An App Runs on a Code. A REALTOR Stands By One

Friends often ask me, “What’s the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®?” People often use the terms interchangeably, but there are differences between REALTORS® and real estate agents. Although both are licensed to sell real estate, the major difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR® is a that a REALTOR® must subscribe to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.

Our Code of Ethics is our way of policing ourselves to make sure that we are always working for the benefit of our clients and community. We believe in the Code of Ethics so strongly that we are required to attend training sessions to maintain our membership.

On June 27th, we participated in National Real Estate Ethics Day. This training event, hosted by best-selling author and Realtor Leigh Brown, was live-streamed to Realtor associations all over the country. Our association, the Greater Chattanooga Realtors®, was proud to participate in this event with Realtors from 160 other associations across 22 states.

And if that wasn’t enough, Realtors took this day as an opportunity to raise $23,000 for the REALTORS® Relief Foundation. This fund was established after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and over the past 17 years, the REALTORS® Relief Foundation has collected and distributed over $29 million in relief aid for more than 70 disasters in 37 states and territories.

So what does all of this mean? It means that Realtors do more than sell real estate. Realtors consistently set themselves apart by their focus on professionalism and ethics. We are advocates for homeownership, and that’s something that a website or an app can’t do. An app runs on a code.
A REALTOR® stands by one. In our Code of Ethics, we promise to put people first. That’s Who We R.