When a Florida resident is in the market for a new home, he or she may rely on a transaction broker to present an offer to a seller. A man and his wife had been in search of a waterfront home when, the husband says, they found the home of their dreams. They waived inspection and made an offer that was a half million over the asking price. The offer was rejected, and the situation has prompted litigation in a real estate dispute between the married couple and the transaction broker as well as Coldwell Banker company.
Two men meet while walking a dog
The husband of the married couple says he simply could not understand why the homeowner rejected his offer. When he saw the owner walking a dog one day, he struck up a conversation with him to ask. It turned out that the man’s offer was $100,000 more than the offer the transaction broker had told the owner was the best. The men also learned, through their exchange of information, that the transaction broker had never told the homeowner that the man and his wife had waived home inspection.
Joining forces to file a legal claim
Both men decided to sue the transaction broker and Coldwell Banker, claiming that the offers were not fairly or honestly presented to the homeowner. The plaintiffs claim that the transaction broker pushed the offer that would produce the largest commission for himself and Coldwell Banker. Coldwell Banker has issued a public statement claiming that the allegations are without merit. It will now be left to the court to decide.
Get everything in writing in a real estate transaction
One of the issues that the homeowner raised in this case was that the transaction broker had only verbally told him of the offers on the home rather than showing him anything in writing. Any Florida resident selling or buying a house is cautioned to always request any and all pertinent transaction information in writing before agreeing to a deal. Consulting with a real estate law attorney before signing a contract is also a good idea because such an attorney is well-versed in real estate transaction regulations and can make recommendations to protect the interests of a client.