California Real Estate SalespersonPractice of Real Estate and DisclosuresMedium
A broker hires an unlicensed personal assistant to help with office tasks. Which of the following activities may the unlicensed assistant legally perform?
- AAnswering phone calls and scheduling showings without discussing price or terms
- BNegotiating the terms of a purchase offer with a buyer
- CHosting an open house and answering questions about the property's condition
- DPreparing and explaining a listing agreement to a seller
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Answering phone calls and scheduling showings without discussing price or terms
Unlicensed assistants may perform clerical and administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments and answering general phone inquiries, as long as they do not engage in activities requiring a license, such as negotiating, advising on price, or discussing contract terms. Any activity requiring professional real estate judgment must be performed by a licensed individual.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Negotiating requires a license; this exceeds an unlicensed assistant's authority.
- C. Answering substantive property questions at an open house requires licensure.
- D. Explaining contract terms constitutes practicing real estate and requires a license.
Unlicensed Assistant Limitations
Unlicensed personal assistants may perform clerical tasks but cannot engage in activities requiring a real estate license, such as negotiating or advising clients.
- Permitted: scheduling, answering phones, distributing pre-printed materials
- Prohibited: negotiating, advising on price/terms, explaining contracts
- Violations can expose both assistant and broker to license law penalties
Memory trick: Schedule, yes; negotiate, no license — no go