What duty does a broker owe to a customer?

A broker has an obligation to deal honestly with customers. This means that the broker must be truthful in all interactions and transactions, ensuring that they provide accurate information and do not mislead the customer. Honesty is fundamental to building trust, and in the real estate profession, it helps create a fair and transparent process for everyone involved.

Dealing honestly includes being forthright about the condition of properties, the terms of transactions, and any relevant market data that could affect a customer's decisions. This duty is critical in maintaining a professional reputation and complying with legal standards within the industry.

While confidentiality, fiduciary duties, and representing a customer’s interests are significant responsibilities that a broker might have towards clients, these pertains more to the specific dynamics of agency relationships rather than the general duty owed to customers, who may not be clients with the same level of commitment and trust in place.