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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.