The third item was related to the home's structure, and although it had the potential to be a big problem it was caught early and therefore could be repaired fairly quickly and inexpensively. The seller balked at the request, claiming the buyer was being unreasable, and when my colleague tried to suggest solutions he accused her of only caring about her commission. To further complicate things, my colleague discovered that the seller had held back some pertinent information about this issue from her and the buyer. Needless to say, the buyer and her agent were upset, and they voiced concern over what else this seller may be hiding.Whenever a client asks me, "...should we tell the buyer?" my answer is always yes. In Colorado, real estate agents are required to disclose material facts about a home if they are aware of them, and a seller could get sued by a buyer should the issue become a problem in the future. Even if a particular item had been rectified, it should be disclosed. In fact, handling things up front can go a long way to promoting trust between the parties and make future negotiations smoother.
The other important point here is that the Realtors I know really want the best for their clients and think of them as a team trying to reach a goal. It can be a difficult transaction if the client perceives the agent is not on his side and withholds information and trust. My colleague's dilemma now is how to reassure her seller that she is his advocate, as she's concerned that everything she says will be perceived as trying to save her paycheck.
I would love to help you with your real estate journey.
Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com
