In my case, yes. But all consumers may not understand that not all real estate sales agents and brokers are REALTORS (all capital letters; it's a registered trademark.)
Here in Wisconsin, for one to practice real estate, he/she must be credentialed by the Department of Regulation and Licensing to do so. To obtain the credential, this normally requires 72 hours of pre-license education, the passing of the appropriate exam, and the paying of a fee. If a real estate salesperson's license is held (vs. a broker's license) the new licensee must be associated with a broker to legally practice real estate. There are continuing education requirements, but that is essentially all there is to it. But a REALTOR is more.
The term "REALTOR" applies to someone who is a member of the National Organization of REALTORS and subscribes to the association's strict Code Of Ethics. This is an important point. All sales licensees must follow state statutes and administrative rules as determined by the Department of Regulation and Licensing, but non-REALTOR sales licensees and brokers do not have to adhere to a code of ethics. Beyond the law, only their conscience is their guide.
In contrast, the REALTOR Code Of Ethics requires that all members pledge to conduct themselves in accordance to their:
- Duties to Clients and Customers
- Duties to the Public
- Duties to REALTORS
All duties are broken down into Standards of Practice. See http://www.realtor.org/mempolweb.nsf/pages/code This code was originally adopted in 1913 and has been updated many times since.
Is your real estate agent a REALTOR? Don't forget to ask.