Daily Bulletin, Mon., Mar. 31, 1980
Tryon
Real Values
by Chuck Ross
Plugging the Profession
A friend of mine called me the
other day. “I knew you’d get
around to it", he said. “I knew
you’d finally pul in a plug for
Realtors."
He was talking about my last
article. "You’re durned right”, I
countered. "When you’re sick, do
you go to a doctor? When you
need legal help, do you see a
lawyer?".
•'Well, that's different.” he
said....
Well, it’s not really different.
Realtors are professionals, just
as are doctors, lawyers, bankers
and stockbrokers. We are trained
to do our job, and we work at it.
Since I’ve been accused of
plugging the profession — and I
unabashedly admit to the charge
— let’s go a few steps further
Many people misuse the (erm,
Realtor. Ask them what a Realtor
is, and they will likely reply,
"someone who sells real estate.”
This is not entirely correct.
Anyone can sell real estate. You
can sell your own property,
without a license. But, if you are
going to buy or sell real estate for
others, you must have a license.
This involves, among other
things, a very stiff exam, so
tough that there is only a 40
percent passing rate.
All licensed real estate brokers
and sales counsellors, however,
are not Realtors. A Realtor is a
member of the National Associa
tion of Realtors, an organization
dedicated to maintaining the
highest standards of practice of
our profession. The term,
Realtor, is copyrighted and
spelled with a capital "R” as a
reminder that we are expected to
measure up to the standards
I will not bore you with all the
details of what is required of a
Realtor, but there are two
considerations which I believe
che ' t m P° rtant 1° an y potential
First of all, you don’t just send
money, then hang up your sign.
Before you can even be
considered, your reputation must
t ^ al y 0u are acceptable
the members of your local
Board of Realtors.
The other consideration, of
^luai, if not g reater importance,
r . al ^ ea ^ ors are bound by the
0 Ethics of the national
organization.
P 1 ^^ 0 * S ^uite strict. In fact,
above the law. For example,
Health Clinic
Polk County Health Depart
ment Clinic schedule for week of
March 31 is as follows:
Monday: General clinic-
(immunization, hypertension
screening, tbc. test, etc.) 8:30
a.m. — 5 p.m.
Tuesday: Speech and hearing
(by appointment)
Wednesday: Family Planning
2:30-4 p.m.
Thursday: Maternity 8:30- 10
a.m.
Friday: Nurse screening can
cer clinic (by appointment)
Home Health care by physician
referral.
For appointment call Polk
County Health Department 894-
8271. ’
it is a violation of the Code to
publicly disparage a competitor.
Another article requires that
Realtors be competent in their
field. It certainly is not illegal to
knock the opposition, nor is it
against the law to be a klutz. But
the Code says no.
One of the most important of
the tenets of the Code is the
article which defines the rela
tionship between client and
agent. Because it should be
understood by all persons who
deal with a Realtor, I will quote it
verbatim:
"In accepting employment as
an agent, the Realtor pledges
himself to protect and promote
the interests of the client. This
obligation of absolute fidelity to
the client's interests is primary,
but it does not relieve the Realtor
of the obligation to treat fairly all
parlies to the transaction."
What this means is that the
client is the person who pays the
commission. Usually, but not
always, this is the seller.
Nevertheless, the Realtor also
has a high obligation to the buyer.
He cannot misrepresent the
facts. He cannot lie about the
property, nor can he conceal
known adverse information.
The Code of Ethics is important
to the Realtor because it is a
means of setting standards of
practice. It is even more
important to the buyer and seller
because it is a means of
protection.
..Are you interested in learning
more about the protection
afforded you by the Realtors’
Code of Ethics? Cail me at (704)
894-3531 (894-8424 evenings) or
drop by Town & Country Realty.
I’ll be glad to talk it over with
you. adv. 31,c.
Entertain Your Guests
at THETEA HOUSE on
Steeplechase Weekend.
Lang will be on hand both
Fri. and Sat. nites to add
to the Festivities
For Res. Ph. 457-4789
maison de CAMPAGNE
On Melrose Avenue, Tryon
A Fine Location For The Finer Things In Life
Delightful town house on a secluded site near
Churches, Library & Fine Arts Center.
FIRST FLOOR: Foyer. Living room. Screened
porch. Diningroom. Master bedroom (or Library).
Bath. Dinette. Kitchen. Guest room and bath. Open
porch and Patio. 8
SECOND FLOOR: Two large bedrooms. Sitting
room. Bath. Enclosed sleeping porch. Two car
garage with storage space. This completely
air-conditioned, renovated & redecorated home has
three flreplaces and a beautifully landscaped yard
without grass.
JOHN KNOBLOCK, Realtor
704-859-6206