Code of Ethics

We are members of the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), which means we are held to a higher standard. We have a Code of Ethics we must follow when we conduct business with the public, customers, our clients and other REALTORS. We take this code very serious and will abide by it. Below is a paraphrased version of our code. Our Agents will give you a complete copy when you meet.

Article 1. REALTORS pledge themselves to protect and promote the interests of their clients.

Article 2. REALTORS shall avoid exaggeration, misrepresentation, or concealment of pertinent facts relating to the property or transaction. However we are not obligated to discover latent defects of the property, give advice outside the scope of our real estate license.

Article 3. REALTORS shall cooperate with other brokers except when cooperation is not in the client's best interest.

Article 4. REALTORS shall not acquire an interest in or buy or present offers from themselves, any member of their immediate families, their firms or an y member thereof, or any entities in which they have any ownership interest, any real property without making their true position known to the owner or the owner's agent or broker.

Article 5. REALTORS shall not undertake to provide professional services concerning a property or its value where they have a present or contemplate interest unless such interest is specifically disclosed to all affected parties.

Article 6. REALTORS shall not accept any commission, rebate, or profit on expenditures made for their client, without the client's knowledge and consent.

Article 7. In a transaction, REALTORS shall not accept a commission from more than one party, even if it is permitted by law, without disclosure to all parties and the informed consent of the REALTORS client(s).

Article 8. REALTORS shall keep in a special account in a appropriate financial institution, separated from their own funds, monies coming into their possession in trust from other persons, such as escrow, trust funds, clients monies, and other like items.

Article 9. REALTORS for the protection of all parties shall assure whenever possible that all agreements related to real estate transaction including, but not limited to, listing and representation agreements, purchase contracts, and leases are in writing in clear and understandable language expressing the specific terms, conditions, obligations, and commitments of the parties. A copy of each agreement shall be furnished to each party to such agreement upon their signing or initialing.

Article 10. REALTORS shall not deny equal professional services to any persons for reason of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Article 11. The services which REALTORS provide to their clients and customers shall conform to the standards of practice and competence which are reasonably expected in the specific real estate disciplines in which they engage; if a REALTOR does work with a client outside of their field of competence they should do so with the assistance of within the field of competence and it shall be disclosed to the client.

Article 12. REALTORS shall be honest and truthful in their real estate communications and shall present a true picture in their advertising, marketing and other representations. REALTORS shall ensure that their status as a real estate professional is readily apparent in their advertising, marketing and other representations, and that the recipients of all real estate communications are, or have been, notified that those communications are from real estate professionals.

Article 13. REALTORS shall not engage in activities that constitute the unauthorized practice of law and shall recommend that legal counsel be obtained when the interest of any party to the transaction requires it.

Article 14. If charged with unethical practice or asked topresentevidence or to cooperate in any way, in any professional standards proceeding or investigation, REALTORS shall place all pertinent facts before the proper tribunals of the Member Board or affiliated society, or council in which membership is held and shall take no action to disrupt or obstruct such process.

Article 15. REALTORS shall not knowingly or recklessly make false or misleading statements about other real estate professionals, their business, or their business practices.

Article 16. REALTORS shall not engage in any practice or take any action inconsistent with exclusive representation or exclusive brokerage relationship agreements that other REALTORS have with clients.

Article 17. In the event of contractual disputes...the REALTORS shall mediate the dispute if the Board requires its members to mediate. If the dispute is not mediated or not required, REALTORS shall submit the dispute to arbitration in accordance with the policies of the Board rather than litigate the matter.