In Texas, buyers are required to sign a buyer’s agreement with their agent before viewing a property. I’m currently in the process of buying a house and was discussing this agreement with a real estate agent, all over text messages. The contract required a four-month commitment, but since we hadn’t worked together yet, I asked if we could shorten it or add a termination clause. Instead of a professional response, she sent me a rude message.
Feeling frustrated, I posted an honest Google review about my experience, including direct quotes from our conversation to ensure accuracy. I have the text messages as proof, so everything I wrote is verifiable.
A couple of days after my review, she sent me another text saying she’s having a cease and desist letter sent to my address for my Google review. Somehow, she found out where I live.
Has anyone dealt with something similar? Can a realtor actually take legal action against me for posting my experience on her Google page? Am I in trouble? Location: Texas.
Comments
If you are not under a contract at all, then there’s nothing they can really complain about. A review on a public website is nothing they could go after you for, unless you lied and then it becomes like a slander thing.
“I’m going to send you a cease and desist letter” is the worst threat imaginable. That’s essentially threatening to threaten you.
Just ignore her.
A cease and desist letter has no legal impact by itself. If you had actually defamed her, then it serves as a warning before she actually sues you. If all the facts in your review are accurate, then she has no case to sue. Which doesn’t mean she won’t, but makes it a lot less likely.
Cease and desist is just a letter, and you can’t be sued for a google review especially if you were honest in it.
Not saying you should do this but I would fully add to my review stating that she’s threatening you with a cease and desist and more importantly that she looked up your address without permission.