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Ethics Getting In The Way Of Representing Your Clients?

Reblogger
Real Estate Agent with Joy Daniels Real Estate Group, Ltd.

Disclose, disclose, disclose....definitely something as professionals we can never veil.  Karen Fiddler talks about the importance of disclosure and some great ways to be sure you've done your best.

Original content by Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner BRE# 01494165

 

 

I've read a few blogs recently about agents who have "fired" their clients due to situations they find unethical. Miss-behaving clients. It's caused me to think a bit about my own career in real estate and some of the clients I've had to work with....how I handled these situations.

One thing all the situations have in common is that I have not bowed out of the transaction. My feeling is that I'm there to do my job and do it honestly. I can do that regardless of how my client behaves.

I've seen it all....I hope!

I've had sellers lie on disclosures. I've had buyers write their own pre-quals. I had one seller try and change fixtures AFTER we opened escrow with inferior products. I even had one buyer bring his own "inspector" (brother) to write deal-breaker problems trying to get a high concession for repairs.

Ugh!

We don't always see these things coming. I usually find it out after we are in escrow. At that point, I feel it's my job to see things through.....HONESTLY!

I am a crazy person when it comes to disclosures....the more the merrier. So in each case these things are handled the same way.

1) I arrange a face to face meeting with my client to discuss openly the situation and consequences to them if they continue to lie/mislead/cheat

2) I give them a disclosure from me which indicates that I'm aware of the mis-information and my intention to disclose to the other party. If they will sign that.....then that's good. But I do provide them a copy.

3) If they do not correct the problem there on the spot.....I do disclose to the other agent, and both our brokers, what information I have. I do not use words like...."my client lied" but I do correct the misinformation.

I write my own condition of home report which states problems I know are there...even if the disclosures don't state them. I announce that we need a cross qualification due to my inability to find the lender. I can disclose that the inspector is not licensed (he was not).

In our forms there are plenty of ways to disclose items we are aware of as an agent. We do not need to walk away from the transaction....and frankly suffer financial consequences due to the dishonesty of others. This is not selling out our clients, in my opinion, it's doing our jobs.

 

 

 

 Karen Fiddler
Broker/Associate
The Fiddler Realty Team/eVantage Real Estate
Lic # 01494165

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Posted by

Joy

Joy Daniels, GRI, ABR, CSP, e-PRO
JOY DANIELS REAL ESTATE GROUP, LTD
2793 Old Post Road, Suite 200
Harrisburg, PA  17110

(717) 695-3177  office - Call TODAY and let me help you find your dream home!

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