Professional Standards
Not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. REALTORS® obligated to abide by the standards of the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics and Standards of Practices. These outline duties that REALTORS® has to clients and customers, the public, and other REALTORS®. For more information about the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, visit https://www.nar.realtor/about-nar/policies/code-of-ethics-and-professional-standards
If a REALTOR® has failed to meet these standards, you can file a complaint. First, you must determine* if the person is a REALTOR® and, thus, bound by the Code of Ethics. Then you have the following options to resolve your dispute:
Contact the Broker
Contact the person’s broker to inform him or her what happened. Many problems come from a lack of communication. Speaking directly with the broker could lead to a quick resolution.
Use the Ombudsman Program
A volunteer from the Texas REALTORS® Professional Standards Committee can act as a third-party mediator, explain possible resolutions, and answer questions.
File an Ethics Complaint
If contacting the broker and talking to an ombudsman doesn’t resolve the problem, you can file a formal complaint.
Arbitration
This process is used when you think you’re owed money based on an agreement.
*If your agent is not a REALTOR®, you will need to contact the Texas Real Estate Commission.
National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics
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