Let’s be clear, I won’t sue anybody (broker, insurance carrier or otherwise) unless there’s a valid reason for doing so. The litigation process takes up too much time, and money, for willy, nilly lawsuits. I’ll try to talk a client out of filing a complaint, before I ever try to talk one into it.
However, when a brokerage or an agent working for that brokerage has screwed up, and cost a client money, or lied or cheated a client, well, then, that’s another story entirely.
The industry tries to ‘self-police.’ The DRE will investigate complaints, and, if appropriate, file and Accusation against a brokerage or agent and suspend or revoke a license. The California and National Associations of Realtors have Codes of Ethics that members are supposed to comply with. But not every licenses agent or brokerage is a member of CAR or NAR, and the DRE isn’t charged to make a client of the brokerage financially whole when there has been a monetary loss. That’s what lawyers are for; the DRE only regulates licenses.
So, if you’ve been burned by your real estate brokerage or agent, it’s time to fight fire with fire.
In my 40 years, I’ve seen a lot – but I’m still surprised at just how sloppy or crooked some (thankfully, only a few) of the brokerages and agents in this State can be. I’m happy to help ‘police’ the industry by culling the heard of the bad apples. (How many metaphors can I mix in one sentence?)
The point is simple.
I know, right down to the mud in my veins, what a real estate brokerage and agent is supposed to do for a client, and what they are not supposed to do to a client. If you’ve been damaged by the actions of your broker/agent, then we should talk.