Sign In
Create an account and enjoy all the benefits of HAR.com!
Sign In
Sign in using social account
By Pius Dawson – Global Real Estate Instructor & Consultant
Dawson Global Consultants LLC www.dawsonglobalconsultants.com
An open house is more than just a marketing event — it’s an extension of the trust your seller places in you as their REALTOR®. When a client signs a listing agreement, they are not only authorizing you to market their property; they are placing their confidence, safety, and representation in your hands.
However, a troubling trend has emerged in recent years: agents scheduling open houses and then asking other agents — sometimes from completely different brokerages — to host them.
At first glance, this might seem like a simple scheduling workaround. But beneath the surface, it raises serious ethical, legal, and professional concerns.
Under Article 1 of the NAR Code of Ethics, REALTORS® are bound to “protect and promote the interests of their client.” Handing off your open house responsibilities to another agent — particularly without your seller’s knowledge or consent — can easily breach that obligation.
Your seller didn’t hire “any available agent.” They hired you.
Before delegating an open house to anyone else:
Always obtain written consent from the seller.
Verify the substitute agent’s license, brokerage affiliation, and experience.
Provide clear instructions about disclosures, security, and property details.
Failure to do so can not only erode client trust but also expose you and your brokerage to potential claims of misrepresentation or negligence.
If an incident occurs during an open house — theft, injury, damage, or misinformation — liability does not vanish simply because another agent was “covering.”
In Texas, the listing broker remains fully responsible for ensuring proper supervision and compliance under TREC Rule §535.2 (Broker Responsibility). Even if another agent from a different firm is hosting, you as the listing agent (and your sponsoring broker) could still face:
TREC disciplinary action for lack of supervision
Administrative penalties or license suspension
Civil liability under negligence or breach of fiduciary duty
When consumers are harmed or property is mishandled, TREC will always look to the responsible broker of record — not the substitute agent — for oversight failure.
Beyond compliance, consider how this practice impacts your professional image. Sellers expect their listing agent to show up — literally and figuratively.
Delegating the open house to an unfamiliar face sends a message that their listing isn’t a priority. Worse, if the substitute agent gives inaccurate information, forgets disclosures, or fails to follow safety protocols, you and your brokerage carry the consequences.
A client’s trust, once lost, is nearly impossible to regain.
Be transparent — always inform your seller in advance and in writing.
Never delegate without consent — verbal agreements aren’t enough.
Ensure proper supervision — especially when involving agents outside your brokerage.
Document everything — keep written records of communication and authorization.
Prioritize presence — when possible, host your own open houses. Clients remember who shows up.
Delegating an open house without due diligence is not just poor practice — it’s a professional risk. Every listing represents a sacred trust between you, your client, and your brokerage. Protect it.
In real estate, shortcuts rarely save time. They usually cost you your reputation.
Pius Dawson is a global real estate instructor, consultant, and Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) educator based in Houston, Texas. Through Dawson Global Consultants LLC, he provides training on ethics, compliance, brokerage operations, and cross-border real estate development to professionals across Texas and worldwide.
For brokerage training, compliance audits, or ethics workshops, contact:
pd@piusdawson.com www.dawsonglobalconsultants.com
Erase note
You currently have no custom folders