ETHICS, What Is Expected In Business

[Bill Gulley]

I just read a thread where an "investor" suggested that someone way the risk and if the down side could be covered, afford to suffer, to take the less ethical route.

Another thread was suggesting that investors just ignore laws and regulations and just go make money, that the chances of getting caught was slim.

I'm not really the Mr. Law and Order of RE that many may think, but I do hold ethical conduct in business in high regards. Following the rules is the least expected and actually, ethical conduct is to a higher standard.

Here is an interesting short version addressing ethics and law that everyone should look at, if for no other reason, as a reminder of what the public and other RE professionals expect.

http://definitions.uslegal.com/c/code-of-ethics/

Should you have a Code of Ethics on your web site? Should your business display such a public statement? What if you put your company Code of Ethics on the back of your business cards?

How do you communicate to others that you deal ethically? Or, do you?

Some may call it Karma. :)

[Chris Clothier]

Originally posted by Bill Gulley:

Most here I doubt ever think about or realize how you will be viewed by other in your community or give much of a care about your reputation. When you figure out that philanthropy doesn't really buy you your reputation and that money can't change opinions, you will probably wish you had done things differently.

Hey Bill -

Just wondering what you meant by this? Did you mean in your town when you said "here"? Or did you mean on this thread? Or did you mean on Bigger Pockets? I love so many of your responses, but this one threw me for a loop. I couldn't figure out how you were able to determine that most don't care about how they are viewed or their reputation. Maybe I just like to hand around or communicate with different people, but many people that I have connected with on BP seem to be concerned about their business practices, the longevity of their business and definitely the way they are viewed by their clients and their peers. I haven't met too many on here who are not. Then again, it is a big site.

I was also wondering which posts that Mark Ferguson is reading to say that he is surprised at how many suggest unethical or illegal activities and then say that it is ok because you probably won't get caught. Granted, I do not read every post and this forum site has gotten so big that I am only seeing a fraction of it now, but I have rarely seen advice that is illegal or unethical. When I have, I have seen some great posters on the forums jump right in and let them know the mistakes they are making or how bad their advice is.