Professional Standards FAQs
A complaint may be filed by another REALTOR®, by the buyer or seller or any other member of the public. To file a complaint, please contact the Salt Lake Board of REALTORS® at 542-8840 or click on links for the Ethics Form and copy of the Code of Ethics at left. The authority of the Grievance and Professional Standards Committees of the Salt Lake Board is limited SOLELY to review of alleged violations of the Code of Ethics and if necessary, to hold formal hearings on those allegations. The Committees are NOT EMPOWERED TO RESCIND OR MODIFY CONTRACTS OR AWARD MONIES (INCLUDING EARNEST MONIES). Following your review of the Articles of the Code of Ethics, please complete the complaint form, return it to the Board along with a detailed explanation of how the REALTOR® violated the Code of Ethics. You must cite specific Article(s) of the Code. A narrative arranged in chronological order is usually the best way to support your complaint. Please include copies of available documentation supporting your narrative. It is important that your narrative be as detailed and complete as possible to enable the Grievance Committee to properly evaluate your complaint. Examples of relevant documents might include Real Estate Purchase Contract (REPC), agency contracts, listing agreements, disclosure forms, etc.
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By becoming and remaining a member of the board and by signing or having signed the agreement to abide by the bylaws of the Board, every member agrees to submit to arbitration by the Board's facilities all disputes as defined by Article 17 of the Code of Ethics. See links at left for Request and Agreement to Arbitrate forms and for information on Procuring Cause.
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Yes. Mediation is offered as an alternative to full-blown Arbitration. After the Grievance Committee has reviewed the formal Request for Arbitration and found it to be a proper matter for Arbitration, both parties are offered the option of Mediation. Mediation is successful in 85% of cases -- saves the time of all concerned.
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The function of the Grievance Committee is clearly distinguishable from the function of the Professional Standards Committee. The Professional Standards Committee is similar to a court. The court adjudicates matters that come before it. The Professional Standards Committee makes decisions on matter involving ethics or arbitration. The function of the Grievance Committee is similar to that of the grand jury. A grand jury evaluates potentially criminal conduct to determine whether the evidence presented warrants indictment and trial. The Grievance Committee receives ethics complaints and arbitration requests to determine, if taken as true on their face, a hearing is to be warranted. The Grievance Committee makes only such preliminary evaluation as is necessary to make these decisions. While the Grievance Committee has meetings, it does not hold hearings, and it does not decide whether members have violated the Code of Ethics. The Grievance Committee does not mediate or arbitrate business disputes. If you have questions concerning the procedures, please contact Bryan Kohler or Shelley Reed
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REALTOR® Code of Ethics
Professional Standards FAQ
