You can gain a new perspective on the scope of how the Illinois Association of REALTORS® aims to improve industry professionalism by reading “IAR makes changes to enhance professionalism in industry” in the October issue of Illinois REALTOR® magazine.

For example, on Sept. 4 in Chicago, the IAR Board of Directors voted to create an Ethics Citation Program and to create a Professional Standards Toolkit to help train real estate professionals. These steps will build on the success of the Consumer Help Line and the IAR Ombudsman Program that were created in 2013.

With the Ethics Citation Program, REALTORS® and consumers will be able to anonymously file complaints about Illinois REALTORS® who violate the NAR Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. If a review panel agrees with the complaints, the named REALTORS® must agree to accept the citations and pay fines. Or, they can ask for an appeal.

REALTOR® Chris Read of Woodridge – a professional standards instructor and the immediate past chair of the IAR Professional Standards Committee – supports the Ethics Citation Program and explains that the idea is to show consumers our members are looking out for their best interests.

First complaint submitted
News of the first Ethics Citation Program complaint surfaced Tuesday (“Take note of first complaint received through Ethics Citation Program.”)  Soon, the review panel will rule on the merits of the complaint.

Watch this blog in the coming weeks and months for new developments.