The Chicago Association of REALTORS®, the “Voice for Real Estate” in Chicago since 1883, represents 17,000 members from all real estate specialties including commercial sales, development, property management, appraisal, auctions and residential sales.
Learn how we help our 17,000 members. Membership options are available for licensed real estate professionals and those affiliated with the real estate industry!
REALTORS® Real Estate School offers all kinds of real estate licensing and training. Browse self-paced, online training or live classes in our modern, downtown classrooms!
How can we help your business succeed? Your membership includes multiple resource guides on industry topics, tools to increase your knowledge and market statistics to help your serve your communities.
Do you know our biggest complaint from buyers, sellers and REALTORS® alike? False advertising by REALTORS®.
Article 12 of the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics states:
REALTORS® shall be honest and truthful in their real estate communications and shall present a true picture in their advertising, marketing, and other representations. REALTORS® shall ensure that their status as real estate professionals is readily apparent in their advertising, marketing, and other representations, and that the recipients of all real estate communications are, or have been, notified that those communications are from a real estate professional. (Amended 1/08)
While often unintentional, some REALTORS®, looking for new, quick, quirky or less expensive ways to advertise, forget to double-check their practices against our Code of Ethics. A few common REALTOR® advertising mishaps include:
A REALTOR® neglecting to put his or her own name on a sign, leading potential buyers to believe the property is for sale by the owner.
A REALTOR® exaggerating the conditions, amenities, or location of a property, leading potential buyers to spend money and time viewing a property they would have otherwise crossed off their list.
A REALTOR® leaving a “SOLD” sign on a property, where the sale has fallen through. A “SOLD” sign is a marketing tool and leaving it on an unsold property is misleading.
A REALTOR® saying he/she will provide a service at “no obligation or cost” but then pressures the potential buyer or states contingencies upon performing the service.
A REALTOR® who markets, sells or lists properties that aren’t their own, without permission.
These seemingly harmless activities are in clear violation of our Code of Ethics and can be detrimental you and your buyers.
Look – we get it. Real estate is an increasingly competitive industry. We applaud our REALTORS® who continuously look for new ways to market themselves, their firms and their listings. However, to avoid any issues for you or your potential buyers, let’s just take look at a list of questions you can ask yourself before launching your next advertising campaign.
Am I authorized to list and sell this property?
Is it clear who is selling the property?
Is it evident that I am a REALTOR®?
Am I being transparent about the conditions and features of the home?
If “free” or “no obligation” is a term used in my advertising, do I deliver on that promise?
Am I the actual seller of the properties I’ve claimed to have sold, or were they sold by a colleague?
Are the qualifications for receiving the premiums and prizes I am offering made clear?
Do I have explicit permission to use all of the materials in my advertisement? Tip: Beware of mentioning competitors and using their information in comparison to yours.
Am I proactively removing signage when it is no longer applicable (e.g., “SOLD” signs, “limited time offer” banners)?
Does my online activity reflect the Code of Ethics? Tip: We have handy do’s and don’ts in our “To Share or Not to Share” story on ChicagoREALTOR.com.
Ultimately, are you painting a “true picture,” in accordance with Article 12?
To make sure you are compliant:
Stay on top of the mandatoryEthics Training. The current training cycle is January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018.
There is an art to being a REALTOR®. While we encourage creativity and innovation on your path to success, always incorporate the Code of Ethics – otherwise, it isn’t a pretty picture.
You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/
We Apologize for the Inconvenience
Our phones are temporarily down. Please email membership@chicagorealtor.com for any immediate needs. We apologize for the inconvenience – thank you for your patience!
Precautionary Measures and Information Regarding COVID-19
Your health and safety is of the utmost importance to us. As COVID-19 is predominantly spread through close contact, out of an abundance of caution, all events through April 30 will be either canceled or postponed, except for Coffee with Your GADs, which will take place virtually. This includes our annual Sales Awards, which we are working to reschedule.
If you have registered for one of our upcoming events, look for an email with further details. All tickets for paid events will be automatically refunded. Please allow 3-5 business days to see the refund on your bank statement. Questions? Please reach out to our events team.
Precautionary Measures and Information Regarding COVID-19
As COVID-19 is predominantly spread through close contact, out of an abundance of caution, all in-person classes scheduled through April 30 will take place virtually.
RRES staff has reached out to those of you who have registered for an affected class with an option to transfer into an online option or reschedule for a later classroom date. CAR to You is available in the meantime to assist you with your education needs and we have a variety of classes being offered online and via webinar for your continued development.