Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Code of Ethics”
By Lee Davenport, PhD Should the public trust the real estate industry? As quiet as it’s kept, salespeople of any industry can get the nickname of “sleazy” or “swindler” because that is not just the name of a Netflix show (for those of you that have seen the Tinder Swindler). For some of us, just hearing the words “Used Car …
By Lee Davenport A recent report by the National Fair Housing Alliance shows there were more than 28,000 fair housing complaints filed just last year. I repeat, there were TENS of THOUSANDS of fair housing complaints in the last year alone! Those numbers indicate that despite fair housing being the law of the land, we have a long way to …
By Lee Davenport According to a recent REALTOR® Magazine article, “buyer and seller agents need to handle multiple-offer situations carefully to avoid accusations of negligence or preferential treatment that violates federal, state, or local fair housing laws or ordinances.” Un-fair housing doesn’t just hurt home buyers and sellers, it hurts all of us. If you as a real estate professional …
By Neil Goradia “OMG! My agent just made $7,000 and all they did was list my property!” Does this sound familiar? How often have you felt the need to defend your commission as a real estate agent? This article is not to beat up on for sale by owners. In fact, there are plenty of times that it works great. …
The National Association of REALTORS® has partnered with the Perception Institute to create a new 50-minute video called “Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing,” which aims to help real estate professionals address unconscious prejudices and stereotypes in their daily business interactions. “Fair housing, equality, and inclusion are among NAR’s most cherished values,” says NAR President Vince Malta. “REALTORS® follow …
*The quiz closed on Aug. 29, 2019. Thank you to the 1,830 people who participated! By Lee Davenport Are you still stuck in the vortex of what I call the “wild, wild west” of social media? That’s a dangerous place for your business to stay. The “wild, wild west” of social media was a time when anything and everything seems …
By Dale Swanton You’ve no doubt heard the term “exclusive” or “pocket listing,” referring to a listing that is not promoted on the MLS but is marketed to the listing agent’s brokerage only or to a select group of “in-the-know” agents. Although not illegal or even unethical in and of itself, the practice is rather controversial as it often puts …
By Erika Villegas Are you leaving money on the table by not working with Hispanic clients? I am still surprised to hear an answer of “no” when I ask agents from different parts of the country whether they work with Hispanic customers. I help buyers and sellers from all walks of life and with many different backgrounds and ethnic groups, …
By Sammer Mudawar First, I would like to start by making it clear: I am not an attorney and nothing herein (legal word) should be construed as legal advice. This is a simple narrative on how common sense and sound business practices can help avoid some very common situations that can lead to legal problems in our profession. These opinions …
By Scott Newman The market is recovering—in some areas it’s even a seller’s market—and that means sellers can once again be a little more demanding…and a little more unrealistic. So your client is turning into a “sellerzilla.” What do you do when your relationship with the client is on the line, but you need to get your point across? Read …
