Short Answer

In North Carolina, your listing agent must promptly share material information and act in your interest. You can insist on the full inspection report, itemized contractor estimates with photos, and appliance details (make, model, serial number, age) before agreeing to a repair credit or price change. If information is withheld or the agent seems conflicted, get independent bids or an appraisal, elevate concerns to the firm’s broker-in-charge, and, if needed, file a complaint with the Real Estate Commission. If the sale involves co-owners or an estate, ensure all decision-makers receive the same information.

Understanding the Problem

In North Carolina real estate sales, a seller often relies on the listing agent to evaluate inspection-based repair requests and appliance values. The core question is: can I, as the seller, verify those claimed repairs and valuations before agreeing to a credit or price change during the due diligence period? Here, the seller’s realtor appears biased toward an estranged sibling, creating concern about withheld reports and low pricing.

Apply the Law

Under North Carolina law, a real estate broker engaged as your agent owes duties of loyalty, disclosure of material facts, and reasonable care, skill, and diligence. That includes promptly presenting offers and sharing inspection findings and related bids that materially affect your decision. Your contract’s due diligence period controls timing: you should gather and assess documentation before that period expires to preserve negotiation leverage. Where co-owners or an estate are involved, the decision-maker (such as a personal representative) must act in the interests of all beneficiaries and can be compelled to share information or account for decisions.

Key Requirements

• Timely disclosure: Your broker should promptly deliver offers, inspection reports, and other material information to you.
• Documented verification: You may require the full inspection report, photos, and itemized contractor quotes to substantiate any repair credit or price adjustment.
• Appliance valuation basics: Verify make, model, and serial numbers, age, condition, and market pricing; ask for receipts or comparable pricing.
• Conflict management: If there’s dual agency or favoritism, you can withhold consent, request designated or single agency, or change agents within your brokerage.
• Due diligence deadline: Act before the due diligence period ends; after that, your leverage to renegotiate drops.
• Co-owners/estate context: The seller-side fiduciary should share information with all sellers or heirs; the Clerk of Superior Court can facilitate resolution in an estate proceeding if needed.

What the Statutes Say

• North Carolina Gen. Stat. Chapter 93A (Real Estate License Law) – establishes licensing, standards, and discipline for brokers.
• NC Real Estate Commission Rules – broker duties on disclosure, presentation of offers, conflicts, and recordkeeping.
• North Carolina Gen. Stat. § 75-1.1 (Unfair or deceptive acts) – misrepresentation or concealment in commerce may trigger remedies.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Your agent should have promptly provided the full inspection report, photos, and bids; late or selective delivery undercuts your ability to vet a claimed subfloor hole or appliance values. Because you dispute those items, you can request independent contractor inspections and written quotes before honoring any repair credit. If your agent accepted the lowest offer without sharing comparables or competing offers, that conflicts with the duty to keep you informed of material information; ask for the CMA, all offers received, and a written explanation of pricing advice.

Process & Timing

1. Who files: You (the seller). Where: Send a written demand to your listing agent and the firm’s broker-in-charge in North Carolina. What: Request: (a) the complete home inspection report and photos; (b) all repair bids, contractor names, and licenses; (c) make/model/serial number and age for appliances; (d) a comparative market analysis and copies or summaries of all offers received; (e) confirmation of agency status (single, dual, or designated). When: Do this immediately and before your contract’s due diligence period expires.
2. If information is incomplete or appears biased, obtain independent bids or a reinspection from a licensed North Carolina contractor or home inspector; for appliances, gather receipts or third-party pricing and depreciation data. If agency conflicts persist, request designated or single agency through the broker-in-charge.
3. If misconduct or nonresponsiveness continues, file a complaint with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission (online process). If the property is being sold by an estate or through a personal representative and information is withheld among heirs, consider requesting court-supervised information sharing or mediation in the estate proceeding through the Clerk of Superior Court.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• Dual or designated agency: Without informed, written consent, conflicts can arise; you can switch to single agency within the firm.
• Expired due diligence: After expiration, repair credits are harder to negotiate; act early.
• Accepting credits without proof: Keep documentation; agreeing without verification can waive leverage and create disputes later.
• Co-owner/estate sales: When an estate or personal representative is involved, ensure all sellers/heirs receive the same information; the court can facilitate information-sharing or mediation in an estate proceeding if necessary.
• Service and records: Keep communications in writing; send requests to the broker-in-charge and retain delivery receipts.

Conclusion

In North Carolina, you can and should verify repair requests and appliance valuations before agreeing to credits or price changes. Your agent must promptly share material information and act with reasonable care and loyalty. Get the full inspection, photos, itemized bids, and appliance details, and obtain independent estimates if needed. The key threshold is timing—complete this review before your due diligence period ends. Next step: send a written document request to the broker-in-charge and set a firm response date within the due diligence period.

Talk to a Real Estate Attorney

If you’re dealing with delayed inspection reports, disputed repair credits, or questionable valuations, our firm has experienced attorneys who can help you understand your options and timelines. Call us today at 919-341-7055.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If you have a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.