Usage Rules

Introduction

As with top performer circles, brokerage recognitions, and other ad hoc communities of top agents, membership in Top Agent Network, also known as “TAN”, is open to all agents who meet the objective sales criteria in their region. Once enrolled, member agents may then use the system to network with their peers as they always have, only with far greater efficiency and transparency. The network promotes and reinforces fairness and openness between and among agents, which helps agents better serve their clients. TAN Members are expected to uphold the highest ethical standards — treating peers with professionalism, respecting client privacy, and sharing information in good faith — and failure to do so is grounds for immediate expulsion from Top Agent Network.

Objectives

The system has two main objectives: (1) provide independent and objective third-party verification of top agent status in a world where unfounded claims to top tier sales performance can be confusing or misleading to the consumer, and (2) add greater efficiency and transparency to the networking top agents have been doing for years in small meetings or “around the water cooler.”

Pre-MLS and Off-MLS Only — Do Not Re-Circulate Information Available on the MLS

The general rule is no junk email. The goal of TAN posts is to share valuable information with other members and find answers to questions on real estate matters not found in the MLS, using categories such as: Upcoming Listings, Buyer Needs, Pricing Help and Service Provider Recommendations.

The focus is on local listings and local buyers. Nevertheless, Top Agent Network is also a great way to get out-of-area agent referrals. On occasion, and in TAN's sole discretion, local posts may be re-posted by Top Agent Network into another TAN chapter location for geographically relevant items.

Members are encouraged to post pre-MLS/Upcoming Listings and give advance notice of price reductions, allowing them to better serve their clients’ needs.

Members Must Follow All Applicable Laws and Regulations

To remain a member of Top Agent Network, agents must behave ethically with other agents and follow all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

Prohibited Conduct

The following actions are grounds for the immediate suspension or revocation of your membership:

Contacting an owner of any property posted on Top Agent Network without the posting agent’s permission.
Providing your Top Agent Network login information to a non-member.
Posting on behalf of a non-member.
Forwarding Top Agent Network emails or posts to any non-member, including, without limitation, any institution, brokerage, or MLS, without the posting agent’s prior authorization other than the member’s current clients.
Forwarding Top Agent Network emails for the purpose of soliciting new clients or for any non-business purpose.
Re-posting, or otherwise re-displaying Top Agent Network posts to groups, on websites, advertisements, mailers, or anywhere else without the posting agent’s prior authorization.
Disparaging an individual agent, broker, manager or company, including in any email or marketing piece.
Discussing the setting of commission rates or other agent compensation.
Abusing or misusing the system.
Receiving repeated violation notices or warnings related to your misuse of the Network or your conduct in relation to TAN members.
Behaving unethically or unlawfully.
Violating Top Agent Network’s Terms of Service ("User Agreement").

Decisions regarding membership abuse, posting violations and other Rules violations will be made entirely at TAN’s sole discretion and are considered final.

Rules Regarding Additional Users

Appointing Additional Users. Members may add assistants, team members, or partners to their account as Additional Users. To qualify, any Additional User must be someone you actively work with — whether as a business partner, assistant, or member of your real estate team — and you must be prepared to provide evidence of that working relationship (such as joint marketing materials, listings, or other documentation). Questions concerning whether any joint business arrangement qualifies for a single TAN membership as a formal real estate partnership shall be decided by TAN in its sole discretion

Member Agent Responsible for Additional Users. By adding an Additional User, you take full responsibility for their actions on TAN and their compliance with these Usage Rules. Any violation committed by an Additional User will be treated as having been committed by the Member who added such Additional User. Members who add individuals with whom they do not have a legitimate working relationship that relates directly to the Member's business activities on Top Agent Network, or who allow Additional Users to access the network for purposes unrelated to your shared business, are subject to immediate termination.

Termination. Top Agent Network may discontinue members' ability to designate Additional Users or alter the terms under which they may be permitted at any time and for any reason. Also, TAN reserves the right to terminate, suspend or revoke at any time the ability of any previously designated Additional Users to access, or otherwise use the network in TAN's sole discretion. Any member who falsely represents another agent as an Additional User for any reason, including, without limitation, allowing the nonmember to have access to the TAN network, or knowingly permits an Additional User to utilize the network for purposes unrelated to the primary agent's real estate business, is subject to immediate termination from Top Agent Network.

General Guidelines for Using TAN:

DO:

Focus on local real estate.
Post only information or questions that can’t be readily found in the MLS.
Adhere to any and all posting guidelines as displayed on the specific post input page for each category.
Restrict posts to real property and business matters.
Be short, descriptive and clear in your posts. Include subject lines.
Reply to a post or a response crisply and clearly.
Proofread your post carefully before posting (the system gives you time to do this) to avoid having to make corrections later. If you need to correct or update a previously published post, edit it rather than re-post the item.
Search TopAgentNetwork.com before posting a buyer need or requesting a service provider referral.
Make sure your buyer needs are for motivated and qualified buyers.
Post all items related to a client’s personal needs in the “Miscellaneous” category. Unsubscribe from that category if you choose not to receive these posts.
Behave ethically and abide by all applicable federal, state and local laws.

DON'T:

Post information about a listing or buyer not represented by you.
Make a post regarding a listing or buyer without the seller’s or buyer’s explicit permission.
Post any information (either a new listing or an update, including price changes) that can be found in the MLS. TAN’s purpose is to share Off-MLS and Pre-MLS information.
Post the same information more than once.
Use TAN to inquire about personal needs when other networking vehicles or a simple web or AI search would suffice.
Use TAN to discuss the setting of commission rates.
Use TAN information for non-professional purposes.
Make or post derogatory remarks, writings or other communications about another agent or brokerage.
Make political, non-real estate-related or personal promotions or comments.