as an agent or broker in Texas, you must still follow Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) advertising rules when using social media. Here’s a TREC-list of some of the guidelines to help keep you on track: 

Name & Status

You must clearly show your broker’s name (or team name) and designate what type of a real estate professional you are: agent or broker. Make sure your postings don’t imply that you are the listing broker when posting other broker’s listings. Don’t claim you are the owner of a brokerage if you are an agent working there.

Get Registered

Your brokerage name must be registered through TREC before using it in advertising. If you choose a team name, it must end with “Team” or “Group” and cannot include the terms: brokerage, company or associates. A form to register your name is available on TREC’s website.

Consumer Notices

You must provide a link to the Consumer Protection Notice and Information About Brokerage Services in a noticeable place on your business websites, including your social media pages. This info can be in the “About Me” section of your profile. The links are required to be in a 10 or 12 pt font.

Keep It Personal

While it’s optional, it is considered best practice to keep your business and personal pages separate. Do all the TREC compliant advertising you’d like on your business page and avoid posting listings, business solicitations (or other content designed to attract the public to your services) on your personal pages.

REALTOR® Requires Membership

While not a TREC specific rule, only active members of the NAR may use the term Realtor and only in connection with their personal and firm name. Use capital letters and include the registration symbol: REALTOR®

Double Check for Accuracy

If you are going to post listings for sale on your social media pages, make sure that you are posting accurate details about the property.  Not doing so could cause an agent to be accused of misrepresenting the property.

In spite of doing your best to follow TREC rules, advertising issues are bound to come up. A general liability policy can help protect your brokerage from costly advertising related lawsuits. For more information go to: RealShieldInsurance.com. 

For more information on TREC’s social media rules visit TREC’s Website