NAR’s Pathways to Professionalism are professional courtesies which REALTORS® should show to the public, property and their peers. While these should be honored, they are also voluntary and cannot form a basis for a Professional Standards/Ethics complaint. So, why do we care? Up to 80 percent of calls we receive focus on professionalism, or lack thereof, which is damaging to our industry and the REALTOR® brand. In this new series, focused on “True Tales of Professionalism,” we’ll examine some cringe-worthy, real life examples of REALTORS® who didn’t violate the Code of Ethics, but certainly missed the mark on professionalism.
Today, let’s look at #11 under “Respect for The Public”:
Today, let’s look at #11 under “Respect for The Public”:
“When showing an occupied home, always ring the doorbell or knock — and announce yourself loudly before entering. Knock and announce yourself loudly before entering any closed room.”Imagine this: You’re up early and getting dressed for work, in a unit you’ve just put on the market. Unbeknownst to you, your listing broker has given a buyer’s broker permission to view your unit with their client. The buyer’s broker takes the key out of the lockbox and proceeds to enter your unit without knocking. It’s outside of viewing hours, you hear the door open and you’re now standing before four strangers who barged through your door. Rightfully so, you are upset and embarrassed. There’s a couple questions we have to ask here:
- Is this a violation of the Code of Ethics? No.
- Was it unprofessional for your listing broker have allowed anyone to enter your unit outside of viewing hours, without your permission? Yes.
- Was it unprofessional for the buyer’s broker to enter without knocking? Again, yes.