Have been looking at properties for sale recently, which is something I don't do very often. The last time I bought and moved was 24 years ago.
It seems to me that agents' responses to fairly basic questions about a property are often rather vague. If an agent doesn't know the answer to a question, and they have the vendor's best interests at heart, shouldn't they undertake to find out the answer and get back to possibly interested purchasers?
One example I noted was that on the title of a property I was interested in, there were two easements recorded, both relating to water, power and telecommunications. There is a large shed on the property, and it seems that it may be right on top of these easements. My question to the agent was, is this the case or not? He couldn't tell me, said I could ask the council, but seemed disinclined to ask the vendor. Reasonable behaviour or not?

rpvr - 2021-06-07 09:33:00

Whilst agents aren't required to be legal experts on the details, simple questions like routing of easements and existing services under the property are pretty straight forward, and the agent should certainly be able to explain them even without referring to the vendor.

sparkychap - 2021-06-07 09:42:00

Possibly worth a complaint. You could ask the agent for the full title and decipher it yourself. They should have it and it's not that complicated.

superdave0_13 - 2021-06-07 10:46:00

Sorry to give such a seemingly pessimistic answer. But after having dealt with quite a few agents over the last year I would have to say that their only duties are to get their commission and do as little possible for it.

gavin11 - 2021-06-07 23:49:00

They don’t want to know any problems. I told an agent who had a house listed not far from where I live that I knew had an issue and their reaction was “don’t tell me, I don’t want to know”. It is quite a major issue too. Appalling that no buyer would be told about it when it’s common knowledge to many other people.

So yeah, let the buyer beware. As the poster said above the agents are only interested in their commission.

lakeview3 - 2021-06-08 07:47:00

Regarding my original post, the property concerned did not sell at auction, in an area where anything and everything has been selling at exhorbitant prices, so others must see issues as well. The agent rang me three times in the days leading up to the auction trying to get me to attend. A bit hopeful on his part after showing reluctance to investigate questions from a potential purchaser. Property is now for sale by negotiation and has more open homes scheduled.

rpvr - 2021-06-08 07:58:00

We recently viewed a property and were preparing to put an offer in that afternoon, then I realised that I had not seen any backsoakers on the JH weatherboards, asked to visit the property briefly for 2 minutes and confirm whether or not there were any installed ( as required by the manufacturers for compliance) agent never got back at all with a time I could visit.

I did formally advise the agent of my concerns in writing, wonder if she passed that information onto any prospective purchaser. Looking back at it 99% certain they were missing.

kenw1 - 2021-06-08 09:36:00

sparkychap wrote:

Whilst agents aren't required to be legal experts on the details, simple questions like routing of easements and existing services under the property are pretty straight forward, and the agent should certainly be able to explain them even without referring to the vendor.

Surely directing the potential customer to an appropriate place to make their own determinations is more ethically correct (and safer for them) than relying on 'local' knowledge, heresay, rumour, relaying what the vendor said (and even that can be mis-interpretated).

brouser3 - 2021-06-08 21:19:00

brouser3 wrote:

Surely directing the potential customer to an appropriate place to make their own determinations is more ethically correct (and safer for them) than relying on 'local' knowledge, heresay, rumour, relaying what the vendor said (and even that can be mis-interpretated).

Sparky said nothing whatsoever about rumour, heresay etc. His post is correct.

johnston - 2021-06-08 21:33:00

brouser3 wrote:

Surely directing the potential customer to an appropriate place to make their own determinations is more ethically correct (and safer for them) than relying on 'local' knowledge, heresay, rumour, relaying what the vendor said (and even that can be mis-interpretated).

I never said any of that.

sparkychap - 2021-06-08 21:37:00