Why Do RealtorsŪ Lie?
First of all, the vast majority of RealtorsŪ are ethical and would never lie to a client, even for money.But there are some, too many, who will lie and they do it for a very simple, very common reason - $$$$$$$$$$.
To some RealtorsŪ, any and all problems with a house are roadblocks to the closing and the closing is where the RealtorsŪ get paid.Unethical RealtorsŪ know that truthful facts about a house's condition will not only slow the sales process, they could derail the closing altogether.They would rather steer you away from the roadblock and drive you through the smooth pathway of ignorance because ignorance is not only bliss, it is happier at closing.
I have both defended cases involving RealtorsŪ committing the following frauds as well as prosecuted cases against these lies used solely to get the buyer to the closing:
1.Lying about a previous flood in the home even though the seller showed the RealtorŪ the insurance claims involving the previous flood.
2.Lying about a previous flood in a home (not the same as Number 1) by stating that only a foot of the garage was flooded.The house had 3 feet of water in it and the sellers were rescued by helicopter.
3.Lying about a strange odor in the house even though the RealtorŪ knew it was pesticides.It turns out it was a lethal agricultural pesticide, Ethyl Parathion, that had never been approved for household use and is now banned in the US for agricultural use.
4.Lying about a house having no termites even though a pest control company had inspected and found termites.The RealtorŪ rationalized that a subsequent treatment negated the necessity of disclosing the previous infestation.
5.Lying about the existence of a Sellers' Disclosure Notice and forging the sellers' and buyers' names to the document.
It can be dangerous out there.What can you do?Do not trust your RealtorŪ unless you are paying them by the hour and always, always, always - verify IN WRITING!!!