We're Realtors, Not Inspectors

We get a call as Realtors from a potential buyer about a house, let's say a fixer upper, and the client asks "What is the house like?"...What are we as Realtors supposed to say in response?...We could say that we are not inspectors, we are sales people, and refer them to a bonifide house inspector...or we could give the client our assessment of the condition of the house...but there's a "fine line" here...we can't speak as having the expertise to assess a structure as a home inspector could...the safe response may be to generally give the client a description of the house on the premise that we are not experts to do so...if we don't answer the client, the client will think we are not very capable as Realtors...nothing is "cut and dry" in the Real Estate business, we always straddle a fine line with clients...we have to look after vendors and purchasers for sure, but we must also look after ourselves..if we are put ourselves out of the business, we are no good to anyone...

That's it for now...

George W. Jordan, Owner/Broker, Red Soil Real Estate Inc., www.buysellpei.com