Does the agent analyze the CIC and HOA docs for the client?

**seeeker** · 03-20-2010, 02:27 PM

My client is asking me to "research the HOA reserves and such" on a property, before we have made an offer or anything. I'm going to explain that we get to all that while under contract.

But, is that my job to review and analyze the HOA and CIC docs and make a recommendation for the client? Isn't that their responsiblity?

I want to help her, but I'm a bit new and honestly that's a lot of work and it feels a bit out of the scope of my services. And it puts me under liability.

**Chief Tutor** · 03-20-2010, 06:47 PM

You should NOT review the HOA documents. If you do and they then purchase the property and then something happens with the HOA, they can come back and sue you. You are not a lawyer. You should facilite them getting a copy of the HOA documents to review, but give NO legal opinion on the documents themselves.

One of the most difficult jobs of a realtor is that you should never offer professional advice that can come back and bite you. The above is a perfect example.

**seeeker** · 03-20-2010, 09:19 PM

Ok I understand. That clears it up a lot actually. I did know I should not be giving any legal or financial advice. However now that I am in this position, (I was also a new buyer not long ago), I kind of feel like I should offer *some* opinion to help my client make the best decision, but overall it just seems like playing with fire. She is a bit difficult and doesn't understan the process much, so she thinks I am supposed to do everything and offer all kinds of recommendations, (like how much to offer also) - so I have to draw the lines clearly with her.

Thanks!