FAQ's About Ethics and Technology

Craig's List, Ebay, Facebook, MySpace, Blogs, Twitter... The number of ways for agents to communicate with the public and each other is ever increasing. However, so are the number of calls we receive about agents breaking the rules on these sites... Here are a few frequently asked questions about those sites....



If I post a listing on Craig's List, do I need to state I'm an agent?



YES, absolutely! Article 12 in the REALTOR® Code of Ethics explicitly states that you will display that you are a REALTOR® and the brokerage you work for on all advertising. In addition, Idaho Real Estate License Law 54-2053 states that all advertising of listed property will contain the broker's licensed business name.



If I'm selling my own house, and I post on one of those sites, is it still required?



YES! The rules do not change simply because you are listing your own property. You must explicitly state that the owner is an agent in order to meet the "truth in advertising" standard set forth in Article 12. Article 4 in the REALTOR® Code of Ethics also says that you will disclose to buyers and sellers any present or contemplated interest you have in a property that you are buying or selling. Idaho License Law 54-2055 also addresses this issue.



Twitter is like an ongoing conversation with my friends, so the Code of Ethics doesn't really apply, does it?



YES, it still applies. All communication, whether in person or electronic, must meet the standards set forth in the Code of Ethics. Just because it feels like a private conversation doesn't mean that it is, so you need to be careful about what you say (and who you say it about).

As you can imagine, we get a lot of calls from both agents and the public about these issues. When it is brought to our attention, our goal is not to prosecute, but to educate those in the industry about the rules, standards, and obligations that exist.