The last Maine real estate state convention in Rockland ME at the Samoset, I remember talk about changes.
Changes to the disclosure forms, updates on the listing paper work, mls changes that were needed. After a long day in continuing credit sessions on some lively topics, some not so make you jump up and down meetings, folks got a little silly. One broker wondered if having it disclosed right up front if the real estate buyer or seller were on medication and which ones. He was not trying to be mean spirited or cute. But when a stranger wanders thru your real estate office door, you start a whole brand new connection. Establish a beginning history in the real estate sale process.
At times it would help to know of any conditions, to crack up the sensitivity or empathy if it reported one out of four of us is suffering from mental illness. And we knew the medications the buyer or sell or even other broker is taking. Or not taking but should. Eventually you figure out what is going on inside the head of the people we deal with day and out. But of course it will never happen as everything is an invasion of privacy these days.
Special rights, privileged information applies even if a real estate broker calls the oil deal a seller uses to obtain accurate gallonage used for the past Maine heating season. "Oh I can not tell you that without written permission from the seller." The one who I guess will bite the head off of the oil company off for having no right to give out that information even though the seller told the broker who to check with. Fear of law suits. Belt and suspenders careful, tip toeing, playing it safe.
A day and age where there are lawyers that just sue lawyers.
Where doctors become lawyers to sue doctors..because they know how to milk those big out of court settlements through fear and having been behind the scenes. Knowing the ins and out on how to spin, manipluate the system. People used to work for a living with the sweat of their brow, bend of their back.Check out this low key real estate professional and see if anything seems odd, out of place, different. Also, what could help the real estate sales process too was if you had a check list for buyers, sellers, even other brokers. That had questions like "On a scale of one to ten, what is your normal daily "crank factor"? Basically rate how easy it is to get you riled up, coming unglued with one being "not very easy" to ten meaning "does not take much most days." Then run this video and see if they smile. If anything makes them laugh, smile or do they stay completely spock like, vulcan cold and stoic? Or break down and start crying? The response would help prepare you for what is ahead on the bumpy, curvy road to the eventual (fingers crossed) real estate closing.
Andrew
There are lots of changes these days; some not so desirable.