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The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is a powerful group with over 1.5 million members in the US. Its strict Code of Ethics requires all realtors to follow. This code prioritizes clients’ interests and ensures fair and honest real estate deals.
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- Realtors must always accompany buyers during showings to protect the seller’s property and uphold ethical standards.
- Leaving buyers alone breaks the realtor’s rules and puts the seller at risk of theft, damage, and legal troubles.
- Ethical realtors put client safety first and always supervise property viewings for a safe and stress-free sale.
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Why Realtors Must Never Leave Buyers Alone During Showings
Part of the realtors’ ethical code is how they show properties to buyers. Recently, a realtor did something unethical and illegal: they left buyers alone in a seller’s home during a viewing. This is not the first time this has happened in the industry.
What if a homeowner walked in on a realtor lounging outside while buyers were alone? This might seem like a small mistake, but it’s a severe ethical violation that could have significant consequences. Here’s why leaving buyers alone during a showing is unacceptable:
Prioritizing Speed Over Security
Realtors might prioritize speed over the seller’s safety and security in the rush to sell a house quickly. However, leaving buyers unsupervised in a home can put the seller’s belongings and property at risk of damage, theft, or vandalism. This is a fundamental ethical mistake that can have serious consequences.
Erosion of Trust and Informed Consent
Homeowners trust realtors to handle their property with care and integrity. This means clearly explaining the rules for viewing the property to potential buyers. When realtors leave buyers alone in a home, it implies a level of access that the seller may not have agreed to. This lack of openness can damage trust and create problems in the selling process.
Ethical Code Takes Center Stage
The National Association of Realtors’ Code of Ethics clearly states that realtors must only access a property under the terms agreed upon by the owner or seller. However, when a realtor leaves buyers alone in a home, they violate this rule, whether representing the seller directly or working with them. This breaches the agreed-upon procedures for showing a property.
The NAR’s Code of Ethics (Article 3, Standard of Practice 3-9) also requires cooperating agents to adhere to the same ethical standards as the listing agent. Even if the showing agent wasn’t directly representing the seller, they were still required to follow the owner’s and listing agent’s guidelines. By leaving the buyers unsupervised, they also broke this rule.
Beyond Legal Obligations
The National Association of Realtors’ Code of Ethics sets higher standards for ethical behavior than the law. Breaking ethical rules can hurt a realtor’s and the real estate industry’s reputations, even if they don’t get in trouble with the law.
Consider the potential consequences: a lost family heirloom, a damaged piece of artwork, or even a break-in – all resulting from the negligence of leaving buyers unsupervised. The seller’s emotional distress and potential legal troubles serve as a stark reminder of the severe consequences that can follow when ethical standards are ignored.
Leaving buyers alone during a showing is a severe ethical violation. It puts speed over safety and ignores the seller’s right to make informed decisions. Following the rules helps realtors make home buying and selling a safe and smooth.
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