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Q: “If my seller chooses the ‘Opt-Out of Internet’ option on the Virginia REALTORS^® Exclusive Authorization to Sell form, how do I—as the listing agent—ensure I adhere to the seller’s wishes?”

A: The Virginia REALTORS^® Exclusive Authorization to Sell Agreement (Form 400) gives sellers authority over how their properties are marketed. Section 9(f) sets out three separate decisions: internet display, third-party comments, and automated valuation estimates.

• Option A withholds the listing entirely from the internet. Option B withholds only the street address, while other data such as zip code or county remains visible.
• The comment decision determines whether third parties may write comments or reviews about the property in immediate conjunction with the listing.
• The automated valuation decision determines whether an automated estimate of market value may be displayed alongside the listing.

These are three distinct elections, not variations on one setting. A seller may choose full internet exposure while declining a public comment thread, so each line on the form should be reviewed with the seller individually.

The form itself only provides instructions from the seller to the listing broker. The broker must then set the corresponding fields in whichever MLS is being used. Each MLS may configure these settings differently, so the broker should check the applicable MLS rules.

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