Humber/Ontario Real Estate Course 4 Exam Practice

What action is required if a salesperson forgets to include the name of his employing brokerage in an advertisement?

1. The omission of the employing brokerage's name was an innocent mistake and need not be corrected.

2. The salesperson need not correct this situation immediately, but must revise the bus bench ads at the end of the six-month trial period.

3. The salesperson must immediately correct the error, by including a reference to employing brokerage in the small print area of the ad.

4. The ads must be changed immediately to comply with Code of Ethics requirements.

5. The ads are void and must be removed immediately without replacement.

6. The salesperson should notify the regulating body and wait for their direction.

The correct answer is: The ads must be changed immediately to comply with Code of Ethics requirements.

The requirement to immediately change the advertisements to include the name of the employing brokerage stems from the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, as well as professional ethical standards. Including the brokerage name is essential for transparency and to ensure that consumers are aware of who is responsible for the advertisement and the services provided. This helps maintain professionalism and trust in the real estate industry. Neglecting to display the brokerage name could mislead potential clients and may violate regulations set forth to protect consumers, leading to possible disciplinary actions against the salesperson. Therefore, prompt action to rectify the advertisement is necessary to comply with the Code of Ethics and uphold the integrity of the real estate profession, ensuring that all advertising aligns with legal and ethical standards. Other responses suggest either minimal consequences or delaying revisions, which do not align with the urgency required to maintain compliance with ethical advertising standards. Additionally, actions requiring communication with a regulating body or voiding ads are not appropriate as immediate corrective action is emphasized over notification or removal.