It is our fiduciary duty to protect the personal information about our clients. We protect our client’s best interests and personal information while representing them in the sale or purchase of their home. It could make the difference in hurting the transaction and your negotiating powers let alone protecting their personal interests.

How often do you read a testimonial or story on someone’s blog or website and wonder if they had written permission to do so?  Even posting pictures of your client’s without their permission is not permissible.

DO NOT GIVE OUT INFORMATION WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT!

Their personal life, their reasons for selling or buying a home is personal information and not for the Realtor® to give out unless the seller or buyer gives specific instructions to do so.  Giving out personal information is NOT anyone’s business but the clients and they expect us to protect their interests.

When a client does ask that I divulge why they’re moving, selling or buying then I make sure to get it in writing and go as far as to include it in the special terms of the listing agreement.  The seller signs off on the agreement and it is a specific part of the listing agreement. With a buyer it is in the form of their signed cover letter to the seller.

Blogs, websites and other online advertising.  I MAKE SURE TO GET WRITTEN PERMISSION with my signed permission and testimonial form should they agree to my using their testimonial, videos and pictures on websites, blogs and basically for advertising and marketing.

Needless to say, it is our duty to protect our client’s best and personal interests.  Not only is it our fiduciary duty, it is how we conduct business to protect all parties in each and every transaction.

Protect your client’s best and personal interest.

Get permission IN WRTING to use anything ...

.....that is NOT YOURS.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

 

                                                       

 

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman  is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.

 

 © 2007-2013 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.

All rights reserved.

     

 


 

 

 
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45 Comments on Do You Have Permission to Give Out Your Client’s Information?

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

MAY
15
2012
731,668 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Sally, this is so important. When clients take us into their confidence, we have to be very careful about repeating anything without their permission.
10:11am • #26
159,298 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Great reminder. I don't give out any information other than the actual housing information im hired to sell.
10:13am • #27
153,401 Points Outside Blog

Excellent reminder!  It goes back to the Golden Rule.  Treat others with the same sensitivity as you would want to be treated.
11:14am • #28
1,126,396 Points 90 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Why are the moving? The seller wishes to relocate. Period, unless he/she tells me something different to say.
1:26pm • #29
650,291 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Good idea to get everything documented and signed off - and say nothing that is not agreed to.
4:33pm • #30
971,333 Points 102 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

At my first real estate company I worked for, I went into the basement to flip the breaker back on. I had to climb over stacks and stackss of paperwork to get to the breaker box. I complained about the fire hazard to my broker showing him a handful of papers. On closer inspection this paperwork had SSN# and cancelled checks with bank account numbers. The broker scolded me and told me not to go down there again...
5:00pm • #31
106,766 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp
Great advice Sally. We have to be on guard against disclosing many confidential things about our clients. Loose lips sink ships, and deals!
6:54pm • #33
620,771 Points 97 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

You make a very good point.  I have various written and video testimonials.  I make sure that I have their permission to show the testimonial; however, I don't have a standard disclosure or permission form.  I will be looking into getting one from now on.  
7:22pm • #34
479,354 Points 11 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

AMEN!  It amazes me how many agents call me after a a sale and say - can I have your clients contact information, I need. . . or this . . . anyway - NEVER do I give it out.  Thanks for your post. 
8:09pm • #35
MAY
16
2012
556,652 Points 31 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Sally,

I started working for Bank of America recently.

They are super specific about the fact that NO private information be communicated through their software system of choice!

Phil
3:11am • #36
178,428 Points 60 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Most sellers disclose lots of information themselves, but I usually have writtem permission to disclose certain things ( like existence of other offers, etc when they sigh listing agreement) even if I don't disclose anything. Potential buyers ask constantly ask the supidest questions liek " why are they selling"? Who cares why they are selling, if you're interested in buyng the house, look at it and make an offer if it fits your needs.
3:26am • #37
100,797 Points

Very important reminder, Sally.  I'm constantly floored by all the agents who ask very personal questions about the seller and their situation and can't seem to understand why I don't provide answers.
6:20am • #38
508,643 Points 4 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Wonderful advice Sally!!  I love it, though, when another agent volunteers info about their client that I can then pass on to my client to give them a negotiating edge!!

Rob
7:59am • #39
3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Great advice, Sally. It's so important as Agents to think before we speak. Do we have permission to say something? Will what we're tempted to say ever come back to haunt us? A Buyer client of mine made an offer which was rejected in favor of another offer. The listing agent said the other offer was $5,000 lower but it wasn't contingent upon the sale of a house, which ours was. (A voice in my head said.. he should NEVER have told mt that.) Two days later, he called and told me the other offer/contract had fallen through and that he wished they hadn't torn up our offer. Could I rewrite it and get it over to him? Called my Buyer, who knew what had happened before and, you guessed it, my Buyer said "let's offer $5,000 less." We did and the listing agent went ballistic. Said the Seller would go through the roof. The Seller rejected our offer, we went on to purchase something else. 

He should have kept that information to himself.
9:06am • #40
152,188 Points 14 Featured Posts

Sally another good reminder to those that sometimes forget how the business is supposed to be done. Thanks.
9:15am • #41
299,651 Points 48 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

It is interesting how many agents will tell their client's life story when asked... NOT me!  But I had never thought of not using a testimonial without written permission.  
3:26pm • #42
1,024,215 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Good point.  Although if someone prepares a testimonial for us they should understand we are going to publish it.
9:24pm • #43
MAY
17
2012
500,028 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi SALLY, I agree!  Too often agents forget how much confidential ino they have.  Especially with short sales.
2:54am • #44
MAY
20
2012
1,347,758 Points 71 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Indeed, it is important that clients know their testimonials are going to be used on the internet!!! Great point, Sally!
9:25am • #45
MAY
30
597,029 Points 106 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

It is amazing how far some folks are willing to push the limits or cross them.  I don't get it.
1:40pm • #46

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Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman RA CRS HAWAII Mililani Oahu Real Estate

Mililani, HI

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Century 21 Liberty Homes

Address: 95-221 Kipapa Drive Ste. E-3, Mililani, HI, 96789

Office Phone: (808) 625-1776

Cell Phone: (808) 375-1404

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Reading my blog will give you the human side of this Real Estate Industry Professional as well as allowing you to walk beside me through my writing about Hawaii Real Estate & our Local Area. As a resident of Honolulu County Hawaii for 42 years you will get a tour of a lifetime. Specializing in Hawaii Relocation Military VA Home Buyers you can be rest assured you will be in good hands. I LISTEN to YOUR needs and give you sound advice. Hawaii Relocations, Hawaii Military Relocations, Mililani Hawaii Real Estate, Living in Hawaii, Army Navy Air Force Marines in Hawaii. Read more at www.cheesemanhomes.com


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