Create professional development programs that help REALTORS® strengthen their businesses.
Protect private property rights and promote the value of REALTORS®.
Advance ethics enforcement programs that increase REALTOR® professionalism.
Protect REALTORS® by providing legal guidance and education.
Stay current on industry issues with daily news from Illinois REALTORS®, network with other professionals, attend a seminar, and keep up with industry trends through events throughout the year.
Ethics Citation Program
In 2018, there were 149 complaints filed through the Illinois REALTORS® Ethics Citation Program. A total of 68 citations were issued and nine complaints were forwarded to the Grievance Committee.
The top four Articles or Standards of Practice of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics that were cited were:
- Article 12, Standard of Practice 12-5: $250 fine
“REALTORS® shall not advertise nor permit any person employed by or affiliated with them to advertise real estate services or listed property in any medium (e.g., electronically, print, radio, television, etc.) without disclosing the name of that REALTOR’S® firm in a reasonable and readily apparent manner either in the advertisement or in electronic advertising via a link to a display with all required disclosures.” - Article 12: $250 fine
“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.” - Article 3, Standard of Practice 3-9: this fine was raised to $2,500 in October 2018
“REALTORS® shall not provide access to listed property on terms other than those established by the owner or the listing broker.” - Article 12, Standard or Practice 12-4: $500 fine
“REALTORS® shall not offer for sale/lease or advertise property without authority. When acting as listing brokers or as subagents, REALTORS® shall not quote a price different from that agreed upon with the seller/ landlord.”
In October 2018, Article 1, Standard of Practice 1-7 was added to the Illinois REALTORS® Ethics Citation Program, with a $250 fine.
Standard of Practice 1-7 states: “When acting as listing brokers, REALTORS® shall continue to submit to the seller/landlord all offers and counter-offers until closing or execution of a lease unless the seller/landlord has waived this obligation in writing. Upon the written request of a cooperating broker who submits an offer to the listing broker, the listing broker shall provide a written affirmation to the cooperating broker stating that the offer has been submitted to the seller/ landlord, or a written notification that the seller/landlord has waived the obligation to have the offer presented. REALTORS® shall not be obligated to continue to market the property after an offer has been accepted by the seller/landlord. REALTORS® shall recommend that sellers/landlords obtain the advice of legal counsel prior to acceptance of a subsequent offer except where the acceptance is contingent on the termination of the pre-existing purchase contract or lease.”
For more information on the Ethics Citation Program go to: www.IllinoisRealtors.org/ethics/ethics-citation-program/
Ombudsman Program
In 2018, there were 212 Requests for an Ombudsman filed. Sixty-eight percent of the requests were resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant.
Illinois REALTORS® currently has 28 members serving as trained ombudsmen.
For more information on the Ombudsman Program go to: www.IllinoisRealtors.org/ethics/disputes/
