With regard to environmental hazards, what must real estate professionals be able to do?

In the context of environmental hazards, real estate professionals are expected to have a proactive approach to identify potential issues that may affect their clients or properties. This involves anticipating problems that might arise from environmental factors such as mold, lead paint, radon, or other hazardous substances.

By making referrals to experts in environmental assessments or remediation, real estate professionals ensure that their clients receive specialized knowledge and services that go beyond the general scope of real estate transactions. This collaboration with experts is essential for ensuring that properties are safe and compliant with relevant regulations, ultimately protecting both the homeowner's investment and health.

While complying with government regulations is important and educating homeowners on building codes may be beneficial, the core of a real estate professional’s responsibility lies in their ability to recognize when specialized knowledge is required and to facilitate that connection. Conducting inspections themselves implies a level of expertise that they may not possess and can expose them to liability issues. Therefore, the focus on anticipating problems and making the appropriate referrals aligns with the duty of care that real estate professionals owe to their clients.