The National Association of Realtors trade group announced this week that it has launched a new ad campaign and consumer Web site to promote its Code of Ethics for members.
“For nearly 100 years, Realtors have subscribed to one of the oldest codes of ethics for trade groups in the country,” the group announced.
“In many ways, consumers today are just like those at the turn of the last century – they deserve and demand honesty, integrity and commitment from the professionals who serve them. Today’s home buyers and sellers, however, confront real estate realities never envisioned 100 years ago, with disclosure requirements, environmental regulations, and an expanding universe of mortgage and financing options. More than ever, home buyers and sellers need to know that their real estate professional is someone they can trust.”
The trade group also announced a consumer-focused Code of Ethics Web site, www.realtor.org/codeofethics.
The site describes the purpose of this code and contains links that explain the provisions of the code. The code contains 17 articles, and the trade group spells out the provisions of the code in an abridged version, the “Realtors’ Pledge of Performance and Service.”
This streamlined code contains brief descriptions of each article. Article 2, for example, states that “Realtors refrain from exaggeration, misrepresentation or concealment of pertinent facts related to property or transactions,” and Article 3 states that “Realtors cooperate with other real estate professionals to advance their clients’ best interests.”
Realtors must complete ethics training by taking at least 2.5 hours of instruction at least once every four years to retain membership in the trade group. A Realtor is subject to disciplinary action if a local association of Realtors finds him or her in violation of the Code of Ethics, the group reported.
Thomas M. Stevens, 2006 NAR president and senior vice president of NRT Inc., said in a statement, “Realtors are part of a unique profession that requires both competition and collaboration.”
The trade group has about 1.2 million members.
***
Send tips or a Letter to the Editor to glenn@inman.com or call (510) 658-9252, ext. 137.
