A listing agent is touring a home before drafting marketing materials. While walking the property, she sees water stains on the basement ceiling, peeling paint near a window frame, and a soft, depressed area in the floor near the bathroom. The seller has said nothing about any of these conditions. State law and the agent's professional standards obligate her not to ignore these observable issues — she must document them and disclose them to prospective buyers, regardless of whether the seller acknowledges them. Which professional obligation is the agent fulfilling when she takes those notes for buyer disclosure?
Correct Answer
D) Agent's duty of reasonably competent visual observation
The agent saw concrete physical issues during her tour and must document and disclose them to prospective buyers — even though the seller did not raise them. That professional obligation to look, note, and pass along observable adverse conditions is the agent's duty of reasonably competent visual observation.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Deep Analysis of This General Principles Of Agency Question
Background Knowledge for General Principles Of Agency
Real World Application in General Principles Of Agency
Common Mistakes to Avoid on General Principles Of Agency Questions
Related Topics & Key Terms
Key Terms:
Related Concepts
The legal requirement for real estate agents to inform all parties about who they represent in a transaction, typically provided at first substantive contact.
A legal relationship in which one person (the agent) is authorized to act on behalf of another person (the principal) in business transactions with third parties.
The legal ending of an agency relationship, which can occur through completion, expiration, mutual agreement, breach, death, incapacity, or bankruptcy of either party.
More General Principles Of Agency Questions
A listing agreement creates an agency relationship between:
A property manager screens a rental applicant using objective criteria including income, credit score, and rental history. The applicant is denied because his income is below the minimum threshold. Has the property manager violated fair housing laws?
In a real estate team structure, what is the role of the team leader?
A property management agreement between an owner and a property manager typically specifies which of the following?
What is 'designated agency' in the context of a real estate brokerage?
- → A real estate team receives a referral from a past client. The team leader assigns the referral to a team member. The team member shows the buyer several properties. Who is the buyer's agent?
- → A property manager receives a maintenance request from a tenant who reports a broken heater during winter. The property manager delays the repair for three weeks, and the tenant suffers property damage from frozen pipes. Who may be liable for the damages?
- → A real estate team consists of a team leader (licensed broker) and three licensed sales agents. A buyer contacts one of the team agents about a listing held by another team agent. What agency concern arises in this situation?
- → A property management company manages several apartment complexes. All of the following are typical duties of a property manager EXCEPT.
- → A real estate team is advertising its services. All of the following are generally required when a team advertises EXCEPT.
- → A commercial broker represents a landlord in leasing office space. During negotiations, the tenant discloses to the broker that she would pay up to $35 per square foot, even though the listed rate is $30. What must the broker do with this information?
- → A commercial property owner hires a broker to find a tenant for a 50,000 square-foot warehouse. The broker locates a suitable tenant and negotiates a 10-year lease. The owner pays the broker a commission based on the total lease value. What type of agency did the broker hold?
- → A commercial tenant is negotiating a five-year lease for retail space. The tenant hires a tenant representative broker to negotiate lease terms on the tenant's behalf. What agency relationship exists between the tenant and the tenant representative?
- → A commercial property manager is responsible for operating a shopping center. The manager must prepare an annual operating budget, negotiate vendor contracts, and handle tenant relations. In addition to management fees, the owner authorizes the manager to earn a leasing commission for each new tenant the manager brings in. Is this compensation structure permissible?
- → A property owner hires a licensed property manager to handle tenant screening, rent collection, and maintenance for a 20-unit apartment building. What type of agency relationship exists between the owner and the property manager?
People Also Study
Buyer Representation Agreement
8% of exam
Property Ownership
10% of exam
Land Use Controls and Regulations
8% of exam
Valuation and Market Analysis
10% of exam