National Association of Realtors Archives - Demetree School of Real Estate

Three Things I Have Learned Serving on the Realtor Professional Standards Committee

If a complaint is filed to against a Realtor because they violated the code of ethics, it eventually makes it way to the Professional Standards Committee. I have served on this committee at Orlando Realtors for two years. The details of the complaints, the hearings, and the discussions among panel members are confidential, so unfortunately I can’t share specific cases with you. But I can share what I have learned from serving on this committee and why I would recommend that every Realtor serve on this committee.

You will learn the types of things that customers care about. Some complaints come from customers. If a Realtor does a mediocre job, the customer is not likely to file a complaint. The customer has to feel significantly aggrieved to file a complaint. Think about it like the customer service department of a store. You are not going to complain to customer service because the cashier forgot to say “Please” and “Thank you.” But you might go to customer service if the cashier refused to give you your correct change. It’s the same with Realtor complaints. If the agent showed up late to the listing appointment, you might get annoyed but you aren’t going to complain. If the agent refused to show you the home because you were the wrong demographic for the neighborhood, you might feel aggrieved enough that you file a complaint. On this committee, I have learned the types of things that irritate the public enough that they are going to file a complaint.
I have also learned what the customer expects of Realtors. Sometimes someone will complain that their Realtor didn’t do X, Y, and Z. As I’m reviewing the case, I think, “It’s not the Realtor’s job to do that.” But the customer thinks it’s your job. This is useful information for any Realtor because now you can do a better job of setting expectations in the beginning.
I have learned what Realtors expect of other Realtors. Sometimes the complaint comes from another Realtor. Some of these complaints are petty, where only an ego was harmed. Others are quite serious in nature, where there was loss of money or property. In either case, I learned what makes one Realtor want to complain against another. When the panel members are discussing the infraction, I learn even more. There are some cases that I think are fairly innocuous, but my colleagues think are quite severe. Other times, it’s the opposite.

I have served on the professional standards committee at Orlando Realtors for two years and hope to serve for many more years because of what I have learned from being on the committee. This is one committee that I would recommend that any Realtor serve on.

Please note that Karen Climer has no affiliation with Climer School of Real Estate. Her father, Ron Climer, sold Climer School of Real Estate in 2014. It has since been involved in several mergers and acquisitions and is owned by a large investment company. Karen owns Demetree School of Real Estate in Orlando, Florida.

By Karen Climer|2025-01-29T15:54:44-05:00January 29th, 2025|

How Can I Access the MLS Without Joining Realtors? Becoming a Thompson Broker.

Many agents believe that in order to have access to the MLS, they have to be a member of their local Realtor association. This was true for much of history. In 1991, a case called Thompson vs. DeKalb County Board of Realtors was heard in the 11^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Thompson was an agent who wanted access to the market power of the MLS, but did not want to join the Atlanta-area Board of Realtors.

Prior to the Fair Housing Act of 1968, Realtor associations in the South were quite racist. Black real estate licensees were not allowed to become members. Further, it was a violation of the Code of Ethics to show a black person a home in a predominantly white neighborhood. In the late 1980s, Mr. Thompson, a black agent in Atlanta, wanted access to the MLS without joining an organization with a racist history. Thompson won the case on appeal in the 11^th District, which includes Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. So today, there are agents in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia referred to as Thompson brokers. They pay for and have access to the MLS without paying for or joining the National Association of Realtors.

Is there a downside to working as a Thompson broker? You will not have access to the electronic lockbox system that many Realtors use because NAR owns that system. So if you had a buyer that wanted to see the house at 123 Residential Street, and the listing agent had used an electronic lockbox, you would have to call the listing agent and arrange for them to be there to show the house. If the listing agent is unwilling to show the house, you could report them to the local Realtor association for violating the NAR Code of Ethics.

This leads to another disadvantage. Realtor members subscribe to the NAR Code of Ethics. Thompson brokers are not Realtors so they have no code of ethics. Realtors might say that you are unethical, but the solution to this problem is to let your actions speak for themselves. I don’t know if customers care about the Code of Ethics. Most consumers don’t know what it is. Consumers care if you have the same moral code that they have.

So is being a Thompson broker for you? I don’t know. If you want to join a large firm like Keller Williams and want the benefits they offer, you will likely have to join Realtors. If your broker is a member of NAR, you must become a member. If your broker is not a member of NAR, you cannot become a member. If you do not want to join that type of firm and you do not want the other benefits that NAR offers, then being a Thompson broker might work out for you.

By Karen Climer|2025-03-27T08:57:38-04:00November 19th, 2024|