📁 Case #003: Buyer Pressured to Sign Agreement at Open House

🧾 Summary

 

A walk-in buyer attended a public open house and attempted to engage the listing agent with standard questions about the home’s pricing, condition, and history. Before answering, the agent requested that the buyer immediately sign a Buyer Representation Agreement (BRA), citing regulatory changes and brokerage policy.

The buyer asked for clarification and was told that under “new laws,” the agent could not legally discuss property details without a signed BRA. No copy of the RECO Information Guide or customer service agreement was offered. The buyer declined to sign and left the property without further engagement.

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⚠️ Key Issues

• Immediate pressure to sign a legal contract during an open house

• No explanation of client vs. customer roles

• No disclosure of fiduciary obligations

• Apparent misrepresentation of legal requirements under TRESA

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📎 Supporting Documentation

• Text messages sent by agent following the open house

• Personal notes taken by buyer regarding timeline

• Public MLS listing details showing the property remained listed

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⚖️ Legal Concerns

Agents must explain the nature of representation and give buyers the RECO Information Guide before seeking signed agreements. TRESA does not require a BRA in order to answer general questions or host an open house. The buyer was misled and may have lost access to a purchase opportunity due to misinformation.

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🔍 Current Status

• Buyer did not pursue complaint due to time constraints

• Property sold within two weeks of the incident

• No known regulatory consequence for the agent involved