CMR President Rod Crosby has a mission this year of raising the bar among his peers. He has challenged his peers to not only abide by the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, which is an obligation of membership but to reach higher to demonstrate the highest level of professionalism. "I want consumers to know the requirements REALTORS® are obligated to uphold, and they should hold us accountable,” said Crosby. President Crosby shares the following obligations REALTORS® have to clients and the public. REALTORS®:

• Promote and protect the interest of the clients but treat customers honestly
• Avoid exaggeration, misrepresentation, and concealment of facts pertaining to the property or the transaction
• Cooperate with other REALTORS® by sharing their listings and listing information in a timely manner for the benefit of sellers and buyers
• Ensure that all agreements are in writing, express the true intent of the parties and that copies are provided to the parties to agreements immediately upon their signing
• Do not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity
• Are competent in the area of real estate practice in which they engage
• Are honest and truthful in their real estate communications and paint a true picture in their real estate advertising and marketing; and REALTORS®
• Do not engage in activities that constitute the practice of law

In policing their own, both REALTORS® and consumers can participate in the REALTOR® Code of Ethics enforcement system that imposes sanctions upon those found guilty of violating the Code of Ethics. For more information on the obligations of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and its enforcement system visit cmr.realtor.