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 difference between a real estate agent and a Realtor is that a Realtor must subscribe to the Realtor Code of Ethics.
Our Code of Ethics is the way we police ourselves to make sure we're always working for the benefit of our clients and community. We believe in the Code of Ethics so strongly we're required to attend training sessions to maintain our membership.
On June 27, 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 across the country. Our association, Greater Chattanooga Realtors, was proud to participate in this event with Realtors from 160 other associations across 22 states.
As if that wasn't enough, Realtors also took this day as an opportunity to raise more than $23,000 for the Realtors Relief Foundation. This fund was established after 9/11, and over the past 17 years, the foundation has collected and distributed over $29 million in relief aid for more than 70 disasters in 37 states and territories.
What does all this mean? It means Realtors do more than sell real estate. Realtors consistently set themselves apart by their focus on professionalism and ethics. We're advocates for homeownership, and that's something a website or an app can't do.
An app runs on code. A Realtor stands by one. In our Code of Ethics, we promise to put people first. That's Who We R.
Greater Chattanooga Realtors is The Voice of Real Estate in Greater Chattanooga. A regional organization with more than 2,000 members, Greater Chattanooga Realtors is one of some 1,300 local boards and associations of Realtors nationwide that comprise the National Association of Realtors.
Greater Chattanooga Realtors services Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in southeast Tennessee and Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties in northwest Georgia.
Information, visit www.gcar.net or call 423 698-8001.