GGRREECC RREENNeewwss September 2023
Volume 19 Issue 9

Monthly Newsletter of the Georgia Real
Estate Commission

# 1
2023 Calendar

This Issue

Tips on Teams and Groups GREC Job Opportunities Disciplinary Stats AMK
Focus on Terminology

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P. 2

Tips on Teams or Groups of Licensees

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and Advertising
While the Georgia Real Estate Commission License Law, Rules and Regulations do not specifically recognize and define a "team", there are certain areas of the Georgia License Law, Rules, and Regulations that Licensees must consider when creating and operating as teams or groups of Licensees within a brokerage Firm:

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Link to GREC Disciplinary Actions
View Current Suspensions and
Revocations

First, creating a group or team within a brokerage Firm does not absolve the Broker of any responsibility for the actions of the group or team, nor does it relieve the Broker of the responsibility to supervise all members of the group or team. In fact, the Broker may need to adjust and add additional supervisory policies of Licensees doing business as a team or group.
For all teams or groups, the Broker must approve all advertising. Advertising includes all forms of media, printed and electronic. All advertising must include the name of the brokerage Firm as registered with the
Commission. The advertising should avoid any confusion that would mislead the public to think a group/team is another or different real estate Firm. When advertising a specific property, the Firm's name and telephone number shall appear in equal or greater size, prominence, and frequency than the name and telephone number of any affiliated Licensee or groups of Licensees, and the phone number must be one at which the public can reach a Broker or a manager of the Firm (not the group or team) without going through the affiliated Licensee(s) listed in the advertisement.
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GREC RENews September 2023, Volume 19 Issue 9
Tips on Groups or Teams and Advertising
Any trade name to be used in an advertisement must be properly registered with the Commission. The term trade name includes trademark and service mark.
Advertising must be clear. If a trade name is registered with the Commission, it may be used instead of the Brokerage Firm name. If it is not registered with the Commission, it may be considered misleading and a violation of the advertising rules.
The term advertising includes advertising done by others on behalf of the Licensee.
It is a violation of the Georgia License Law, Rules, and Regulations to intentionally advertise material which is misleading or inaccurate or which in any way misrepresents any property, terms, values, policies, or services of the business conducted.
For further clarification visit https://grec.state.ga.us/informationresearch/license-law/ and Advertising Rules At a Glance
bsolutely ust now Section
Internet Advertising
The Broker is responsible for approving all advertising of real estate. And this includes ensuring that all Internet advertisements include the name and telephone number of the Firm on every viewable web page of the website, with 2 exceptions:
If a Licensees advertises real estate for sale, rent, lease or exchange on an Internet website that is not owned or controlled by the Licensee or Firm where the Licensee is affiliated, and that website's terms of use limit the ability to comply, then the advertising must include a link to the full details in compliance with advertisement rules.
When electronic messages must limit space or characters, then the advertisement must provide a direct link that does meet all requirements. This link must be on every viewable web page of the website. For example, any real estate advertised or listed for sale by a Licensee in a text on FacebookTM, InstagramTM, etc. must include a link to the full details in compliance with advertisement rules.
Any website used by a Licensee to advertise real estate must be updated regularly, or the information must be removed within 30 days of the information being inaccurate.
Focus on "Media"
"The term "advertising" or "advertisement" means any manner, method, or activity by which a licensee through the use of any media makes known to the general public real estate for sale, rent, lease, or exchange." "The term "media" includes, but is not limited to, print, photographs, broadcast, and the Internet including, but not limited to, such examples as newspapers, magazines, flyers, posters, business cards, billboards, radio, videos, television, signs (including office, directional, "for sale," "for lease," "sold," or vehicle signs), newsletters, voicemail, email, facsimile transmissions, Internet websites, blogs, video blogs, property listing database services, email farming, news groups, discussion lists, bulletin boards, social networking/social media, instant text messages, multimedia advertising, banner ads, pop-ups, and similar media.
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