Well, it's been a while since I've posted. Life took over and now blogging has moved back up on the priority scale.

I've been taking a series of real estate classes this month and the best one was on our REALTOR® Code of Ethics and Contracts. One of the issues we talked about was what sellers should tell buyers.

Maryland law says that sellers must divulge "material facts". This is loosely defined as anything that isn't readily apparent about the property that could, if known, cause the buyer to make a different decision. For instance, if you the seller know that there is a substantial structural crack in the basement (behind all the boxes that have been stacked there), then the you should disclose the existence of that crack to potential buyers. If the crack is out in the open, for all to see, then there is no need to disclose it.

However, I learned a new twist that makes lots of sense to me -- disclose whatever the neighbors are going to talk about after settlement. Here's the example: Buyer moves in and the plumbing backs up. Buyer calls the plumber and, while the truck is in the driveway, the neighbor saunters over and says, "I was wondering how long it would take for the plumber to show up! The old owners had a plumber here at least once a month!".

So do the right thing -- disclose the true condition of the property. It's better to lose a buyer now than to have a huge lawsuit later.

(C) 2006 Susan Pruden.

This is another pet peeves posting. I'm smiling while I write it, so it's okay, but it is SO annoying when I come across the following:

1) If you're a listing agent and you put "Call Office" in the showing instructions, TURN THE LISTING IN TO THE OFFICE! It's aggravating to call a real estate office for a property that 's been on the market for longer than a day and hear that they have no record of the listing.

2) If you're a listing agent and the showing instructions say "Lockbox Front Door", please put a lockbox on and preferably somewhere near the front door. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to show a listing and can't find the lockbox anywhere. Call the agent and get "Oh, I haven't gotten out there to put the lockbox on yet".

3) If you're a buyers agent, please follow the instructions on the listing sheet. Don't try to circumvent them. Even if you're my friend, I'd prefer you follow the instructions on the listing sheet.

Okay, that's it. Not bad if that's all I can come up with!

(C) 2006 Susan Pruden.