The duty to provide brokerage services to you fairly and honestly.
The duty to exercise reasonable skill and care in providing brokerage services to you.
The duty to provide you with accurate information about market conditions within a reasonable time if you request it, unless disclosure of the information is prohibited by law.
The duty to disclose to you in writing certain material adverse facts about a property, unless disclosure of the information is prohibited by law.
The duty to protect your confidentiality. Unless the law requires it, the broker will not disclose your confidential information or the confidential information of other parties.
The duty to safeguard trust funds and other property the broker holds.
The duty, when negotiating, to present contract proposals in an objective and unbiased manner and disclose the advantages and disadvantages of the proposals.
Because you have entered into an agency agreement with a broker, you are the broker's client. A broker owes additional duties to a client.
The broker will provide, at your request, information and advice on real estate matters that affect your transaction, unless you release the broker from this duty. The broker must provide you with all material facts affecting the transaction, not just adverse facts.
The broker will fulfill the broker's obligations under the agency agreement and fulfill your lawful requests that are within the scope of the agency agreement.
The broker will negotiate for you, unless you release the broker from this duty.
The broker will not place the broker's interests ahead of your interests. The broker will not, unless required by law, give information or advice to other parties who are not the broker's clients, if giving the information or advice is contrary to your interests.
If you become involved in a transaction in which another party is also the broker's client (a "multiple representation relationship"), different duties may apply.
MULTIPLE REPRESENTATION RELATIONSHIPS AND DESIGNATED AGENCY
A multiple representation relationship exists if a broker has an agency agreement with more than one client who is a party in the same transaction. In a multiple representation relationship, if all of the broker's clients in the transaction consent, the broker may provide services to the clients through designated agency.
Designated agency means that different salespersons employed by the broker will negotiate on behalf of you and the other client or clients in the transaction, and the broker's duties will remain the same. Each salesperson will provide information, opinions, and advice to the client for whom the salesperson is negotiating, to assist the client in the negotiations. Each client will be able to receive information, opinions, and advice that will assist the client, even if the information, opinions, or advice gives the client advantages in the negotiations over the broker's other clients. A salesperson will not reveal any of your confidential information to another party unless required to do so by law.
If a designated agency relationship is not in effect you may authorize or reject a multiple representation relationship. If you authorize a multiple representation relationship the broker may provide brokerage services to more than one client in a transaction but neither the broker nor any of the broker's salespersons may assist any client with information, opinions, and advice which may favor the interests of one client over any other client. If you do not consent to a multiple representation relationship the broker will not be allowed to provide brokerage services to more than one client in the transaction.
INITIAL ONLY ONE OF THE THREE LINES BELOW:
________I consent to designated agency.
________I consent to multiple representation relationships, but I do not consent to designated agency.
________I reject multiple representation relationships.
NOTE: YOU MAY WITHDRAW YOUR CONSENT TO DESIGNATED AGENCY OR TO MULTIPLE REPRESENTATION RELATIONSHIPS BY WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE BROKER AT ANY TIME. YOUR BROKER IS REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE TO YOU IN YOUR AGENCY AGREEMENT THE COMMISSION OR FEES THAT YOU MAY OWE TO YOUR BROKER. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMMISSION OR FEES THAT YOU MAY OWE BASED UPON THE TYPE OF AGENCY RELATIONSHIP YOU SELECT WITH YOUR BROKER YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR BROKER BEFORE SIGNING THE AGENCY AGREEMENT.
SUBAGENCY
The broker may, with your authorization in the agency agreement, engage other brokers who assist your broker by providing brokerage services for your benefit. A subagent will not put the subagent's own interests ahead of your interests. A subagent will not, unless required by law, provide advice or opinions to other parties if doing so is contrary to your interests.
Please review this information carefully. A broker or salesperson can answer your questions about brokerage services, but if you need legal advice, tax advice, or a professional home inspection, contact an attorney, tax advisor, or home inspector.
This disclosure is required by
s. 452.135 of the Wisconsin statutes and is for information only. It is a plain-language summary of a broker's duties to you under section 452.133 (3) of the Wisconsin statutes.
452.135(2)(b)
(b) If a client enters into an agency agreement with a broker to receive brokerage services related to real estate primarily intended for use as a residential property containing one to 4 dwelling units, and the written disclosure statement under
par. (a) is not incorporated into the agency agreement, the broker shall request the client's signed acknowledgment that the client has received a copy of the written disclosure statement.
452.135 Annotation
The `New' Chapter 452: Defining Real Estate Broker Practice. Leibsle. Wis. Law. June 2006.
452.137
452.137
Cooperation with out-of-state brokers and salespersons. 452.137(1)(a)
(a) "Cooperative agreement" means the agreement established by the board under
sub. (4).
