Code of Ethics & Professionalism

Video · Designed to meet the NAR Code of Ethics training requirements, this course is Ethics as only Trista can teach it. Examining how the NAR Code of Ethics intersects with state and federal law, this course provides a new perspective on the Code and risk management in the practice of real estate. Providing adequate time for class participation and discussion, this course asks “what would you do?” and applies the answers to current case studies and examples. 3-4 hours

Trista was GREAT! She had me rolling, and I could tell from our members, they really enjoyed her!” – Allison Woodham, RCE, Education Director, Baldwin REALTORS®

“Best code of ethics class I have attended in a long time. Very easy to watch and absorb. Good stories to remember topics.” “She was fantastic! Super funny, engaging, and obviously brilliant!!” “Wow! Excellent presenter. She kept the audience engaged the entire time.” - 2024 Michigan REALTORS® Convention Attendees

Is professionalism in real estate fading or just in need of a wake-up call?
In this lively and thought-provoking session, Professional Standards Expert Melanie McLane and Attorney Trista Curzydlo tackle the question from two powerful perspectives. Melanie examines professionalism through the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and Pathways to Professionalism, while Trista brings the legal lens to what happens when standards slip. Expect candid stories, real-world examples, and a few spirited debates as they explore shortcuts, communication breakdowns, and technology’s impact on professional conduct. You’ll leave with practical insights to strengthen your professionalism—and protect both your reputation and your clients. This course may be used to satisfy NAR Ethics requirements at the discretion of the local association. 1-3 hours

Video · Tired of the same old ethics course? We take a fresh look at what doing the right thing for the right reason means. We'll uncover the 'why' of the rules to understand how they can make your life and career better. It's about self-imposing standards reflective of a business you can be proud of and fostering a community in which ethical businesses thrive. This session was written to meet the NAR required training; 3 hours

Family room? Mother-in-law suite? Can you say those things in an ad? What does the REALTOR® Code of Ethics have to say about advertising? Is a Tweet an advertisement? Advertising, Social Media and the Agent explores requirements for advertising according to HUD guidelines, which includes Fair Housing, as well as Article 12 in the Code of Ethics. Is a Tweet an ad? What about Facebook? If you don’t know, you need to find out! 2-4 hours; May be made state specific

Video This course will discuss the legal and ethical issues of multiple offers, as well as the agent’s fiduciary duties to clients. The REALTOR® Code of Ethics, as well as state law, will be discussed, compared and contrasted. 3-4 hours

Amazing! This class could have been an 8 hour class, the information was so good. The class was engaged and it flew by. Reviews were awesome. She’s always a pleasure to work with!”
Brandy Purcell Hartman, RCE, CAE, Mount Rushmore Board of REALTORS®

For Association Staff Realtor Associations and individual realtors are impacted by commission issues. When disputes arise, association executives or staff may need to organize arbitration hearings. Guiding these panels through hearings can be challenging, especially if they're infrequent. This workshop aims to help association executives or professional standards administrators navigate arbitration panels effectively for the benefit of members. 1-3 hours

Video Testimonial Most agents today are involved in social media. They’re on Facebook and LinkedIn; they are tweeting and blogging—but are they doing it in an ethical manner? Social media is a great way to market ... and a great way to destroy your reputation. Ethical Behavior in a Wired World explains to agents how to use social media in a professional and ethical way. This course was written to satisfy the NAR Code of Ethics requirement. 1-3 hours

I can't believe she made the subject of ethics so entertaining. She was fantastic! Her knowledge was inspiring." Matt Kirkland, Realty Works, Lincoln, NE

The real estate business is uniquely cooperative and competitive. To succeed in real estate, agents need to know how to cooperate, compromise and–above all–remain professional. Agents owe duties to their clients, customers and to all consumers. We will review the NAR Code of Ethics and the requirements for presentation of offers, disclosures and notices to consumers and other agents. 1-3 hours; Broker-Manager Version Available

This course combines Ethics and Fair Housing into a comprehensive session. It includes engaging discussions on ethical dilemmas, dispute resolution techniques, Code updates, Fair Housing laws, HUD guidelines for advertising compliance, and industry best practices. Additionally, proactive safety measures for licensees are also covered. This course satisfies the NAR Fair Housing requirement or COE requirement; 3-4 hours

