Broker Override Documentation Guide

A broker override is a supervising-broker decision to proceed past an automated hazard-review gate or to amend a hazard determination before the report is finalized. Because overrides bypass a built-in control, they must be deliberate, justified, and fully documented.

• A verified data-source error produced an incorrect zone determination, corrected against the authoritative map.
• A duplicate or superseded hazard flag is blocking an otherwise complete and accurate report.
• A time-sensitive close requires manual advancement while supplemental data is confirmed in parallel — with client consent.

An override is never appropriate to suppress a valid hazard disclosure or to conceal a material fact from a buyer.

Every override should create a durable record containing:

• The order number and the specific gate or determination overridden.
• The name and license number of the supervising broker authorizing the override.
• A dated, written reason with references to the authoritative source relied upon.
• Supporting evidence (corrected map excerpt, agency confirmation, client consent) attached to the order.
• A timestamp and the resulting change to the report.

When an override changes what the buyer sees, disclose the change and the basis for it in writing. Transparency converts a discretionary decision into a defensible one and preserves the fiduciary relationship.

Well-documented overrides are a shield, not a liability. If a determination is ever challenged, the override record demonstrates that a licensed supervisor made a reasoned, evidence-based decision — the standard of care regulators and courts expect.