I was thinking about the Realtor Code of Ethics the other day. This isn't something I sit around and do that often, but it crossed my mind that day because I was mad.
You see, I had a seller who didn't listen to my counsel in regards to pricing. And then he decided to remodel the kitchen during the middle of the listing period against my advice, putting in granite and stainless steel appliances. Once the work was done (and it did look nice), the house was close to expiring. When I visited with him about relisting, he was only willing to give me 30 days because I hadn't been able to do an open house.
Grrrrr. Now I know that he's going to relist the house with somebody because he is intent on selling it. Besides, he now lives in another state and has to sell the home. Not getting the listing didn't really surprise me because I found out early on that one of the grown children knows our local real estate market much better than I do even though he is in the education field and lives elsewhere. Again. Grrrrr.
On the particular day that I was thinking about the Realtor Code of Ethics, I had also been having a long conversation with the little red guy that sits on my shoulder. He had been telling me all day long about how I had been wronged and how I knew the proper pricing and how the guy should have relisted the house with me. And then he even went so far as to suggest that I call up all my Realtor friends and tell them all not to 
list his house. Yeah! That would show him wouldn't it!
But then the other guy who sits on my other shoulder punched the little red guy in the mouth, knocking him off my shoulder. He then proceeded to whip out his copy of the Realtor Code of Ethics and read me the riot act. He looked me square in the eyes and said, "What do you think you're thinking here Mr.?!" After a lecture on what is right and what is wrong and how I am bound by the Code of Ethics, I had to admit that he was right and I was wrong. What was I thinking?
It could have been something like this...
1. I am a human being too. I really do understand when you don't want to work with me any longer for whatever reason, But it hurts when you burn me. Most Realtors won't say this is so, but it is.
2. I deliver real time information to you about the housing market. I'm sorry if it isn't what you want to hear. I don't want to hear it either. It isn't easy for me to sell houses in this kind of market and my own house has lost value too. Please remember that I am schooled in what I do. You aren't. When you don't believe what I report, discuss it with me in a mature way instead of acting like a know it all.
3. Why is an emotional connection to a house so hard to deal with?
4. I am glad the Realtor Code of Ethics exists. It helps me on my best days and on my worst days in Real Estate. It not only protects you as a client, but it helps me stay on track and remember that I am held to a higher standard...even when you choose to forget the humanity of the person who is trying to help you.
I guess that's about it.
Oh and I should tell you that the little red guy had a concussion, but he's gonna be okay. He told me he had an appointment with some other Realtor later that day.
Comments(65)