Almost all residential property sales require a smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to be installed by the close of escrow. However, there seems to be some ambiguity where they are supposed to be installed. Here is where smoke alarms should be installed. Here is where carbon monoxide detectors should be installed ….. Here is […]
Real Estate agents spend a lot of time comparing commission models, office amenities, and company policy when they consider joining a brokerage. Equally important is the name of the brokerage. Consumers have access to nearly all the data, so it is incumbent for agents to prove their value. Agents prove their value by building trust […]
In some real estate offices agents have to pay a monthly brokerage fee. Not every realty brokerage charges a monthly fee to its agents. For example, Balboa Real Estate does not charge its agents a monthly fee. Now, even though we don’t charge a monthly fee, we aren’t universally opposed the concept of charging a […]
Many agents ask if Errors and Ommission Insurance (E&O) insurance is required by law. A real estate broker, once licensed by the Department of Real Estate, can broker real estate sales without E&O insurance. They aren’t required by law to have a policy, but any legitimate professional would not conduct business without E&O insurance. So, while […]
Have you heard of a non-independent broker escrow company, also known as a broker-controlled escrow? These are different from other escrow companies, and I’ll explain the difference. To conduct escrow business in the state of California, you must have a license. Interestingly, there are three different types of licenses that allow you to perform escrow. […]
There is a lot of confusion around filling out the cumbersome Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure (AVID) form. California Civil Code 2079 requires that an agent must conduct a reasonable competent and diligent visual inspection of real property in order to disclose to the prospective buyer and material facts affecting the property’s value, desirability, and intended […]
The question arises from agents, “do you have an office?” This is an important question because a big difference between many tradiitonal brokerages and 100% commission brokerages is access to an office. In order to answer, it’s only fair that we give some background information. When proespective agents would call or visit the office to […]
We are often asked if real estate agents can be paid directly from escrow. The close of a real estate transaction often marks the culmination of months of work to earn a commission. Naturally, agents want to be paid that commission as fast as possible. Any reputable company has requirements to be met before the […]