452.137(1)(b)
(b) "Licensed broker" means a broker who is licensed under this chapter.
452.137(1)(c)
(c) "Licensed salesperson" means a salesperson who is licensed under this chapter.
452.137(1)(d)
(d) "Licensed time-share salesperson" means a time-share salesperson who is licensed under this chapter.
452.137(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), an out-of-state broker may act as a broker in this state only if the out-of-state broker does all of the following:
452.137(2)(a)1.
1. Enters into a cooperative agreement with a licensed broker and cooperates with the licensed broker on the listing agreement that is subject to the cooperative agreement. Each cooperative agreement may cover only one listing agreement.
452.137(2)(a)2.
2. Submits to the licensed broker evidence that the out-of-state broker is licensed in good standing to engage in real estate brokerage in a jurisdiction other than this state.
452.137(2)(b)
(b) An out-of-state broker, including an out-of-state broker who is a party to a cooperative agreement, may not do any of the following:
452.137(2)(b)1.
1. Enter into a listing agreement concerning real estate located in this state.
452.137(2)(b)2.
2. For commission, money, or other thing of value, promote in this state the sale, exchange, purchase, option, rental, or leasing of real estate located in this state, including by posting signs on the property.
452.137(2)(c)
(c) An out-of-state broker who is a party to a cooperative agreement with a licensed broker, and any out-of-state salesperson of the out-of-state broker, shall comply with the laws of this state, and the out-of-state broker shall file with the board an irrevocable consent that actions may be commenced against the out-of-state broker in the proper court of any county in this state in which a cause of action arises or the plaintiff resides, by the service of any process or pleading authorized by the laws of this state on the board or any duly authorized employee. The consent shall stipulate and agree that such service is valid and binding as due service upon the out-of-state broker in all courts in this state. The consent shall be duly acknowledged and, if made by a corporation, shall be authenticated by the corporate seal.
452.137(2)(d)
(d) A licensed broker who is a party to a cooperative agreement with an out-of-state broker, and any licensed salesperson or licensed time-share salesperson of the licensed broker, may not act under the cooperative agreement on behalf of a broker who is not a party to the cooperative agreement.
452.137(2)(e)1.1. An out-of-state broker who is a party to a cooperative agreement with a licensed broker shall maintain the originals or copies of all documents the out-of-state broker receives, maintains, or generates in connection with any transaction subject to the cooperative agreement, for at least 3 years after the date of closing or completion of the transaction, or, if no closing or completion occurs, 3 years after the date on which the parties execute the cooperative agreement.
452.137(2)(e)2.
2. An out-of-state broker who is a party to a cooperative agreement with a licensed broker shall deposit with the licensed broker copies of all documents the out-of-state broker is required to maintain under
subd. 1., unless the out-of-state broker and licensed broker agree in writing that the out-of-state broker is not required to do so.
452.137(2)(f)
(f) No person may pay an out-of-state broker a commission, money, or other thing of value for brokerage services unless the out-of-state broker is a party to a cooperative agreement with a licensed broker.
452.137(2)(g)
(g) Notwithstanding
s. 452.01 (2) (bm), no out-of-state broker may, for commission, money, or other thing of value, show a property in this state that is offered exclusively for rent unless that showing is authorized under a cooperative agreement between the out-of-state broker and a licensed broker.
452.137(3)
(3) Out-of-state salespersons. An out-of-state salesperson may act as a salesperson or time-share salesperson in this state only if all of the following conditions are met:
452.137(3)(a)
(a) The out-of-state broker who employs the out-of-state salesperson satisfies all of the applicable requirements under
sub. (2).
452.137(3)(b)
(b) The out-of-state salesperson works under the direct supervision of the out-of-state broker.
452.137(3)(c)
(c) The out-of-state salesperson submits evidence to the licensed broker that the out-of-state salesperson is licensed in good standing or is otherwise authorized to act as a salesperson or time-share salesperson in a jurisdiction other than this state.
452.137(3)(d)
(d) In any transaction subject to the cooperative agreement, the out-of-state salesperson represents only the out-of-state broker who is a party to the cooperative agreement and with whom the out-of-state salesperson is employed.
452.137(4)(a)(a) The board shall, by rule, establish the form and terms of the cooperative agreement.
452.137(4)(b)
(b) The cooperative agreement shall do at least all of the following:
452.137(4)(b)1.
1. Establish the terms of cooperation between the out-of state broker, any out-of-state salesperson, and the licensed broker.
452.137(4)(b)2.
2. Establish the terms of the out-of-state broker's compensation.
452.137(4)(b)3.
