FACTS: The salesperson has a friend who is interested in buying a home.  The salesperson has shown the friend numerous properties.  The friend contacted the salesperson asking to be shown a specific property.  During their discussion, the friend informed the salesperson that he had been shown properties by another agent as well and had entered into an Arizona REALTORS® Buyer Broker Exclusive Employment Agreement with this other agent. 

ISSUE: May the salesperson show their friend the property as requested? 

ANSWER: See Discussion. 

DISCUSSION:

The salesperson should advise the friend to review the terms of the Arizona REALTORS® Buyer Broker Exclusive Employment Agreement that he entered into with this other agent because the terms provide that the buyer agrees to work exclusively with the other agent and be accompanied by the agent on his first visit to any property.  Further, if the showing resulted in a contract written by the salesperson, the friend will likely still owe the agreed upon compensation to the other agent.  Therefore, the salesperson should probably recommend that the friend contact the other agent about the showing.

Note: It is also unethical for REALTORS® to engage in any practice or take any action inconsistent with an exclusive brokerage relationship agreement that other REALTORS® have with clients (National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics, Article 16).