Sometimes Real Estate Agents get to talk or deal with Real Estate Assistants and there is always a doubt on the permissible duties and responsibilities of these assistants with respect to what it is allowed by Law. What type of activities can be performed by a Real Estate Assistant?
Unlicensed assistant is defined as support staff for a real estate corporation or other licensed individuals.
FREC has issued the following specific guidelines as to the tasks which unlicensed assistants may perform under their broker’s supervision:
- Answer the phone and forward calls
- Fill out and submit listings and changes to any multiple listing services
- Follow-up on loan commitments after a contract has been negotiated and generally secure the status reports on the loan progress
- Assemble documents for closing
- Secure documents (public information) from courthouse, utility district, etc.
- Have keys made for company listings, order surveys, termite inspections, home inspections and home warranties with the licensed employer’s approval
- Write ads for approval of the licensee and the supervising broker, and place advertising (newspaper ads, websitesdate, etc); prepare flyers and promotional information for approval by licensee and the supervising broker
- Receive, record and deposit earnest money, security deposits and advance rents
- Only type the contract forms for approval by licensee and supervising broker
- Monitor licenses and personnel files
- Compute commission checks
- Place signs on property
- Order items of repair as directed by licensee
- Prepare flyers and promotional information for approval by licensee and supervising broker
- Act as a courier service to deliver documents, pick-up keys
- Place routine telephone calls on late rent payments
- Schedule appointments for licensee to show a listed property
- Be at an open house for:
- Security purposes
- Hand out materials (brochures)
- Answer questions concerning a listing from which the answer must be obtained from the licensed employer-approved printed information and is objective in nature (not subjective comments)
- Gather information for a Comparative Market Analysis
- Gather information for an appraisal
- Hand out objective, written information on a listing or rental
Be aware of this: Assistants could drive customers to a listing or rental (but NOT “show” the property).