As colleagues and real estate professionals, most of us abide by and are totally familiar with the Realtor Code of Ethics.  Even if an agent is not a member of any Association of Realtors, there are scruples that should govern their real estate practices.

I am referring specifically to the agents that have had to "get a real job" yet continue to have an active real estate license with the hopes of closing a sale now and then.

When a buyer's agent is not available, all too often the buyer is left to contact the listing agent for property specifics including appointment setting to preview the property.  Hello? This is the job of the buyer's agent who can usually obtain all the necessary info from the Multiple Listing Service.

I've had the same scenario happen twice in the last 4 or 5 days - one agent had the audacity to say "Well, you are getting the listing commission", to which I replied "I will receive the listing commission without doing YOUR job, thank you!".  She considered me rude and said so.

Then just this morning, a Craigslist.com ad generated a call from a prospective buyer.  I asked if she was working with a buyers agent and she said yes, but her agent worked during the day and .....

Dear, dear buyer's agents:  yes we listing agents do need you and your clients but please, we do not want to do your job and have you step in at the contract-writing moment so that you may collect a commission.

Please inform your buyers that YOU will help them with the details of any house or ad they see, and if they must call the Listing Agent, explain to your client that they need to disclose their relationship with you BEFORE taking up the listing agent's time.

Our industry is evolving and rules seem to change daily but ethics ... well, ethics haven't changed.