All of the evaluations were very positive – 5’s across the board (on a 1 – 5 scale). We had a lot of comments on her fun personality, her level of experience and knowledge and engagement with the class!” - Emily Archer MBA, Director of Education, Boise Regional REALTORS®

What is professionalism? Is it dead in today's world? Have agents started taking too many shortcuts? Is technology a two-edged sword when it comes to professionalism? Are communication skills declining? This course is designed to be used to satisfy the NAR Ethics requirements as we will incorporate both the Code of Ethics and the Pathways to Professionalism. This course was written to meet the NAR Code of Ethics requirement; 3 hours

Is professionalism in real estate fading or just in need of a wake-up call?
In this lively and thought-provoking session, Professional Standards Expert Melanie McLane and Attorney Trista Curzydlo tackle the question from two powerful perspectives. Melanie examines professionalism through the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and Pathways to Professionalism, while Trista brings the legal lens to what happens when standards slip. Expect candid stories, real-world examples, and a few spirited debates as they explore shortcuts, communication breakdowns, and technology’s impact on professional conduct. You’ll leave with practical insights to strengthen your professionalism—and protect both your reputation and your clients. This course may be used to satisfy the NAR Ethics requirement at the discretion of the local association. 1-3 hours

Video · Artificial Intelligence or AI is the science of making machines that can think, act, process large amounts of data, perform, be artistic and creative, and more like humans. While this technology has been around for decades, it wasn’t readily available to most consumers and small business owners. But that all changed with the launch of ChatGPT.

This game-changing technology has many downsides that if not implemented properly can cause all kinds of legal, ethical, and compliance problems for you and your business. By the end of this session, you will be more intelligent about this fast-emerging technology to ensure you stay ahead of the curve, improve your life happiness, & boost your business efficiencies & customer service, all while using these tools in an ethical & compliant manner! · This Session Written to Meet the NAR Ethics Requirement; Broker / Commercial / Property Management Specific Versions Available; 3 hours

Everything went smoothly and we got GREAT feedback!! It was such an interesting class with great information. Our members really enjoyed the content, was super informative. All around a great class and he was so easy to work with.” Mallory Marshall, Education Coordinator, Lynchburg Association of REALTORS®

With the increased susceptibility in the real estate industry to Cybercrimes, and wire fraud and the stance that the National Association of REALTORS® takes on this, it is critical that students learn the best methods and set a new standard of practice when caring for their clients’ sensitive information that is revealed in a real estate transaction. With the increased activity, communications, and sharing that occur on the internet and through social media, REALTORS® must educate their clients on safety precautions.

In this course, we will review several federal and state laws as well as the National Association of REALTORS policies that relate to the use of technology, storing data, consumer, privacy, marketing, display and disclosure, copyright, trademark, the code of ethics, fair housing, ADA compliance, and more to ensure each attendee runs their business compliantly and protects the best interests of their clientele. 3 hours

Video · As real estate licensees, we work for our clients, but we work with other agents, and the interactions we have with our colleagues can impact our clients’ experience, for better or for worse. In this session, we will explore building better relationships with other agents with the intent to leverage associations to our clients’ advantage ... and to our own professional benefit and for the betterment of our industry as a whole. 1-3 hours

As agents and brokers, we work for our clients, but we work with our agents and other agents as well. The interactions we have with our colleagues can impact our clients’ experience, for better or for worse. Masterfully navigating complaints and issues within the brokerage and between competing brands requires a complex skill set encompassing everything from communication rules to social media ethics. In this session, you’ll get techniques and tips to build better agent relationships and elevate your brand for retention and recruiting. 1-3 hours

The success of your property management business is largely dependent on who you allow into your owner-client group. In this fast-moving session, we will focus on how to improve your professionalism to attract GREAT owner-clients including:

• What should be the proper mindset of a successful PM?
• What is the difference between an owner transaction and an owner relationship?
• Three words you should never use in your advertising (but most PMs do!)
• How to qualify prospective owner-clients
• Should you negotiate your management agreement terms?
• How to never get sued

This session will empower you to stop asking owners to ‘choose’ you, and instead position yourself as the professional so owners are asking YOU to ‘choose’ them! 1-2 hours