Article 6: COOPERATIVE COMPENSATION

The Central Virginia Regional MLS, LLC (CVR MLS) and CBRAR Property Services, Inc. (CBRAR PS), are members of the Virginia MLS Cooperative. In filing a property with CVR MLS, the Participant of the service may offer cooperative compensation as directed by the SellerIf the Seller has authorized the listing Participant to offer cooperative compensation, then such offers of compensation must be blanket unilateral offers of compensation to the other MLS participants of CVR MLS and CBRAR PS, and the compensation amount shall be specified on the listing filed with the service.      Entitlement to compensation is determined by the cooperating Participant’s performance as procuring cause of the sale (or lease). While offers of compensation made by Listing Participants to cooperating Participants through CVR MLS and CBRAR PS are unconditional, a Listing Participant’s obligation to compensate a cooperating Participant who was the procuring cause of sale (or lease) may be excused if it is determined through arbitration that, through no fault of the Listing Participant and in the exercise of good faith and reasonable care, it was impossible or financially unfeasible for the Listing Participant to collect a commission pursuant to the Listing agreement. In such instances, entitlement to cooperative compensation offered through CVR MLS and CBRAR PS would be a question to be determined by an arbitration hearing panel based on all relevant facts and circumstances including, but not limited to, why it was impossible or financially unfeasible for the Listing Participant to collect some or all of the commission established in the Listing agreement; at what point in the transaction did the Listing Participant know (or should have known) that some or all of the commission established in the Listing Agreement might not be paid; and how promptly the Listing Participant communicated to cooperating Participants that the commission established in the Listing agreement might not be paid. By becoming and remaining a Participant, each Participant agrees to arbitrate disputes involving contractual issues and questions and specific non-contractual issues and questions defined in Standard of Practice 17-4 of the Code of Ethics with MLS participants in different firms arising out of their relationship as MLS Participants subject to the following qualifications:  

A) If the disputants are members of the same Association of REALTORS® or have their principal place of business within the same Associations territorial jurisdiction, they shall arbitrate pursuant to the procedures of that Association of REALTORS®

B) If the disputants are members of different Associations of REALTORS or their principal place of business is located within the territorial jurisdictions, they remain obligated to arbitrate in accordance with the procedures of the Virginia REALTORS®

Interboard Arbitration Procedures: Arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the Interboard Arbitration Procedures in the Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual of the National Association of REALTORS® Nothing herein shall preclude Participants from agreeing to arbitrate the dispute before a particular Association of REALTORS®. See Appendix C to the Rules for CVR MLS’ Arbitration Policy Statement.

Section 6.1 Cooperating Participant Compensation

If the Seller authorizes cooperative compensation, the Listing Participant shall specify in all appropriate MLS Database fields, the compensation offered to other Participants for their services acting as, buyer agents, or in other agency or non- agency capacities as defined by law in the sale, lease or exchange of such Listing. The Listing Participant retains the right to determine the amount of compensation offered to other cooperating Participants, which may be the same or different than the Listing Participant’s compensation. 

Section 6.3 Forms of Compensation

If the Seller authorizes cooperative compensation, then the cooperative compensation shall be shown in one of the following forms: 

a.) A percentage (%) of the gross sale lease or exchange price. In the case of rental properties, the percentage shall be based on the first month’s rental amount, or 

b.)  A definite dollar ($) amount. 

c.)  Structured compensation, which is a formula of compensation that includes a percentage and a definite dollar amount.  

Practice Note: Structured compensation must be a calculable formula, such as x% – $flat fee = offer of compensation.   

Section 6.4 Modified Compensation

The Listing Participant shall not be precluded from offering any cooperating Participant compensation other than the compensation published in the MLS Database provided the Listing Participant informs the other Participants in advance of their submitting an offer to purchase and provided that the modification in the specified compensation is not the result of any agreement among all or any other Participants in CVR MLS.

Section 6.5 Dual or Variable Compensation Arrangements

The existence of a dual or variable rate compensation arrangement must be noticed to other Participants and Subscribers by placing a “Y” in the appropriate compensation field. The Listing Participant shall in response to inquiries from potential cooperating Participants and Subscribers disclose the differential that would result in either a cooperative transaction or, alternatively, in a sale/lease that results through the efforts of the Seller. If the cooperating Participant or Subscriber is a buyer/tenant representative, the buyer/tenant representative must disclose such information to their client before the client submits an offer to purchase or lease.

Section 6.6 Reference to Additional Properties

Any offer of cooperative compensation shall apply to Listings formally entered into the MLS system and shall not apply to any other listing. A cooperating Participant shall not assume the offer of compensation entered for a CVR MLS Listing will apply to a property referenced in the “Remarks” section of the Listing. The cooperating Participant or Subscriber must inquire of the Listing Participant or Subscriber as to what compensation, if any, is being offered for the sale of such referenced property.