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Rainmaker
1,727,643
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

My advice is this:

Never INVENT ethics. The rules of ethics are clearly defined in the C.O.E. Ethics are NOT subjective. I hear so many complaints that have nothing to do with ethics, yet the word "unethical" is on the lips of every agent crying foul.

Jan 09, 2015 12:14 AM
Rainmaker
588,511
Randy Mitchelson,APR
Marketing Advisor & Squeeze Mortgage - Bonita Springs, FL
First Impressions are made at First Click

Take ownership of your mistakes, apologize, declare what you will do dfferent in future to avoid making same mistake. Just be honest with people.

Jan 09, 2015 10:47 PM
Rainmaker
137,508
Gerhard Ade
eXp Realty - Seattle, WA
What sets me apart, will set you apart.

Do the right thing when nobody is looking.

Jan 09, 2015 04:32 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I like the Golden Rule answer.  That pretty much sums it up in one term.

Jan 09, 2015 01:35 AM
Rainmaker
168,004
Dave Werth
WERTH REALTY - Fargo, ND
FULL TIME REALTOR

Contacting clients that are not yours!  Also, the contract that is most frequently checked and also usually dated the same day a contract is written, "Agency"! 

 

Best of luck

Jan 08, 2015 11:00 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

If you have to stop and think if you're being ethical, you probably are not or are dangerously close to the line.

Jan 08, 2015 08:15 PM
Rainmaker
630,251
Ajay Pandya
e-Merge Real Estate Unlimited - Columbus, OH
Realtor Ajay Pandya

You should go by what COE says.

Jan 11, 2018 08:05 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Respect other agents. Newer agents want everything right away and they think 'I know it all!'. Some agents close a deal and think, they learned all they need to know:)

Jan 10, 2015 04:09 PM
Rainmaker
112,714
Anita Allen
Levin Rinke Realty - 850-377-4410 - Pace, FL
Your Realtor for NW Florida, Pace/Milton/Pensacola

Golden Rule:  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!

Jan 09, 2015 06:58 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Do not disparage other agents. It is easy to get drug into conversations about how another agent is not a good agent and doesn't represent his clients well. If a seller or buyer brings it up I remain silent and they get the idea I will not agent bash.

Jan 09, 2015 10:00 AM
Rainmaker
729,563
Laura Filip
Laura Filip Broker , Opening doors for All Seasons of Life - Whitesboro, TX
What can we do for you today?

Ethics is a wonderful word that many choose to not look at. As a new agent the one factor that I would look at is to work in an office that had a full time broker available to ask questions and help review with you. Well you say what does that have to do with ethics. HMMM let me see when you are new what you learn from the books is not at all what is the case of how it really goes. There are agents out there that are all set and ready to go to foul you up. As a broker most of the time we know them all to well. So if you have a full time broker in your office you have less of a chance to foul up. Read the Ethics document take notes read it again and know it is all in who you are that makes the difference. Been there done that dance. 

Jan 09, 2015 09:14 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

The value of disclosure, and the value of the equal housing act.

Jan 09, 2015 05:40 AM
Rainmaker
531,677
Marie Story
Coldwell Banker - Pinecrest (Miami) - Pinecrest, FL
Broker Associate, Pinecrest (Miami) Specialist

I would like ALL agents to obey the MLS rules. 

Jan 09, 2015 02:10 AM
Rainmaker
637,434
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

Never accept any money or checks from clients that don't come through your broker.

Jan 08, 2015 11:42 PM
Rainmaker
821,426
Juli Vosmik
Dominion Fine Properties - Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale/Cave Creek, AZ real estate 480-710-0739

I think one biggy is confidentiality - when working with people, whatever they say should be held in confidence, unless it expands into the disclosure realm.  

Jan 08, 2015 11:04 PM
Rainer
86,357
Suzie Townley
Diamond Partners, Inc - Gardner, KS
Relaxed Professionalism

Our Code is based on the Golden Rule principle.  That is the most important thing.  Agents giving me what I would consider confidential information about a seller or buyer is a big one.  Where is that line? Obvious answers are "this is a nasty divorce situation," but what about "my clients are getting kicked out of their apartment at the end of the month?" What is confidential and what is not confidential? 

 

Jan 08, 2015 10:28 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

For me I see problems with disclosure, listing agents not educating, informing or telling their sellers what they should or need to be disclosing. On the other side I have a problem on a lot of vacant homes with buyer agents either giving out the code to buyers or going back into a house without making an appointment.

Jan 08, 2015 09:37 PM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Remember who your client is and avoid implied contracts.

Sep 05, 2019 11:46 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Dipti nailed this one!

 

Aug 03, 2018 05:32 AM
Rainer
279,878
Dipti Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
On a team with Praful Thakkar

Just do everything, honestly.

May 20, 2018 09:38 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Great suggestions here, Dennis.

Feb 28, 2018 09:31 AM
Rainer
417,221
Caroline Gerardo
Licensed in 20 states - Newport Beach, CA
C. G. Barbeau the Loan Lady nmls 324982

It is easier to be honest than anything

Jan 14, 2015 06:48 AM
Rainmaker
2,362,977
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

Years ago the most senior agent in my office told another newer agent in a meeting (who was trying to figure out how to get the whole transaction to the detriment of another agent) - that you can never get the whole pie. I always remembered that - Don't be greedy. There is enough business for us all - act ethically and don't try to nail the other agent in the transaction. 

