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PART I: RELATIONS WITH THE
PUBLIC
Article 1
It is the duty of the Broker to be well informed
on current market conditions in order to be in
a position to advise his clients as to the fair
market value.
Article 2
It is the duty of the Broker to protect to the
best of his ability, the public against fraud,
misrepresentation and unethical practices in the
yacht brokerage field.
Article 3
The broker should endeavor to ascertain all pertinent
facts concerning all vessels for which he accepts
listings, so that he may present a fair description
of the vessel.
Article 4
The broker should not be a part to the naming
of a false consideration in any document, unless
it be the naming of an obviously nominal consideration.
Article 5
The Broker should keep in a special bank account,
separated from his own funds, monies coming into
his possession in trust for other persons, such
as escrows, trust funds, clients' monies and other
like items.
Article 6
The Broker in his advertising should be especially
careful to present a true picture and should neither
advertise without disclosing his name, nor permit
his salesman to use individual names or telephone
numbers, unless the salesman's connection with
the Broker is obvious in the advertisement.
Article 7
The Broker, for the protection of all parties
with whom he deals, should see that financial
obligations and commitments regarding yacht transactions
are in writing, expressing the exact agreement
of the parties; and, that copies of such agreements,
at the time they are executed, are placed in the
hands of all parties involved.
PART II: RELATIONS WITH THE
CLIENT
Article 8
In accepting employment as an agent, the Broker
pledges himself to protect and promote the interests
of the clients. The obligations of absolute fidelity
to the clients' interest is primary, but does
not relieve the Broker from the obligation of
dealing fairly with all parties in the transaction.
Article 9
The Broker should not acquire an interest in or
buy for himself, any member of his immediate family,
his firm or any member thereof, or any entity
in which he has a substantial ownership interest,
vessels listed with him, or his firm, without
making the true position known to the listing
owner, and in selling vessels owned by him, or
in which he has such interest, the facts should
be revealed to the purchaser.
Article 10
The Broker should not submit or advertise vessels
without authority and in any offering, the price
quoted should not be other than that agreed upon
with the owners as the offering price.
Article 11
In the event that more than one offer on a specific
vessel is made before the Seller has accepted
an offer, all additional offers presented to the
Broker, whether by a prospective purchaser or
another Broker, should be transmitted to the Seller
for his consideration.
In the event that a Broker, brokerage house or
central agent has received more than one offer
prior to acceptance of any offer, all offers should
be presented to the Seller. The broker shall act
on the instructions of the Seller as to which
offer shall be accepted and/or negotiated.
If an offer is made after owner has previously
accepted an offer, the owner should be made aware
of its existence.
This outline is a recommendation for a fair procedure
for Brokers to follow when several offers are
presented at approximately the same time. The
procedure for handling any multiple offer situation
should be discussed with the boat's owner. Ultimately,
it is a Broker's obligations to act as the owner
desires and by whatever guidelines he decides.
Whatever solution is decided by the owner, all
those making offers should be apprised of it.
PART III: RELATIONS WITH HIS
FELLOW BROKER
Article 12
The Broker should not voluntarily disparage the
business practice of a competitor, nor volunteer
an opinion of a competitor's transaction. If his
opinion is sought, it should be rendered with
strict professional integrity and courtesy.
Article 13
The Broker and/or Brokerage firm who holds a Central
Listing should be respected. A brokerage firm
in receipt of another Central Listing shall not
solicit a direct listing from the owner during
the term of the listing agreement. A Broker cooperating
with a listing Broker should not invite the cooperation
of a third Broker without the consent of the listing
Broker.
The Broker should cooperate with other Brokers
on vessels listed by him on a Central Listing
basis whenever it is in the interest of the client,
sharing commissions on a previously agreed basis.
Negotiations concerning vessels listed on a Central
Listing basis should be carried on with the listing
Broker, not with the owner, except with the consent
of the listing Broker. In the event a Broker obtains
a Central Listing, he will endeavor to distribute
the listing to all his corresponding brokers as
quickly and as reasonably as possible.
Central Listings and shared open listings are
generally shared on a commission basis agreed
to beforehand as a matter of policy, or agreed
upon by the cooperating parties negotiated on
a particular sale.
Should the central or loaning Broker show the
boat or perform work above and beyond the customary
providing of the listing and negotiating with
the owner, the commission arrangements should
be reconsidered by the parties involved.
The selling Broker is the Broker who obtains a
Purchase and Sale Agreement signed by both buyer
and seller along with accompanying deposit.
Deposits on brokerage transactions (in an amount
acceptable to seller) are handled in accordance
with the provisions of the Association's Purchase
and Sale Agreement.
Article 14
Binding Arbitration Procedure
When a dispute arises between two Brokers, the
Brokers may choose to submit their case to Binding
Arbitration as follows:
(a) Each Broker shall select one member at large
from YBAA; these two members shall together agree
on one other member. These shall comprise the
Binding Arbitration Committee for the dispute.
(b) Each Broker shall submit a written statement
of the case to the members of the Binding Arbitration
Committee.
(c) Each Broker shall then appear in person for
a hearing before the Binding Arbitration Committee.
(d) The Binding Arbitration Committee shall render
its decision which shall be binding on both parties.
A written report of their decisions shall be sent
to the Executive Board and the chairman of the
Professional Standards & Ethics Committee,
and to both parties.
PART IV: RELATIONS WITH YACHT
YARDS
Article 15
Maintenance of good relations between yacht yards
and Brokers is mandatory. Accordingly, the following
procedures are recommended:
1. When a listing is received by a Broker, the
owner should be asked by the Broker to inform
the yard that the Broker has permission to show
the yacht.
2. Inform the owner that any agreement he may
have with the yard regarding commission is his
responsibility and will not affect the brokerage
commission.
3. When showing the yacht, the Broker should check
in at the yard office, show the boat without assistance
unless it is essential, in which case the assistance
should be paid for. The yacht should be left as
it was found.
4. If the Broker is unable to show the yacht,
it may be possible to make arrangements with the
yard to have them show it. The yard should be
advised of the Broker's willingness to pay for
the service and payment should be made promptly
for such service, whether the yacht is sold or
not.
5. The Broker should keep the yard informed with
respect to a sale being negotiated.
6. If estimates or other services are required,
the Broker or the client, as appropriate, should
be prepared to pay for them and do so promptly.
In summary, the Broker should do his job, not
ask the yard to do it. Necessary services should
be paid promptly.
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