ETHICAL CONDUCT AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE

INTRODUCTION

Ethical conduct and professional excellence are intertwined - one is a derivative of the other. Professional excellence cannot be attained with ethical conduct, in other words ethical conduct is foundational if professional excellence is to be achieved.

The effects of unethical conduct may not be obvious in the early days of a practice, however with time the practice will rise to a point and stagnate or plateau, afterwhich a decline that cannot be remedied ensues.

The conduct of estate surveying and valuation professionals has a direct effect on the reputation of the profession. A good reputation is earned on a continuing basis by performing ones duties in an ethical manner. This good reputation once earned has far reaching benefits, that translates among other things, into a continuing means of livelihood.

No doubt there is a lot of unethical conduct in the real estate sector today, it however behoves practitioners who have the requisite training to raise the standards thus showing an example of ethical conduct on their part. This with time will translate into professional excellence that will be visible to all and sundry, thus separating the wheat from the chaff.


WHAT IS ETHICAL CONDUCT?
Morally correct behaviour, the application of moral principles to how an activity is conducted. Doing the right thing, the proper things all of the time. Personal characteristics of honesty, sincerity, impartiality and trustworthiness.

ETHICAL CONDUCT PRE-SUPPOSES THE FOLLOWING:

1. Respect for the laws of the land and the regulatory body overseeing the profession ESVARBON, NIEVS

2. Conducting ourselves with integrity, being fair, honest and impartial in our dealings

3. Treating others with dignity and respect. Giving our clients, colleagues and the generality of the public that we come across, in the execution of our duties, the care and courtesy that we would wish to receive.

4. Ensuring that possible conflicts of interest are avoided and declaring conflicts of interest when they are unavoidable

5. Maintenance of confidentiality of information. Not using information for personal gain, nor to the detriment of others

6. Exercising due skill, care and diligence in performance of duties and ensuring that currency of knowledge, skills and technical competencies are maintained

7. Being fair and honest in all relationships incidental to the carrying out of duties, whilst avoiding the appearance and reality of being influenced by any party or being prejudiced or biased in our dealings with clients and third parties

8. Not actively soliciting any gifts, benefits or hospitality, neither accepting gifts of benefits which could in any way compromise or be seen by the wider community to influence one’s official capacity.

9. Declaring the benefits or gifts or gratuities that occur in the normal course of business.

10. We represent the Estate Surveying and Valuation profession in the performance of our tasks and avoid all conduct which detracts from the reputation of the profession.


INDCIATORS OF PERSONAL ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR
1. You must not allow dishonesty, personal prejudice or bias to influence you in the conduct of your duty/work
2. You should not accept or give gifts benefits or hospitality, if their nature and value many be seen as compromising your objectivity and influencing you in your official capacity


ATTAINMENT OF PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
As stated before now, ethical conduct is basic to the attainment of professional excellence. Below are other factors that are critical to the attainment of professional excellence:

1. PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
Obtains the professional certification in the shortest time possible. Makes is a matter of priority, because he understands that it is what gives all he does the needful legitimacy.

2. COMPETENCE
Professional competence is imperative, furthermore it must be sustained over the years. Continue to acquire an appropriate level of professional knowledge and skill. The desire for immediate gratification does not enhance acquisition of competence. There is a need to understudy senior colleagues over time, so as to acquire the needful know-how and experience.

Furthermore, availing oneself of continuing education seminars and workshops and keeping abreast of developments in the real estate sector, is necessary to ensure high quality, service delivery, thereby maintaining the respect and confidence of both the clientele and the general public.

3. RELATIONSHIP
There is a need to nurture the relationship between the practitioner and his client. This built up over a period of time via a series of contracts with respect to continuing /varying brief undertaken by the practitioner on behalf of his client. This nurtured relationship forms a bedrock for other briefs. It also guarantees the recommendation of the practitioner to colleagues, friends or relative of the client.

4. DISCIPLINE
The practitioner is disciplined. His word is his bond. He is punctual and meets all deadlines. Clients funds are never spent, the funds are remitted as at when due and duly accounted for. Misappropriation of funds is a tattoo. He does not allow undue influence of his professional judgment, be it for monetary gain or for fear of reprisal.

5. INTEGRITY
I am mentioning this here again for emphasis. A man of integrity is a man of who practices honestly and with accuracy in all dealings without engaging in any activity that would prejudice his ability to carry out professional responsibilities competently and fairly. Avoids conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof. Discloses fully all relevant information that could reasonably be expected to influence real estate property decisions. Not influenced by money, power or fame. A man of integrity charts a course that others follow.


EXAMPLES OF UNETHICAL CONDUCT

1. SIDELINING
The act of edging out the practitioner who introduced a brief on client to you, thereafter taking over the brief completely and denying the said practitioner of any and all claims to the said transaction.

2. WITHHOLDING
Not providing the client with sufficient information to enable him take an informed decision on the brief he gave the practitioner resulting in the practitioner taking undue advantage of his uninformed decision, thereby ripping him off in the process.

3. MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS
Unauthorised spending of clients funds in the custody of the practitioner and/or failure to remit monies received as at when due.

4. MULTIPLE BOARDS
The display of multiple TO LET/FOR SALE Boards on one and the same property at the same time. Where instructions have been given to more then one firm, a joint letting board should be displayed.

5. CHARGE/CONCLUSION
Practitioners have an obligation to their employees, employers, co-workers, colleagues, clients, the profession and themselves, to maintain the highest standards of conduct and to encourage their peers to do likewise.


Situations may arise in the conduct of professional activities whose influence is attempted in order to achieve a particular outcome. This influence may be a financial inducement, other favours, or threats including harassment.

Other circumstances may arise where a practitioner may have private and/or pecuniary interest s which may lead to an actual or potential conflict of interest in the execution of the brief.

Whatever the case may be practitioners should act with honesty, sincerity and integrity, in their approach to their work as well as professional relationships. Situations which may affect ones integrity and objectivity should be avoided.

The effectiveness of our regulatory body’ policies – The Estate Surveyors Registration Boards of Nigeria (ESVARBON) relies on all practitioners taking responsibility for their own behaviour and being committed to ethical conduct.

This is the only way forward for the professional who desires to excel.

EXCEL YOU WILL!