Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice
While the code of ethics establishes obligations that may be higher than those mandated by law, in any instance where the Code of Ethics and the law conflict, the obligations of the law must take precedence. The term REAL PROPERTY has come to the connote competency, fairness and high integrity resulting from adherence to a lofty ideal of moral conduct in business relations. No inducement of profit and no instruction from clients ever can justify departure from this ideal.
DUTIES TO CLIENTS AND CUSTOMERS
1. When representing a buyer, seller, landlord, tenant, or other client as an agent, REAL PROPERTY pledge themselves to protect and promote the interests of their client. This obligation to the client is primary, but it does not relieve REAL PROPERTY of their obligation to treat all parties honestly. When serving a buyer, seller, landlord, tenant or other party in a non-agency capacity, REAL PROPERTY must remain obligated to treat all parties honestly.
2. REAL PROPERTY shall avoid exaggeration, misrepresentation, or concealment of pertinent facts relating to the property or the transaction. REAL PROPERTY shall not, however, be obligated to discover latent defects in the property, to advise on matters outside the scope of their real estate business knowledge or to disclose facts which are confidential under the scope of their agency agreement if any.
3. REAL PROPERTY shall cooperate with other brokers / other REAL PROPERTY, except when cooperation is not in the clients best interest. The obligation to cooperate does not include the obligation to share commissions, fees, or to otherwise compensate another broker.
4. REAL PROPERTY shall not acquire an interest in or buy or present offers from themselves, any member of their immediate families, their firms or any 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 broker. In selling property they own, or in which they have any interest, REAL PROPERTY shall reveal their ownership or interest in writing to the purchaser or the purchaser’s representative.
5. REAL PROPERTY shall not undertake to provide professional services concerning a property or its value where they have a present or contemplated interest unless such interest is specifically disclosed to all affected parties.
6. REAL PROPERTY shall not accept any commission, rebate, or profit on expenditures made for their client, without the client’s knowledge and consent.
7. REAL PROPERTY for the protection of all parties shall assure whenever possible that agreements shall be in writing, and shall be 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 upon their signing or initialing.
8. REAL PROPERTY shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. REAL PROPERTY shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
9. The services which REAL PROPERTY 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; specific ally residential real estate brokerage, real property management, commercial and industrial real estate brokerage, real estate Appraisal, real estate counseling, real estate syndication, real estate auction and international real estate.
10. REAL PROPERTY shall not undertake to provide specialized professional services concerning a type of property or service that is outside the field of competence unless they engage the assistance of one who is competent on such types of property or service, or unless the facts are fully disclosed to the client. Any persons engaged to provide such assistance shall be so identified to the client and the contribution to the assignment should be set forth.
11. REAL PROPERTY shall be careful at all times to present a true picture in their advertising and representation to the public. REAL PROPERTY shall also ensure that their professional status (e.g. broker, appraiser, property manager, etc.) or their actual status is clearly identifiable in any such advertising.
12. REAL PROPERTY shall not engage in activities that constitute unauthorized practice of law and shall recommend that legal counsel be obtained when the interest of any party to the transaction requires it.
13. REAL PROPERTY shall not knowingly or recklessly make false or misleading statements about competitors, their businesses, or their business practices.
14. REAL PROPERTY shall not engage in any practice or take any action inconsistent with the agency or other exclusive relationship recognized by law that other REAL PROPERTY have with clients.
15. REAL PROPERTY shall not engage in any practice or take any action inconsistent with the laws of the land.
16. REAL PROPERTY shall give optimum service to their clients and should not charge more than the recommended brokerage.