BIC TIPS

Encroachments are one of those issues brokers sometimes notice but hope will “work themselves out.” That is a mistake.

If there is one complaint that never goes out of style in real estate, it is this:
“My agent never kept me informed.”

Marketing compliance in North Carolina is not optional, and it is not cosmetic. Under North Carolina Real Estate License Law and Commission rules, your licensed firm name must be conspicuous on all marketing—every time, …

Co-listing between brokerage firms is permitted, but it must be approached with caution and careful documentation. Each firm may enter into its own Exclusive Right to Sell Listing Agreement (Form 101) with the seller; ho…

Hosting or participating in an open house for a listing held by another brokerage is not a simple courtesy—it carries real agency and liability consequences that brokers must understand.

North Carolina brokers must understand that referrals plus financial benefit equals mandatory disclosure. BIC TIP #1118 is rooted squarely in NCREC Rule .0109(b), and it applies far more broadly than many brokers realiz…

Protection periods are often misunderstood, and BIC TIP #1117 is the reminder brokers need when emotions start driving expectations instead of the contract language.

Under Form 2-T, when a buyer breaches the contract, the seller’s remedy is limited. Specifically, the seller is only entitled to liquidated damages equal to the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) and the Due Diligence Fee. No a…

Reposting photos, videos, or marketing content from another firm’s listing without permission is a violation of REALTOR® Code of Ethics Article 12, even when credit is clearly given to the listing firm. Attribution alone…

Under the updated North Carolina Offer to Purchase and Contract, vacant properties come with a clear expectation: if utilities are off, it is the seller’s responsibility to have them turned on unless the parties agree o…

In North Carolina real estate transactions, determining whether an issue remains a material fact requires more than assumption or assurance. If a prior issue was fully repaired and a broker can reasonably verify that bot…

The length of an agency agreement is not just a formality. It directly affects a broker’s legal authority to provide brokerage services.