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 The Marks of Membership!
The terms REALTOR® and REALTORS® are trademarks of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. The trademarks, along with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, set members apart from other real estate licensees. NAR has adopted certain rules intended to preserve the value of the REALTOR® trademarks for all members, current and future.
Protection of the REALTOR® membership marks depends on you. With proper use, the marks grow in value as they become more firmly connected in the public mind with quality and professionalism.
Take this quiz to see how much you know about the proper use of the REALTOR® trademarks!
REALTOR ® Trademark Quiz
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| Rules of General Use... |
| Try the “Member” Test:
The terms REALTOR®, REALTORS®, and the block “R” logo should be used only when talking about members of NAR. The terms refer to membership, not the jobs real estate agents perform. A good rule of thumb to help remember the correct usage of the term, is to replace the term “REALTOR®” with the term “member”. If you can, then you are most likely using the term “REALTOR®” correctly.
- Incorrect Example: When talking to a new client, “I am a REALTOR®”.
- Correct Example: When talking to a new client, “I am a real estate agent, and a REALTOR®”.
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| Other Important Rules... |
Never use descriptive words to modify the term REALTOR®.
- Example: “full-time REALTOR®”
Whenever possible, use the term “REALTOR®” in all uppercase letters with the federal registration symbol, ®. If impossible or impractical, all uppercase letters alone or an uppercase R followed by lowercase letters and the registration symbol are also acceptable.
- Incorrect: realtor
- Acceptable: REALTOR, Realtor®
- Correct: REALTOR®
REALTORS® often want to use the term REALTOR® as part of their company name. Two main rules govern this use:
- REALTOR® may be used with a company name, but may not be part of the name.
- REALTOR® must be separated from the company name by some form of punctuation, even when they are on separate lines.
- Incorrect: New Town REALTORS®
- Correct: New Town Real Estate, REALTORS® or New Town, REALTORS®
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| Internet Rules... |
| When used as part of a domain name or internet address, the term REALTOR® must refer to a member or a member’s company.
Just as in printed materials, the term REALTOR® may not be used with descriptive words or phrases or used to describe another word or phrase.
- Incorrect: numberonerealtor.com, seattlerealtors.org, or realtorproperties.com
- Correct: jdoe@realtors.com or jdoerealtors@webservices.com
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| Which Logos Can Be Used... |
| The following block "R" logos may be used:
Do NOT use the REALTOR® and MLS (Multiple Listing Service) Composite Logos (shown below), as they are a registered service mark which may only be used by persons associated with a REALTOR® member of an approved Multiple Listing Service operated by a Member Board. The Seattle-King County Association does NOT own, nor operate, any Multiple Listing Service.
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