In real estate, where complex laws, significant dollars and emotion are all involved, every transaction carries with it the threat of a lawsuit. To reduce that risk, the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® provides a number of services that are intended to keep you out of costly legal battles in the future. From standard forms to legal interpretations of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics to professional standards training, the association, through our Legal Department, works tirelessly to promote ethical conduct within the industry.
Consumer disclosure and notification are critical elements in the lease, sale and rental of housing, and the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® makes available to members the most commonly used and mandated standard forms in the industry. Some of the forms currently available for purchase through the
MAR Product Mall are:
| • Agency Disclosure |
| • Lead Paint Property Transfer Notification |
| • Sellers Description of Property |
| • Short-term Vacation Lead Paint |
| • Rental Lead Paint Notification |
| • Tenant Lead Law Notification |
The state association’s staff attorneys often draft sample forms for use in your day-to-day business. Some of the forms presently available through the
MAR Legal Department are a sample buyer agency contract, home inspector listing sheet, and independent contractor agreement.
Understanding and adherence to the
National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics is essential to ensuring your credibility, a positive image, and financial success within the industry. To encourage all REALTORS® to practice a high level ethical standards, MAR provides written interpretations of the Articles of the Code in each issue of Bay State REALTOR® magazine. MAR’s attorneys also are available to answer your questions about the Code during normal business hours.
To facilitate proper self-policing of members’ professional conduct, MAR regularly presents a half-day professional standards training session with a Code of Ethics update for members who serve or are interested in serving as grievance, ethics or arbitration hearing panelists on the local or state level. To learn more about this program offering, contact the
MAR Legal Department.