When it comes to real estate transactions, there are specific rules and regulations about how the people involved are expected to behave. There are some behaviors that are regarded as unprofessional conduct and it is important to understand what those behaviors are so that you make sure that you steer clear of them.
If you are involved in real estate transactions, there is no doubt that you wish for everything to run smoothly and without incident. It is also important that each person walks away feeling satisfied with the transaction and with the relationship because there may be other opportunities to do business together in the future.
What is considered unprofessional behavior?
There are many different behaviors that are considered unprofessional from the real estate agent. Let’s look at some of those here:
- Acting as an agent in a situation in which there is a conflict of interest.
- Withholding information about the need for outside professional services related to the real estate transaction.
- Hiring an attorney, appraiser, title company, insurance agent or maintenance service on behalf of the principal person without informing them.
- When getting involved in a listing agreement with a property, failing to verify immediately that the listing is owned by a specific individual or other person who is authorized to list the property. At the first listing, the agent is required to perform a title search up front.
- Falsifying documents, signing on behalf of another person or revising an existing signature without the appropriate people knowing about it.
- Working with others to inflate the value of the property appraisals.
- Failing to get in writing (including signatures) if there is any change to the property. All involved parties must be informed of the specific changes.
- Violating any rules or regulations established by the state of Montana regarding real estate transactions.
- Not disclosing radon information on the property in Montana.
- Violating the Residential Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Program of the United States Code.
- Violating the state and federal fair housing statutes.
- Violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.
There are many other behaviors that can be considered unprofessional conduct as well.
What should I do if I am being accused of unprofessional conduct?
If you are handling a real estate transaction and have been accused of unprofessional behavior in Montana, the legal advice of an experience real estate attorney may make a tremendous difference to your case. Real estate transactions are often complicated and there are times when you feel that you are doing the right thing but your actions are misconstrued. Consulting with a knowledgeable attorney can help you to understand what you are facing while protecting your rights so that you are hopefully able to turn the situation around and achieve a positive outcome in the end.