They do it to get listings from people in the neighborhood or other buyers that are looking to buy in that neighborhood.

Just call them and tell them what you are doing - I'm sure they'll take it down no problem.

I don't know what the legal requirements are - but I wouldn't leave it on my website for more than two months. Just personal opinion.

This is a wonderful post and raises an interesting issue. And I don't know the guidelines either, but I'm interested in knowing who does.

I think without the permission of the new owners, a sold property should be removed immediately from all websites. Like once settlement has been completed.

It's an ethical violation to have a sign on a property without written permission from the owner. How is it different to have photo, address and such plastered over the 'net? A possible privacy violation for the new owners, at least.

I'd have a convo with the broker of that company and the local R Association as you are the new owner and have not given permission.

I know agents who will get an agreement and even pay a small amount (100 bucks, I've heard) to a new owner for permission to keep a 'sold' sign on a property for a month after closing. That's a great idea. But it's done by the book.

IMO . . .   :)

I agree it should be removed immediately unless you have the new owners permission to leave the sold by sign up. As far as knowing what you paid for the property a good buyers agent or a smart consumer is going to go to the tax records to find out the history of the property so the potential buyer should know what you paid for the property.

I've requested sold sign placement from a new owner (my Buyer) for no more than 2 weeks.  I know of others who have done it up to a month but, seriously, how long does a new owner want that sign in their yard?

I checked our local regs, but it's a classic case of the rules not keeping up with technology.  I couldn't find anything on the website issue.

So here's my suggestion:  30 days if it's my listing but I was not the selling Agent.  If I was the Selling Agent, 60 days (or more?).

Thoughts?

Mary, here in Idaho we are obligated to remove our sign within 72 hours of closing(weather permitting), unless the new owner allows us to keep the sign on the property.

Websites fall under a different status, but typically we leave our listings on for 30 days.

I think that our state is looking into it at this years conference.

I think I would call the lady and ask her to remove the listing.

As for solds on the website, I think 2 weeks is plenty long enough and a month is OK but pushing it.  Besides who wants to wade through all that "stuff" on a website?  

If there aren't local regs, maybe your state association has some sort of policy or guideline.

The problem generally is that once you put your listing out on the internet you have lost ALL control over it. The exception comes in when it is someones personal website and they leave it on there hoping to get interested buyers. Some people leave them on their sites thinking that MORE listings mean more buyer leads. Well buyers are not as naive as we think they are. They can usually tell it is an old listing so it backfires on the agent. Buyers think that site has old listings they will go to another site.

On P2 it happens all the time. I personally know agents in my area still showing 50+ listings and they don't have 3. So we as a community owe it to each other to display CURRENT listings on our websites.

But remember everyone.... your MLS sends out your listings to the different search engines and sometimes they get $$$$ for them. There is no $$$ in expired, sold, withdrawn or pending listings. That is why they leave them up. When you click your listings and send it to the internet...... SAY GOODBYE to ALL control of that listing.

Hmm. Interesting question and I'm wondering if any of mine are out there.  I don't have 'sold' listings specifically on my website, I mark them sold and they are no longer featured.  But, I don't archive them, I don't think, unless it's automatically done for me by the point2 system.  Does point2 remove them from the sharing program (loss of memory as to what it's called, lol) once they are marked sold?   I'll have to check on that.