Resolving Conflict
Many difficulties between real estate professionals (whether REALTORS® or not) result from misunderstanding, miscommunication, or lack of adequate communication.
If you have a problem with a real estate professional, you may want to speak with them or a principal broker in the firm. Open, constructive discussion often resolves questions or differences, eliminating the need for further action.
Filing an Ethics Complaint
If, after taking steps to resolve the conflict, you still feel you have a grievance, you may wish to consider filing an ethics complaint. Here’s what you need to know about filing an ethics complaint:
Please contact the Director of Legal Affairs at Georgia Association of REALTORS® if you have questions or to confirm that the Real Estate Professional you have a complaint against is a REALTOR® member that the Georgia Association of REALTORS® has jurisdiction over.
Only REALTORS® and REALTOR-ASSOCIATES® are subject to the Code of Ethics of the National Association of REALTORS®.
If the real estate professional, or their broker, is not a REALTOR®, your only recourse may be the state real estate licensing authority or the courts.
Boards of Associations of REALTORS® determine whether the Code of Ethics has been violated, not whether the law or real estate regulations have been broken. Those decisions can only be made by the licensing authorities or the courts.
Boards of REALTORS® can discipline REALTORS® for violating the Code of Ethics. Typical forms of discipline include attendance at courses and seminars designed to increase REALTORS®’ understanding of the ethical duties or other responsibilities of real estate professionals. REALTORS® may also be reprimanded, fined, or their membership can be suspended or terminated for serious or repeated violations.
Boards and Associations of REALTORS® cannot require REALTORS® to pay money to parties filing ethics complaints; can-not award “punitive damages” for violations of the Code of Ethics; and cannot suspend or revoke a real estate professional’s license.
The primary emphasis of discipline for ethical lapses is educational, to create a heightened awareness of and appreciation for the duties the Code imposes. At the same time, more severe forms of discipline, including fines and suspension and termination of membership may be imposed for serious or repeated violations.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ETHICS AND ARBITRATION
To find out more about the Ethics and Arbitration process from the National Association of REALTORS®, please review NAR®’s Professional Standards.
