Beware of these most common Real Estate Board violations by licensees. You’ll notice one common theme: escrow funds. Violations involving escrow funds continue to be some of the most frequently violated regulations for real estate licensees. Brokers, make sure you have policies in your office policy manual and provide education to prevent you and your licensees from engaging in any of these common offenses.

This case highlights not only the importance of adhering to the Board’s regulations through actions such as depositing the earnest money deposit in a timely manner and notifying all parties of material changes to the transaction, but also the importance informing the Board of escrow violations.

This case again looks at an escrow violation, where the agent provided the check to the brokerage but not the ratified contract, and due to firm policies, the check was not deposited in a timely manner. Further, the agent failed to inform the parties that the earnest money deposit was not deposited.

Staging is the act of presenting a property in the best light to allow it to sell as quickly as possible. That can include everything from changing the paint colors in the living room to completely emptying the house and bringing in rental furniture and fixtures. For the latter, though, it might make sense to hire a home stager. But there’s a relatively new option in town: “virtual” staging.

This case highlights the importance of confirming that your clients have the authority to access property and that you do not provide access in excess of the scope allowed. In addition, it demonstrates the importance of providing honest and reliable testimony to the Virginia Real Estate Board when facing a potential violation.