Keeping Our Data Accurate: August 2026 Rules Enforcement Update
The integrity of WVMLS data is what makes our marketplace THE trusted resource for real estate professionals and consumers alike. To help everyone stay compliant and avoid common pitfalls, we are sharing a snapshot of the most frequent rules enforcement warnings issued in the month of August 2026.
By understanding where others have run into trouble, you can ensure your listings remain accurate, professional, and fine-free.
The Numbers at a Glance
Last month, the membership support team issued warnings across several categories. While many of these are simple clerical errors, they can have a significant impact on how other members search for and find your listings.
Top 3 Areas for Improvement
1. Geographic Accuracy (Wrong Area/Type)
With 11 recorded warnings, this remains our most common challenge. Whether it’s selecting "Polk County" instead of "Marion County" or marking Area 40 when it should be 50, these errors make it difficult for buyer’s agents to set up accurate automated searches for their clients. More importantly, misidentifying a property type such as Residence vs. Manufactured could result in real-world liability for both Members and the MLS.
Pro-Tip: Double-check your address against previous listings to verify the Area or use the Area Boundaries map here.
2. Security Violations
We issued 6 warnings for Security Violations
Security Violation: Remember gate codes and combo codes are not to be entered in Private or Public Remarks, as well, passwords are for your use only.
3. Photo Violations
There were 6 warnings for Photo Violations
Update New Construction Photos: Photos on a listing must be accurately representative of the property. For New Construction although placeholder photos are allowed, they must be updated to reflect the property when the listing enters Pending or Sold status.
Why It Matters
When our data is clean, everyone wins. It means fewer phone calls to clarify details, better stats and more accurate "Hot Sheets," and a better experience for the clients we serve.
If you ever have a question about a specific rule or how to input a unique property, don't hesitate to reach out to WVMLS. We are here to help you get it right the first time!
Note: WVMLS has a “warn-on-first-offense” policy, but all of these would be finable offenses if repeated.
