The correct answer is B. Massachusetts recognizes a practical open-house exception to the normal procedure requiring an individual relationship disclosure at the first personal meeting concerning a specific property.
At an open house, the licensee does not need to obtain an individually signed disclosure from every visitor simply entering the property. Instead, the existing agency rela tionship must be conspicuously disclosed, such as through signs, posters, distributed listing literature, or property-description materials.
The exception does not authorize concealment of representation. A visitor should still be able to determine whether the agent conducting the open house represents the seller or is operating in another permitted role.
If the interaction later develops beyond the open-house setting into circumstances triggering the ordinary disclosure requirement, the appropriate disclosure process should be completed.
This is a Massachusetts-specific procedural rule and is frequently tested because candidates may incorrectly believe that an open house eliminates agency disclosure entirely.
Study Guide Reference: Agency — Open-House Disclosure Exception; 254 CMR 3.00.
