[WSBARP] Real Estate Agent

[Matthew R. Johnson]

Listmates,

 

Client lived in a home for 7 years. They purchased it with a real estate
agent, Agent1 that lives a couple doors down from the home they purchased.
There is no social relationship between client and Agent1 other than there
professional relationship.

 

2 years ago they move away and hire the Agent1 to do the sale. While the
home is listed with Agent1, agent tries to get client to rent the home to 3
other people including agents friend to which agent requested free rent.
While listed, Agent1 did little to find a buyer. Client believes agent was
being highly selective on potential buyers because they would be Agent1's
neighbor. 

 

Client terminates Agent1 and lists with Agent2. Agent1 continues to contact
client, try to get client to rent the home, and continues to interfere with
the client-Agent2 relationship to the point that Agent2 notified Agent1's
broker to get the behavior to stop. 

 

Fast forward, because it's a small world, client learns of potential buyer
from many months ago. Potential buyer decided they did not want the home
after they learned that the home had water damage, mildew, and mold
problems. The home does not have these problems. As it turns out, Agent1 has
been telling other agents in the area that the home has these problems.
Agent1 has also physically stopped other agents during showings of the home
to tell them about these problems. Needless to say, client thinks Agent1's
statements have blackballed the home in that market. 

 

Any thoughts on causes of actions for this one? Any avenues to a CPA claim
or other statutes that have more teeth? I have no doubt that Agent1's
actions can probably establish liability, but proving damages will be rather
squishy. 

 

Regards,

 

Matthew R. Johnson | Attorney at Law

Gravis Law, PLLC

P.O. Box 182 | 350 E. Main St. 

Dayton, WA 99328

509-382-2030 (office)
 <https://www.gravislaw.com/> Website -
<https://www.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-r-johnson/2b/997/87a> LinkedIn

 

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