UNYREIS photo rules for Rochester, NY

Who governs Rochester listings?

Platform and local hub: GRAR UNYREIS · Rules hub: GRAR MLS rules & policies (links NYS Alliance MLS Rules for UNYREIS effective 09/01/2026). Public Alliance PDF mirror used for research: bnar.org/downloads/mlscurrentrules.pdf.

Photos at Active

• All property types except vacant land need an unaltered exterior view as the first photo at Active (seller opt-out exception).
• Majority of main structure visible from ground level; front/street view required (to-be-built exception; new construction may use comparable rendering).

Virtual staging — on-image ONLY

• REQUIRED text overlay on every virtually staged photo reading exactly “Virtually Staged.”
• Upload the original unaltered photo directly before the altered version with overlay.
• Disclosure ONLY in captions or Public/Private Remarks is NOT acceptable.
• Virtual staging limited to adding furnishings and wall décor that would be personal property not conveyed.
• Same overlay rule applies to virtually staged photos/renderings/virtual tours.

Prohibited edits & branding

• No digitally enhanced modifications that alter or misrepresent structure or grounds (e.g. adding/removing landscaping, changing wall color, removing a structural defect).
• Feature/location text overlays describing property features are separately allowed (e.g. “Kitchen opens to deck”).
• No watermark or images of any person (real, animated, CG) — staging overlay “Virtually Staged.” is the required exception.
• No office/agent/personal promotion on property photos. Virtual Tour URL fields: no agent/company names in URL; no visual/audio listing-agent or company info.

NYSAMLSs Sec. 1.2 Photos (eff. 2026-09-01) in the Alliance PDF above.