Ethics in Real Estate

As your agent, I promise to adhere to a strict code of ethics in conducting any and all activities related to your sale or purchase of a home. In some businesses, simply doing what is legal may be good enough. But in my real estate practice I demand an ethical standard that goes above and beyond the legal requirements.  The guiding principle of ethics comes from the Latin primum non nocere, meaning first do no harm.  By adhering to strict ethical guidelines, I will earn your trust.  By establishing trust, I'll build a long term business model based on long term clients.

As a member of the National Association of REALTORS, I am bound by our code of ethics which you can find at:

http://www.realtor.org/mempolweb.nsf/pages/Code?OpenDocument

There are rules pertaining to: Disclosure of agency, financial arrangements, following the law of the land, marketing practices, negotiation methods, how clients are charged for services, how offers are presented, confidentiality, and more.  All of these rules are intended to protect your interest.

And, as a Real Estate Broker licensed by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission, I'll ask you to read the document "Working With Real Estate Agents" as soon as we begin our discussion, and acknowledge that you've done so:

http://www.ncrec.state.nc.us/publications-bulletins/WorkingWith.html

When buying or selling real estate, you may find it helpful to have a real estate agent assist you. Real estate agents can provide many useful services and work with you in different ways. In some real estate transactions, the agents work for the seller. In others, the seller and buyer may each have agents. And sometimes the same agents work for both the buyer and the seller. It is important for you to know whether an agent is working for you as your agent or simply working with you while acting as an agent of the other party.

This article addresses the various types of working relationships that may be available to you. It should help you decide which relationship you want to have with a real estate agent. It will also give you useful information about the various services real estate agents can provide buyers and sellers, and it will help explain how real estate agents are paid.