What does 'Ethics' mean to you - Where do 'Ethics' originate from?

I am wondering that since we talk about ethics if we really understand them?

I would like to keep this a REALTOR only discussion if possible - so please post an 'r' if you are a REALTOR.

As you know - REALTORS have a quadrennial ethics training requirement - so if you are not a REALTOR you probably have not had the training so please, if you must post let us know you are not a REALTOR.

I am a Realtor (starting in to year 13 next month).

As such there is an obligation to abide by the NAR Code of Ethics (including keeping up with the changes made each year). The code includes the Standards of Practice which helps in defining compliance. To large degree, but not entirely, these requirements are patterned after legal requirements.

I also see ethics as a broader issue of treating each other fairly, known classically as the "Golden Rule".

I'd say the golden rule. "Do not do onto others that which you would not have them do on to you."
The changes that are made to bring the COE current are always interesting. I just received the 2009 copy of the COE, SOP 1-15 is new.

I am a Realtor.

In addition to our code of ethics a personal view I take is that I want to be proud of the way I conduct myself and my business 100 percent of the time. I never want to later be embarrassed at a party when I run into someone from the industry who I treated poorly or unfairly. I have been a Realtor for 5 solid years now and I want to develop a reputation in my market for being fair, ethical, friendly AND very good at my job. I don't want to be one of those agents whose offers get put at the bottom of the round-file because I am a total B*^%H. We have all worked with those total lunatics before- the ones that scream and yell at the drop of a hat- the ones that people laugh at behind their back because they do it so shamelessly.

I came to a crossroads in my business a couple years ago when I realized that my interest in this business is not just to sell homes but to develop relationships. I take great pride in the relationships I develop with (some) of my clients, and I think my ethics contribute to that benefit.

I am a Realtor too.

As I see it, my integrity is all I really have in this life -- when all else is stripped away. Integrity is the sum total of all the aspects of my character. And whatever that amount is, my ethics -- which I would define as the fairness and honesty with which I treat other people -- is the outward manifestation of that integrity.

I am solidly all for following the COE, and I'm glad NAR requires CE in this . . . The number of unethical people in our profession (and I'll speak only for the town in which I live) frustrates me on a regular basis.

We have seen people address our COE, several times.

Have you looked back through the years and actually looked at all the changes to our COE?

I would think ethics would remain unchanged as their source has - but that is not so. The past decade it has been unbelievable - and I am not sure if we are not changing our ethics to meet the way we do business rather then the other way around.

I equate ethics and morality - with morality being the bases for ethics.

so, for you Realtors, how do you handle a situation when a client instruction conflicts with the Realtor COE? have you ever had this kind of situation? If you have a listing agreement with a client, aren't you duty bound to follow the client's lawful instructions, even though they may conflict with the Realtor COE?

Sounds like a good idea for you to start an entirely different thread with - and perhaps you could be more specific - by stating specifically what you are concerned about.

I will not accept instructions from a client that violate Code of Ethics (and I will tell them that is why!).

Yes, to a certain degree. For example, when a client does not want the status changed in the MLS from "active" to "pending", which could cause the agent to have to pay a $100 fine. If I was to be fined, I'd insist that the seller has to pay it, but I would follow his instructions, which would be against our MLS rules and the COE.

really? what if you stood to lose your best REO client by not complying, and would lose most of your listing income. the client's request or demand is legal, but not consistent with the Realtor COE.

Not all my eggs are in one basket so if I ever loose a client over this I will move on with others.

12 years in the business, over 10 doing REO (and the last couple REO only) I've never had a request from a client to violate COE.

You will also see in an earlier post on this thread that I had noted where much of the COE is based on what is legal and supported by the Standards of Practice to gauge the performance.

I lost my respect for the COE when it was changed to make some of my websites unethical. I followed all the rules, spent a lot of time and money and they changed the rules after the fact, on the advice of my competition, to give my competition the advantage.

So much for ethics.

^^^

that's a good point. when private ethical codes are imposed, they tend to be unnecessarily restrictive. personally, I'm fine complying with state law, and not interested in answering to some private association's rules.

the point about NAR and the state and local associations is that most agents are FORCED to join and comply with the COE, simply because their broker is a member, per NAR rules. so, it's really not a voluntary choice, and certainly not an open and competitive environment.