• Serving as a critical resource that enhances a member’s capacity to provide expert ethical real property advisory services;
• Providing a supportive environment for professional development and collegiality; and
• Selectively conferring a designation which further validates a member’s advice and recommendations.

1. Conduct professional activities in a manner that reflects credit upon the CRE and The Counselors. A CRE must refrain from conduct that is detrimental to The Counselors, the real estate profession and the public.
2. Cooperate with other CREs and, when appropriate, share with them personal knowledge and experience; and assist The Counselors in carrying out its responsibilities to the users of counseling services and the public.
3. Respect the professional reputation of and any confidential relationship with other CREs.
4. Preserve the confidential nature of each client relationship.
5. Avoid advertising or solicitation that is misleading or otherwise contrary to the public interest in promoting a counseling practice and soliciting counseling services.
6. Only accept a counseling assignment with the expectation of direct monetary compensation for services or in the context of a legitimate pro bono counseling service. Regardless of the form of compensation, take precautions to recognize the potential for conflict of interest and to disclose any actual or potential conflict.
7. Comply with the requirements of the Standards of Professional Practice and Bylaws of The Counselors.

The Counselors of Real Estate was founded in recognition of the public need for competent, unbiased advice, professional guidance and sound judgment on the many diversified problems encountered in the broad field of real estate. These problems involve, but are not limited to, such functions or specialties as dispute resolution, finance, leasing, legislative action, litigation, management, marketing, and valuation.

Counseling involves not so much a separate body of knowledge as it does a client relationship. The relationship between the CRE and client is a fiduciary relationship, beyond that of agent and principal and much more akin to that of the attorney and client. This relationship places the CRE in the role of a professional adviser.

This special and unique relationship between the CRE and client requires the CRE to observe standards of practice beyond those imposed by the REALTOR ® Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. CREs are required to adhere to these Standards of Professional Practice of The Counselors of Real Estate as a condition of membership and are encouraged to report any conduct by a CRE that appears to violate these Standards in writing to the Chair of the CRE Ethics Committee.

Standard 1 - Applicability
A CRE must discern whether a potential assignment requires adherence to the standards of practice of another organization with which the CRE is affiliated, or a model standard of practice within a particular discipline. If so, these Standards require the CRE to observe such standards in performing the assignment. Clear communication with the client is required to avoid any confusion between the counseling function and performance of other specific disciplines.

Standard 2 - Compensation
A CRE may receive payment for counseling services rendered by non-contingent fee, contingent fee, or a combination thereof. It is important, however, that professional counseling services be rendered with the expectation that direct monetary compensation will be received for such services, except in the context of a legitimate pro bono counseling service. Regardless of the form of compensation, precautions must be taken to recognize the potential for conflict of interest and to avoid any actual conflict or the appearance of conflict. A CRE must never place personal interests ahead of those of the client. Without expectation of direct monetary compensation and without precautions taken to identify any conflict of interest, a CRE must not characterize services as counseling or represent to a client that counseling is being performed.

Standard 3 - Competence
A CRE must not accept any assignment beyond the scope of his/her competence, knowledge and expertise; or any assignment where the CRE is precluded from obtaining necessary knowledge or expertise from other sources. This is a continuing obligation during the course of any assignment if and when the CRE discovers that additional knowledge or expertise is required to properly complete the assignment. At such point, the CRE must disclose the additional steps required to the client and must withdraw from the assignment if precluded from taking the additional steps.

Standard 4 - Confidentiality
A CRE must protect the confidentiality of the client relationship and must not disclose to unauthorized third parties the nature and results of any assignment, or any information received in confidence as part of an assignment.

Standard 5 - Disclosure
A CRE must disclose relevant information to prospective clients and any affected parties prior to undertaking an assignment to assist the CRE, the prospective client and affected parties in determining whether any conflict of interest or competency issues exist. Disclosure by the CRE is a continuing obligation during the course of an assignment if issues of conflict of interest or competency arise. Disclosure prior to the acceptance of an assignment and during the course of an assignment is the hallmark of the CRE as the primary method for avoiding actual or potential conflict of interest and ensuring the competent performance of counseling services.

Standard 6 - Illegal or Unethical Conduct
A CRE must not accept any assignment or engage in any practice involving a violation of the law or of his/her specific ethical responsibilities, and must immediately withdraw from an assignment if such violation is perceived. The CRE must not permit his/her expertise, experience and reputation to be misused.

Standard 7 - Impartiality and Objectivity
A CRE must not accept any assignment if the terms or conditions of such assignment do not permit complete freedom and objectivity in performing the assignment and rendering impartial advice. Specifically, a CRE must not accept any assignment based on predetermined opinions or positions, or any assignment that precludes or limits the ability of the CRE to develop factual and supportable opinions, findings or conclusions.

Standard 8 - Opinions of Value
A CRE may render opinions of value in the context of other counseling services, provided that the purpose of and rationale for such opinion of value is clearly explained and with the restriction that such opinion is not to be used as a substitute for an appraisal. An assignment that involves no function other than the estimation of the value of real estate is not considered counseling and must not be represented as such by a CRE.

Standard 9 - Reporting Assignment Results
A CRE must provide the client with clear and unequivocal assignment results in oral or written form that set forth the purpose of the assignment, the steps taken by the CRE to perform the assignment, and any relevant opinions, findings or conclusions.

Standard 10 - Testimony
A CRE must not accept an assignment that requires testimony unless the client relieves the CRE of the confidential counseling relationship in advance. A CRE shall not testify in any proceedings regarding any assignment except with the written consent of the client or in response to legal process, and will cooperate in any efforts by the client to quash such process. A CRE shall not be a voluntary witness and shall use his/her best efforts within the law to protect the confidentiality of the client relationship.

Standard 11 - Use of Designation
The CRE Designation is granted to an individual and, therefore, may only be used in conjunction with the name of a CRE. It must not be used in any manner that would imply membership in The Counselors of Real Estate by a corporation, partnership or other group of individuals. The use of the Designation is prohibited if the purpose of an assignment is an appraisal, unless it is used in conjunction with a state license or certification and/or a nationally recognized appraisal designation awarded by an Appraisal Foundation sponsor.

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