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| A Real Estate agents reputation is critical to their business success. Unfortunately, there are some real estate agents who do things that make the entire industry look bad. When someone becomes a Realtor®, there is a code of ethics that needs to be adhered to, which are enforceable by the Association of Realtors®. But...there isn't anything that's enforceable to make a Realtor be courteous or respectful to other agents or their clients. This is a personal commitment that a Realtor must do on their own. Real Respect.com is a directory of Realtors® that have made a voluntary commitment to courtesy and respect of their fellow agents and clients. We don't police a Realtors actions, nor make any judgment calls on whether a Realtor® should be removed from this directory. We hope that any Realtor® that includes themselves in this directory will visit this site frequently to be reminded of their commitment to courtesy and respect. While we don't charge a Realtor® to be part of this directory, we do require that they include the Real Respect.com logo and link to this site on their own website as a further reminder to their commitment. We have also included the National Association of Realtors® Code of Ethics. This is something that a Realtor® should also read every so often to remind them of items they MUST adhere to. The idea for this site came after I had an agent leave a message for a homeowner of one of my listings saying they wanted to show their home, but didn't leave what time they planned to show it and didn't leave their phone number. I posted this experience to a bulletin board for real estate agents and in the discussion that followed, quickly realized there was no place that Realtors® could go to see a list of courtesies they should make part of their everyday business practice. So...here's my contribution to the agents that work hard to make us all look good. - Keith Byrd, Realtor®
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Common Courtesies for Realtors® This list is not all-inclusive, and may be supplemented by local custom and practice. I. Respect for the Public 1. Follow the “Golden Rule” – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 2. Respond promptly to inquiries and requests for information. 3. Schedule appointments and showings as far in advance as possible. 4. Call if you are delayed or must cancel an appointment or showing. 5. If a prospective buyer decides not to view an occupied home, promptly explain the situation to the listing broker or the occupant. 6. Communicate with all parties in a timely fashion. 7. When entering a property, ensure that unexpected situations, such as pets, are handled appropriately. 8. Leave your business card if not prohibited by local rules. 9. Never criticize property in the presence of the occupant. 10. Inform occupants that you are leaving after showings. 11. When showing an occupied home, always ring the doorbell or knock – and announce yourself loudly – before entering. Knock and announce yourself loudly before entering any closed room. 12. Present a professional appearance at all times; dress appropriately and drive a clean car. 13. If occupants are home during showings, ask their permission before using the telephone or bathroom. 14. Encourage the clients of other brokers to direct questions to their agent or representative. 15. Communicate clearly; don’t use jargon or slang that may not be readily understood. 16. Be aware of and respect cultural differences. 17. Show courtesy and respect to everyone. 18. Be aware of – and meet – all deadlines. 19. Promise only what you can deliver – and keep your promises. 20. Identify your REALTOR® and your professional status in contacts with the public. 21. Do not tell people what you think – tell them what you know.
II. Respect for Property 1. Be responsible for everyone you allow to enter listed property. 2. Never allow buyers to enter listed property unaccompanied. 3. When showing property, keep all members of the group together. 4. Never allow unaccompanied access to property without permission. 5. Enter property only with permission even if you have a lockbox key or combination. 6. When the occupant is absent, leave the property as you found it (lights, heating, cooling, drapes, etc). If you think something is amiss (e.g. vandalism) contact the listing broker immediately. 7. Be considerate of the seller’s property. Do not allow anyone to eat, drink, smoke, dispose of trash, use bathing or sleeping facilities, or bring pets. Leave the house as you found it unless instructed otherwise. 8. Use sidewalks; if weather is bad, take off shoes and boots inside property.
III. Respect for Peers 1. Identify your REALTORŇ and professional status in all contacts with other REALTORSŇ. 2. Respond to other agents’ calls, faxes, and e-mails promptly and courteously. 3. Be aware that large electronic files with attachments or lengthy faxes may be a burden on recipients. 4. Notify the listing broker if there appears to be inaccurate information on the listing. 5. Share important information about a property, including the presence of pets; security systems; and whether sellers will be present during the showing. 6. Show courtesy, trust and respect to other real estate professionals. 7. Avoid the inappropriate use of endearments or other denigrating language. 8. Do not prospect at other REALTORS®’ open houses or similar events. 9. Return keys promptly. 10. Carefully replace keys in the lockbox after showings. 11. To be successful in the business, mutual respect is essential. 12. Real estate is a reputation business. What you do today may affect your reputation – and business – for years to come. For the above content: Copyright National Association of REALTORS®, Reprinted with permission. |
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