Realtor ethics has been talked about a million times before. Here’s a million and one: So I just finish talking with my client about the 60 Amp, outdated, FPE panel with 5 multi taps. And the discussion turned to our initial phone conversation pertaining to radon. The client asked, “Is there radon in this area?” So when I showed up to the inspection I presented the client with two certified radon reports showing elevated levels of radon on adjacent streets. Now I’m in the crawl space and I can hear the listing agent telling the client, “I have a map and there is no radon in this area. There is nothing wrong with that electric. It doesn’t need to be changed.” SMH
Keith, just do your regular fine report and let them duke it out.
I guess you’l have to get the client aside to see if he wants radon.
Regarding the 60 amp electric, you can report that it is undersized by todays standards (100 amp needed today)and point out all the flaws you can and let the electrician back you up regarding updating/replacement.
Some agents just foam at the mouth because the want their pay check.
Here’s how you deal with it. Get the client and agent together. Advise the client to request what the agent just told her and any other rebuttals that the agent offers regarding in writing, with the agent’s license number and signature, just like you are going to do. Make sure that the agent is present when you give your client that advice. Works without fail.
In that you overheard what you believe to have been a contradiction to your findings being made by a real estate salesman and were not a party to the conversation, and since your question regards “ethics”, the only correct response that can be made to a remark that was not made in your presence, not reported to you by your client, and made by a third party not associated with your inspection or report is … no response at all. Your report does 100% of the talking for you and it is up to your client to discern the truth from all of the data about the home that they have collected from their own observations as well as a variety of other sources, of which you are only one.
You are neither responsible for the client’s decisions to buy or walk, or their choices as to how much credibility to assign to each source they consider. You are only responsible for what you provide to them in your written report.
You are surprised by this?
Mr Bushart is correct. You don’t need to argue or get between the client and the real estate agent. You should tell the truth in your report. If your client wants to discuss it more, he or she will bring it up, and then you can emphasize the issue. But don’t be too surprised if the client follows the agent’s lead. Since the whole home buying process takes time, buyers can sometimes develop a trusting relationship with their agent, more so than with their inspector. You may never see that client again, but the agent will likely see the client many more times.
Yes, and the last time they want to see them is in court.