Jan 11, 2015 12:51 PM
Rainer
148,989
James Brockway
Brockway Realty, LLC - League City, TX

Anita and Gabe, no matter what anyone's religious leanings are, it's hard to argue with "due unto others".  If fits all topics, all the time.

Jan 10, 2015 11:37 PM
Rainer
148,989
James Brockway
Brockway Realty, LLC - League City, TX

Nicely put Gerhard.

Jan 10, 2015 11:35 PM
Rainer
148,989
James Brockway
Brockway Realty, LLC - League City, TX

I tell my agents, if you find yourself in a situation where you are waffling over what to do, fast forward to a court room and assume you are addressing the judge and explaining to him what you are about to do.  Does he say "Hmm, that sounds like the right thing to do" or "guilty!".  That might help you move to the right side of a gray ethics issue.

Jan 10, 2015 11:33 PM
Rainer
213,263
Dennis Swartz
Full Circle Property Management - Columbus, OH
MBA, GRI...experience counts!

Thank you all for the thoughts...I am going to include them in my class. I think one of the best things we can do for new people in our business is to mentor them, and to lead by example. It is difficult to be new, have no guidance, and have to make a decision that affects the earning of a large commission.

Jan 09, 2015 07:44 PM
Rainmaker
2,241,494
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Listen to the voice in your head wearing the halo. You do have one of those right? Right from wrong and what would jeopardize your license should be plain as the nose on your face. Remember you work for the buyer or seller and don't own either. Be pure and not developing self serving situational ethics as CS Lewis labeled it.

Jan 09, 2015 05:44 AM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

I have taught ethics among other things and the biggest problem I found  is the lack of correct knowledge...Real Estate  is a sea of agent "dummies", and and their uneducated brokers.

The best thing an new agent can do for themselves is take classes.

Eve

Jan 09, 2015 03:43 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Let me go tangential on this one: Work to get yourself in a sound financial position because the temptation to let your ethics go for just one sale will be great if it means keeping the heat on or making a car payment. I realize that ewthics should be followed regardless but being able to easily afford it is a nice position to be in.

Jan 09, 2015 03:15 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Contacting homeowners before a listing expires and saying bad things about the previous agent when on a listing appointment is unethical. Interfering with buyer agency relations a buyer has with an agent by offering the buyer incentives to buy the house at your  open house when it is your listing is unethical.

Jan 09, 2015 03:14 AM
Rainmaker
90,543
Debra Peters
Referral Realty - Manorville, NY
NY Real Estate Salesperson

Where do I begin???  Here are a few.  Contacting clients directly that are not your own, contacting a homeowner to try and get the listing right before it expires (when it's not your listing), knowing the difference between the customer and a client and the importance of explaining the Agency Disclosure form and how the Selling Agent will get paid.

Jan 09, 2015 01:04 AM
Rainmaker
280,599
Jeanne Gregory
RE/MAX Southwest - Sugar Land, TX
The most important home I sell is YOURS!

Tell them to turn it around.  If they wouldn't want it done to them, don't do it to anyone else.  And can we really TEACH ethics? 

Jan 09, 2015 12:45 AM
Rainer
266,064
Richard Arnold
Keller Williams Realty East Valley - Tempe, AZ
Realtor - Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Phoenix

A deal does not have to be a zero-sum game, both the Buyer and the Seller can win!  We are all working towards the same goal of closing the sale.  Being confrontational only for the sake of "winning" hurts everyone.

 

Jan 09, 2015 12:16 AM
Rainmaker
1,556,633
Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker

"False Light" advertising.  If sending out a postcard, or posting on a blog, make sure to include the disclosure that not all listings (either active or sold) were theirs.  This one drives me nuts, as I see agent do it all the time.  They don't understand what a big deal it can become.

Jan 08, 2015 11:25 PM
Rainmaker
977,386
Brigita McKelvie, Associate Broker
Cindy Stys Equestrian and Country Properties, Ltd. - Lehigh Valley, PA
The Broker with horse sense and no horsing around

I agree with Dave Werth.  I have had agents that have tried to "lure" my clients to work with them.  

Brigita

Jan 08, 2015 11:11 PM
Rainer
465,398
David M. Dwares
Title Professionals Corp. - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Title guy with a broker license

New agents should beware when someone tells them that they will do an addendum to a contract that doesn't have to be sent to the lender, or two addenda, one for the lender and one between the buyer and seller.

Jan 08, 2015 10:26 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Keep you mind focused on the service and oversight you are to provide to the client.

DO NOT ALLOW THE PREDATORY practice of your broker to encroach on the client relationship. When you are tempted to pass forward the garbage fees your broker imposes on you, understand your mind just drifted into dangerous zones.

That zone contains the words "justified" but you know it not RIGHT.

This disapline may just keep a newbie off the slippery slope of relative ethics.

Jan 08, 2015 10:01 PM