If advertising leads a reasonable reader to believe that the property is located in Princeton when it isn’t, that’s not a true picture. But if the ad says something like “near Princeton,” it’s probably fine. Ad copy should honestly describe a property.

If your offer wasn’t submitted, that’s a violation of Article 1 of the Code, which requires REALTORS® to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. If you believe your offer hasn’t been given a fair shake, you can file an ethics complaint with your local association.

Good practice and common courtesy call for listing agents and buyer’s reps to maintain consistent and timely communication about the status of offers and counteroffers during negotiations.

Soliciting others' clients violates the Code.

The law, RESPA, prohibits kickbacks, commissions, and rebates for referring a buyer or seller to a settlement service provider such as a lender. If the payments are for referring business, there’s a violation of RESPA, regardless of whether the broker or salesperson receives payment.

Although we may have long-standing relationships with some customers, they aren’t our clients unless we establish an exclusive relationship with them.

Don’t wait until the last minute to meet NAR’s ethics education requirements.

What are the listing and buyer’s reps’ responsibilities to ensure that a new disclosure for this property is completed before it’s marketed to a new buyer?

Your protection in any client relationship is a well-crafted listing agreement and a well-reasoned business decision about how to treat the client.

Self-dealing creates a negative impression in the minds of real estate consumers. Article 1 requires honesty to all parties in the transaction. Standard of Practice 1-6 requires offers to be presented objectively. Article 2 requires us to avoid exaggeration, misrepresentation, and concealment of pertinent facts about the transaction.

During 2001, four clarifying changes were made to the Code to enhance the protection it affords consumers and to increase its value as Realtors®’ pathway to professionalism.

Under the Model Rules and Regulations of MLS, the listing broker’s offer of compensation could be paraphrased as, “I, listing broker, promise to pay you, cooperating broker, x percent of cooperative compensation if you become the procuring cause of the sale.” The offer isn’t “I promise to pay you if I collect enough from the seller.”