3. Provide that all client funds, as defined in
s. 452.13 (1) (a), that the out-of-state broker and licensed broker receive in connection with a transaction subject to the cooperative agreement shall be deposited in a trust account maintained by the licensed broker.
452.137(5)(a)(a) Subject to the rules promulgated under
s. 440.03 (1), the board may conduct investigations and hold hearings to determine whether a person has violated this section or a rule promulgated under this section.
452.137(5)(b)
(b) Notwithstanding
s. 452.17 (3), any person who violates this section or a rule promulgated under this section may be fined, for each violation, not more than the greater of the following:
452.137(5)(b)2.
2. For a sales transaction, 1 percent of the purchase price of the property subject to the cooperative agreement.
452.137(5)(b)3.
3. For a lease or rental transaction, 1 percent of the total lease or rental value of the property subject to the cooperative agreement.
452.137 History
History: 2013 a. 259; s. 35.17 correction in (2) (f).
452.138
452.138
Brokers providing services in more than one transaction. A broker may provide brokerage services simultaneously to more than one party in different transactions unless the broker agrees with a client that the broker is to provide brokerage services only to that client. If the broker and a client agree that the broker is to provide brokerage services only to that client, the agency agreement shall contain a statement of that agreement.
452.138 History
History: 1993 a. 127;
2005 a. 87.
452.138 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
REEB 24, Wis. adm. code.
452.139
452.139
Changes in common law duties and liabilities of brokers and parties. 452.139(1)
(1)
Common law duties of broker. The duties of a broker specified in this chapter or in rules promulgated under this chapter shall supersede duties or obligations under common law to the extent that those common law duties or obligations are inconsistent with the duties specified in this chapter or in rules promulgated under this chapter.
452.139(2)(a)(a) A client is not liable for a misrepresentation made by a broker in connection with the broker providing brokerage services, unless the client knows or should have known of the misrepresentation or the broker is repeating a misrepresentation made to him or her by the client.
452.139(2)(b)
(b) A broker who is providing brokerage services to a client and who retains another broker to provide brokerage services to that client is not liable for a misrepresentation made by the other broker, unless the broker knew or should have known of the other broker's misrepresentation or the other broker is repeating a misrepresentation made to him or her by the broker.
452.139(2)(c)
(c) Nothing in this subsection limits the liability of a broker under
s. 452.12 (3) for misrepresentations made by an employee who is a broker. Nothing in this subsection limits the liability of a client for a misrepresentation that the client makes in connection with brokerage services.
452.139(3)
(3) Liability for negligent hiring. An employing broker that hires an individual who is licensed or registered under this chapter and who commits a crime under the laws of this state or another wrongful act may not be held civilly liable for hiring that individual in a claim brought for negligent hiring if, regardless of whether the employing broker conducted its own investigation, the employing broker relied on the investigations conducted by the department under
s. 440.03 (13) or on any determination made by the board, including a determination under
s. 452.07 (2) or
452.25.
452.139 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
REEB 24, Wis. adm. code.
452.14
452.14
Investigation and discipline of licensees. 452.14(1)(1) The board shall, upon motion of the secretary or his or her designee or upon its own determination, conduct investigations and, as appropriate, may hold hearings and make findings, if the board or the department receives credible information that a broker, salesperson, or time-share salesperson has violated this chapter or any rule promulgated under this chapter.
452.14(2)
(2) The board may commence disciplinary proceedings on any matter under investigation concerning a licensee or registrant.
452.14(2m)
(2m) The board shall conduct disciplinary proceedings in accordance with the rules adopted under
s. 440.03 (1).
452.14(3)
(3) The board may revoke, suspend or limit any broker's, salesperson's, or time-share salesperson's license or registration, or reprimand the holder of the license or registration, if it finds that the holder of the license or registration has:
452.14(3)(a)
(a) Made a material misstatement in the application for a license or registration, or in any information furnished to the board or department;
452.14(3)(b)
(b) Made any substantial misrepresentation with reference to a transaction injurious to a seller or purchaser in which the broker, salesperson or time-share salesperson acts as agent;
452.14(3)(c)
(c) Made any false promises of a character such as to influence, persuade or induce the seller or purchaser to his or her injury or damage;
452.14(3)(d)
(d) Pursued a continued and flagrant course of misrepresentation or made false promises through agents or salespersons or advertising;
452.14(3)(f)
(f) Accepted from any person except the broker's, salesperson's, or time-share salesperson's employer, if the broker, salesperson, or time-share salesperson is employed as a salesperson or time-share salesperson by a broker, a commission or valuable consideration as a salesperson or time-share salesperson for the performance of any act specified in this chapter or as compensation for referring a person to another broker, salesperson, or time-share salesperson or to any other person in connection with a transaction;
