Avoid placing yourself in a conflict of interest

A conflict of interest is, essentially, any situation where your own interests may be competing with or opposing the interests of the client you are representing. A conflict of interest appears especially when you wish to sell or acquire a property for yourself or a relative while representing the other party to the transaction. Remember that you must always avoid placing yourself in such a situation to protect the public.

• Put your clients’ interests before your own  
• Refrain from acting as a client's mandatary and broker 
• Refrain from presenting a relative's promise to purchase to a selling client to whom you are bound by a brokerage contract
• Delegate the sale of his or her own property to a colleague
• Provide a list comprising at least two names to your clients if you choose to refer them to a professional (for example a notary, land surveyor or building inspector) 
• Act ethically in situations where conflict of interest appears and, if in doubt, speak to your agency executive officer