Marketing and advertising are essential for building your real estate business, but Georgia law sets very clear requirements on how licensees must present themselves to the public. As a Dalton Wade agent in Georgia, it’s your responsibility to follow the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) rules when advertising properties or your services.

Below is a breakdown of what you need to know, based on GREC Rule 520-1-.09 Advertising and related resources.

General Advertising Rules

• Broker Supervision Required
  All advertising (print, digital, social media, email, business cards, signs, blogs, vlogs, Craigslist, etc.) must be done in the name of the brokerage and under the supervision of your broker.
  [Rule 520-1-.09(1)]

• Broker Name & Phone Number
  When advertising a property for sale, rent, or exchange:

  • The broker’s name must appear in equal or greater size, prominence, and frequency than the agent or team name.

  • The broker’s telephone number must appear in equal or greater size, prominence, and frequency than the agent’s phone number.
    [Rule 520-1-.09(2)]

• Misleading or Discriminatory Ads
  All ads must:

  • Be accurate and not misleading.

  • Avoid discriminatory language or implications.

  • Clearly identify that the contact is with a licensed real estate agent.
    [Rule 520-1-.09(1)(b)]

• Written Permission
  You must have written authorization from the property owner (or authorized agent) before advertising any property.
  [Rule 520-1-.09(3)]

• Listings with Another Firm
  If you advertise a property listed by another firm, you must clearly and conspicuously disclose the listing firm’s name.
  [Rule 520-1-.09(3)(a)]

Digital & Electronic Marketing

• Websites
  Every page of your personal or team website must display the brokerage name and phone number.
  [Rule 520-1-.09(5)]

• Other Electronic Marketing (email, social media, etc.)
  If space is limited and you cannot include full compliance text (brokerage name and phone), you must include a link to a webpage that is in full compliance — the public must be no more than one click away from compliant advertising.

• Outdated Information
  Listings posted online must be updated or removed within 30 days of becoming outdated. If the listing appears on a third-party site, you must notify that site promptly.
  [Rule 520-1-.09(6)]

Business Cards, Signs, and Print Marketing

• Business Cards & Promotional Items

  • Must include the brokerage name.

  • The brokerage phone number is only required if your broker’s policy requires it OR if the card will be used in property marketing.

• Yard Signs, Billboards, Car Magnets, Directional Signs

  • These are considered property-specific advertising and must meet all requirements for advertising a property.

  • The broker’s name and phone number must be as prominent as the agent’s.

• Logos as a Yardstick
  The size of the brokerage logo can be used as a measurement “yardstick” to ensure broker name and phone prominence compared to the agent’s.

Broker Address

• GREC does not require the broker’s office address to appear on advertising, business cards, or signs.

Additional Key Points

• Teams must use the word “team” or “group” if operating under a team name.

• No one may advertise in a way that misleads the public into thinking they are an independent brokerage.

• Always submit marketing materials for broker review and approval before use.

Resources

• GREC Rule 520-1-.09 Advertising (Official Text):
  https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/520-1-.09

• Georgia Real Estate Commission Website:
  https://grec.state.ga.us

• GREC Advertising Guide (PDF):
  https://grec.state.ga.us/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/GRECAdvertising.pdf