Ethics In Real Estate - A Lost Art?
Friday, September 17, 2010
Ethics - “The rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession.”
When I was 21 my father gave me a pocket watch that had been given to him from his father. The inscription on the inside read:
Integrity
Mother and Father
May 15, 1939
When I got into the real estate industry in 1978, I quickly learned that there were a few in the business who lacked integrity nor did they follow the ethical standards that are mandated by the National Association of REALTORS. I then learned that many in the real estate profession did not belong to the REALTOR Association.
While some may claim they do not belong to a REALTOR organization because they do not want to pay the approximately $400 annual dues, I find it more likely they do not belong because they do not want to be subjected to ‘rules’ that demand ethical conduct.
Over the years I have chaired the Atlanta Board of REALTORS’ Professional Standards Committee and have had the ‘opportunity’ to hear cases brought forth by members of the public against a REALTOR they believed did not adhere to our ethical standards. Some cases went against the accused REALTOR, many did not.
Unfortunately, today I find more non-REALTORS than ever before. And the reason is still the same - to ‘save’ about $400… (or to avoid peer scrutiny). But this could end up costing the ‘public’ because these practitioners know a member of the public, nor a fellow real estate practitioner, cannot file a complaint against them with a Board of REALTORS because we would not have jurisdiction.
Word to the wise - If you are looking for a real estate agent to work with you, chose a REALTOR.
(During the combined 91 years of our companies’ existence in the Atlanta real estate industry, we have never had an ethical complaint filed against us NOR have we ever been in a courthouse as a defendant. No other firm comes close.)
- Scott Askew
Posted in: Intown Atlanta Real Estate News