CONSUMER NOTICE
THIS IS NOT A CONTRACT
Pennsylvania Law requires real estate brokers and salespersons (licensees) to advise
consumers of the business relationships permitted by the Real Estate Licensing and
Registration Act. This notice must be provided to the consumer at the first contact
where a substantive discussion about real estate occurs.
Before you disclose any information to a licensee, be advised that unless you select an
agency relationship by signing a written agreement providing for such a relationship, the
licensee is NOT REPRESENTING YOU. A business relationship of any kind will NOT be presumed
but must be established between the consumer and the licensee.
Any licensee who provides you with real estate services owes you the following duties:
- Exercise reasonable professional skill and care which meets the practice standards
required by the Act.
- Deal honestly and in good faith.
- Present, in a timely manner, all offers, counteroffers, notices, and communications to
and from the parties in writing. The duty to present written offers and counteroffers may
be waived if the waiver is in writing.
- Comply with Real Estate Seller Disclosure Act.
- Account for escrow and deposit funds.
- Disclose all conflicts of interest in a timely manner.
- Provide assistance with document preparation and advise the consumer regarding
compliance with laws pertaining to real estate transactions.
- Advise the consumer to seek expert advice on matters about the transaction that are
beyond the licensee's expertise.
- Keep the consumer informed about the transaction and the tasks to be completed.
- Disclose financial interest in service, such as financial, title transfer and
preparation services, insurance, construction, repair or inspection, at the time service
is recommended or the first time the licensee learns that the service will be used.
A licensee may have the following business relationships with the consumer:
Seller Agency:
Seller agency is a relationship where the licensee, upon entering into a written
agreement, works only for a seller/landlord. Seller's agents owe the additional duties of:
- Loyalty to the seller/landlord by acting in the seller's/landlord's best
interest.
- Confidentiality, except that a licensee has a duty to reveal known material
defects about the property.
- Making a continuous and good faith effort to find a buyer for the property,
except while the property is subject to an existing agreement.
- Disclosure to other parties in the transaction that the licensee has been engaged as a
seller's agent.
A seller's agent may compensate other brokers as subagents if the seller/landlord
agrees in writing. Subagents have the same duties and obligations as the seller's agent.
Seller's agents may also compensate buyer's agents and transaction licensees who do not
have the same duties and obligations as seller's agents.
If you enter into a written agreement, the licensees in the real estate company owe you
the additional duties identified above under seller agency. The exception is designated
agency. See the designated agency section in this notice for more information.
Buyer Agency:
Buyer agency is a relationship where the licensee, upon entering into a written
agreement, works only for the buyer/tenant. Buyer's agents owe the additional duties of:
- Loyalty to the buyer/tenant by acting in the buyer's/tenant's best interest.
- Confidentiality, except that a licensee is required to disclose know material
defects about the property.
- Making a continuous and good faith effort to find a property for the
buyer/tenant, except while the buyer/tenant is subject to an existing contract.
- Disclosure to other parties in the transaction that the licensee has been engaged as a
buyer's agent.
A buyer's agent may be paid fees, which may include a percentage of the purchase price,
and, even if paid by the seller/landlord, will represent the interests of the
buyer/tenant.
If you enter into a written agreement, the licensees in the real estate company owe you
the additional duties identified above under buyer agency. The exception is designated
agency. See the designated agency section in this notice for more information.
Dual Agency:
Dual agency is a relationship where the licensee acts as the agent for both the
seller/landlord and the buyer/tenant in the same transaction with the written consent of
all parties. Dual agents owe the additional duties of:
- Taking no action that is adverse or detrimental to either party's interest in the
transaction.
- Making a continuous and good faith effort to find a buyer for the property and a
property for the buyer, unless either are subject to an existing contract.
- Confidentiality, except that a licensee is required to disclose known material
defects about the property.
Designated Agency:
In designated agency, the employing broker may, with your consent, designate one or
more licensees from the real estate company to represent you. Other licensees in the
company may represent another party and shall not be provided with any confidential
information. The designated agent(s) shall have the duties as listed above under seller
agency and buyer agency.
In designated agency, the employing broker will be a dual agent and have the additional
duties of:
- Taking reasonable care to protect any confidential information disclosed to the
licensee.
- Taking responsibility to direct and supervise the business activities of the licensees
who represent the seller and buyer while taking no action that is adverse or detrimental
to either party's interest in the transaction.
The designation may take place at the time that the parties enter into a written
agreement, but may occur at a later time. Regardless of when the designation takes place,
the employing broker is responsible for ensuring that confidential information is not
disclosed.
Transaction Licensee:
A transaction licensee is a broker or salesperson who provides communication or
document preparation services or performs other acts for which a license is required WITHOUT
being the agent or advocate for either the seller/landlord or the buyer/tenant. Upon
signing a written agreement or disclosure statement, a transaction licensee has the
additional duty of limited confidentiality in that the following information may not be
disclosed:
- The seller/landlord will accept a price less than the asking/list price.
- The buyer/tenant will pay a price greater than the price submitted in a written offer.
- The seller/landlord or buyer/tenant will agree to financing terms other than those
offered.
Other information deemed confidential by the consumer shall not be provided to the
transaction licensee.
OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
The following are negotiable and shall be addressed in an agreement/disclosure statements
with the licensee:
- The duration of the employment, listing agreement or contract.
- The fees or commissions.
- The scope of the activities or practices.
- The broker's cooperation with other brokers, including the sharing of fees.
A sales agreement must contain the zoning classification of a property except when in
cases where the property is zoned solely or primarily to permit single family dwellings.
A Real Estate Recovery Fund exist to reimburse any person who has obtained a final civil
judgement against a Pennsylvania real estate licensee owing to fraud, misrepresentation,
or deceit in a real estate transaction and who has been unable to collect the judgment
after exhausting all legal and equitable remedies. For complete details about the Fund,
call (717) 783-3658.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I acknowledge that I have received this disclosure.
| Date: _________ |
_________________________ |
__________________________ |
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Print (Consumer) |
Print (Consumer) |
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_________________________ |
__________________________ |
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Signed (Consumer) |
Signed (Consumer) |
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_________________________ |
__________________________ |
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Address (optional) |
Address (optional) |
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_________________________ |
__________________________ |
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Phone Number (optional) |
Phone Number (optional) |
I certify that I have provided this document to the above consumer during the
initial interview.
| Date: _________ |
Frances I. Thorsen, Realtor |
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Print (Licensee) |
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___________________________________________________ |
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Signed (Licensee) |
Adopted by the State Real Estate Commission at 49 Pa. Code 35.336.
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