As established in Official Interpretation No. 10 of the National Association’s Bylaws, rules giving cooperating brokers the right to negotiate directly with an exclusively-represented seller are an inequitable limitation on REALTORS®. Appointments for showings and negotiations with sellers for the purchase of listed property published in MLS compilations shall be conducted through the listing broker, except:
- where the listing broker gives the cooperating broker specific authority to show and/or negotiate directly, or
- after reasonable efforts a cooperating broker cannot contact the listing broker or the listing broker’s representative. However, listing brokers, at their discretion, may preclude any direct contact or negotiations by cooperating brokers. (Adopted 11/04) M