What does “Professional ethics has to do with it?
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Breaking Real Estate News
The Importance of Professional Ethics, the lack of it and the Consequences
The Lack of Professional Ethics have consequences
Spring 2009: Real Estate Bulletin: DRE, Commissioner Davi Reports: The Department has investigated over 2,500 complaints involving loan modifications and has issued over 525 Desist and Refrain Orders and Accusations against respondents who have violated the law. …” (See pg. 1 Commissioner’s Message). http://www.dre.ca.gov/Summer 2009: DRE Real Estate Bulletin: Commissioner’s Message: Since November 2008, there have been Desist and Refrain Orders filed against 140 respondents and Accusations filed seeking disciplinary action against 29 real estate licensees. (Pg 8)
In 2010: The DRE Enforcement Division reports:
DRE Enforcement Report, July 2010 reports: 130 Disciplinary Actions http://www.dre.ca.gov/pdf_docs/enf_actions/2010-07-Discipl-Actions.pdf
DRE Enforcement Report, August 2010 reports: 105 Disciplinary Actions http://www.dre.ca.gov/pdf_docs/enf_actions/2010-08-Discipl-Actions.pdf
The Disciplinary Actions can consists of the following:
- Commissioner’s Regulations
- Business and Professions Code
- Financial Code
- Revoked Licenses
- Revoked with Right to a Restricted License
- Suspended
- Suspended with Stay
-
License Surrender
- Public Reproval
- Indefinite Suspensions
- And many more
A Realtor’s Safe guide in the Golden Rule: Whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them.” Pg 49, Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the National Association of Realtors.
Tina Turner’s famous song “What’s love got to do with it?” asked a thought-provoking question. This song promoted her to instant fame. Although it may have been a rhetorical question in nature-some took it to heart and started to think about.
My question is not rhetorical: I’m asking, “What does Professional ethics has to do with it?” I say “A lot! Why? Because there are consequences for our conduct/our actions. Although the “Breaking real estate news” deals with the legal aspect, there were unethical practices involved as well.
My Ethical Objective as a Real Estate Broker: “To maintain and improve the standards of our calling and share with their fellow Realtors a common responsibility for its integrity and honor” (Trade and Professional Associations, pg. 49, NAR Code of Ethics).
As Professional Realtors, we must be more determined than ever to do it right. That simply means we must be professionally careful in our dealings with others. We must treat others, as we want to be treated. Always remembering our decisions, and our actions have consequences. According to the “Breaking Real Estate News” report, some of us have failed to do the right thing and are now suffering serious consequences. Why? I believe it is because of lack of training and education in Professional Ethics.
What is Professional ethics? Ethics 101:
Ethics refers to a “Standard of conduct by which the individual guides their own behavior and judges that of others. Whenever one person who has the status of being an expert or knowing a great deal more about a particular field than others- assumes the duty of directing the business, health, investment, or general well-being of another - on a fee basis, there is vested in persons a high degree of confidence and trust. When one takes advantage of this position of trust to the detriment of another party solely for the purpose of one’s own gain, we say that this person is unethical.” Chapter 3, Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, National Association of Realtors, effective January 1, 2000, pg. 48.
As Real Estate Professionals I believe we must be more determined to be committed to Ethical education and at the same time being a committed “Doer” of Ethics. Our career depends on it.
This commitment can come in a variety of ways, but one of them is to be willing to work, promote and maintain high standards of conduct (starting with ourselves and helping others) in all transactions of the real estate business.
Ethics is designed to educate people, to help them to behave properly with others, to communicate at the work place, etc. Some believe getting a clear understanding and practicing Professional ethics can bring a Realtor to competency, fairness, and high integrity. In the end, there is an on-going commitment to lofty ideals and/or moral conduct in business relations. It is a win-win for everyone involved. Working together, we can make it happen! What say you?
hollywoodhomesmc@aol.com: M. C. Griffin Campbell, Broker License #: 01819507
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