2026 compliance guide for real estate professionals • Reviewed September 10, 2026
This entry provides a regulator directory and general publishing practices for Vermont, rather than a completed review of every state, local, and MLS rule. It does not establish that no virtual-staging requirements exist. Confirm current advertising obligations with Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, your broker, and the MLS receiving the listing.
Consequences depend on the applicable licensing law, consumer-protection law, and MLS rules. This directory entry does not verify a jurisdiction-specific fine or disciplinary schedule.
Article 12 requires REALTORS® to present a true picture in advertising, marketing, and other representations. It does not prescribe a virtual-staging watermark or original-photo format, but staged images must not create a misleading overall impression.
Confirm permitted edits, disclosure fields, photo order, original-image requirements, and any restrictions on embedded text. An MLS rule applies to that service's listings and should not be treated as statewide law.
Clearly identify staged images using the MLS's prescribed tools and fields. Some services require their own watermark, while others restrict text added to the photo. For other advertising, make the disclosure easy to notice and verify it survives cropping and redistribution.
Keep the original for each altered image and record what changed. Retention alone does not meet a rule that requires originals to be published or linked; verify those requirements separately.
As a recommended practice, explain that identified images contain digitally added furnishings. Adapt the wording to what actually changed and complete any mandatory image-level fields. Remarks alone may not satisfy the applicable rule.
Describe the edits accurately and replace every bracketed placeholder. Check the required wording, image placement, MLS fields, and original-photo access described above. Use custom image labels only where permitted. A template does not authorise an otherwise prohibited or misleading alteration.
“The identified images have been digitally altered with virtual furniture and decor. These items are not physically present. View the corresponding original, unaltered photographs at: [PUBLIC ORIGINAL-IMAGE LINK].”
“Digitally altered / virtually staged image. The furniture and decor shown were digitally added and are not physically present. View the original, unaltered image: [PUBLIC ORIGINAL-IMAGE LINK].”
“This photograph has been digitally altered with virtual furniture and decor. These items are not physically present. Compare the clearly identified original, unaltered image shown alongside it or at: [PUBLIC ORIGINAL-IMAGE LINK].”
“DIGITALLY ALTERED / VIRTUALLY STAGED – Original image: [PUBLIC URL OR QR CODE]”
Guide reviewed September 10, 2026. Links below include legislation, regulator guidance, and board or MLS materials. Their scope differs: a board rule is not statewide law, and a regulator homepage is not proof that no other rules exist. This guide does not verify every local MLS policy. Confirm the current requirements before publishing.
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