Code of Ethics: Introduction

The cover of the original Code of
Ethics, from the archives of
Realtor.org

The first realtor code of ethics was written in 1913, 100 years ago. It was presented at the National Association of Realtors (known then as the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges) annual convention in Winnipeg, Canada, in July. So, in recognition of the 100^th birthday (July, 2013), I wanted to mention the duties that were important then.

The code was called the “Ethics of the Real Estate Profession—Adopted by National Association of Real Estate Exchanges.” This code was divided into 2 sections. The first was called “Duties to Clients” and there were 10 duties. Also at that time, the client was always the seller, not the buyer. The second section was called “Duties to Other Brokers” and there were 13 of those. I will cover those in the next section.

Briefly, the duties to clients were
1. Be a good employee to your client, the employer.
2. Be conservative in giving advice.
3. Inspect the client’s property.
4. Ask that the owner price the property at a reasonable amount so it can be sold.
5. Obtain written sole agency, if the property is worthy of special effort to sell it.
6. Advocate for mentioning real consideration in the deed.
7. Do not give special information to anyone unless they are willing to disclose their names and addresses, letting them know that realtors work in the open.
8. Do not ask for a net price on the property unless the realtor notifies the client that he or she wants to buy it for himself or herself.
9. Request that the client refrain from discussing price with a prospective buyer, but refer the buyer to the broker.
10. Always exact the regular real estate commission of the Association of which he or she is a member and let the client know at the beginning that it is expected.

Peek into Some Celebrity Homes

When you're house-hunting, or looking for inspiration to freshen up your interior decorating, or just curious, it's fun to take a peek into the homes of famous people. Of course you can't see into any home you might be curious about, but the ones that are on the market or have recently been sold have photo tours you can click through. Let's look at a few!

Country music fans may enjoy seeing this farm, formerly owned by Henry Williams, Sr, and now for sale by owners Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. It's a gorgeous 753 acres in Tennessee, going for $20 million. Lots of rolling hills and a barn as well as two residences.

If you've been watching the Marvel Comics movies with Captain America in them these last few years, you've seen actor Chris Evans. Now take a look at the stunning new house he's purchased, complete with lovely views of the LA area and Laurel Canyon.

And speaking of Marvel Comics movie stars, Scarlett Johansson has sold her condo in the Hollywood Versailles high rise, but you can still look through the rooms. There's a photo of the view from the condo, looking out on LA.

Changing Your Address for a Move

In all the work of packing, disconnecting and reconnecting utilities, and helping kids and pets adjust, don't forget a small task with a big impact: changing your address when moving.

Start by reviewing this list of 10 tips for address changes - it includes reminders to verify your new address and decide whether you need temporary or permanent mail forwarding - from How Stuff Works: http://home.howstuffworks.com/real-estate/10-tips-for-changing-your-address.htm#page=0

Then when you're ready, use the US Postal Service's online site for changing your address at https://www.usps.com/umove/

You'll need to contact some institutions directly, like your bank, doctors and veterinarians, and loan holders. About.com has a checklist that can be a good starting place for constructing your own list: http://moving.about.com/library/movingchecklist/blchangeofaddress.htm

And don't forget to notify the IRS, especially if you make estimated tax payments throughout the year. http://www.irs.gov/uac/Moving-Soon%3F-Let-the-IRS-Know!