As a practical matter, I'm sure there are agents and sellers out there who purposefully hide defects… I don't think working directly with the listing agent would change the situation – and honest agent will be honest/a dishonest agent will be dishonest ....  

Are you saying you want to be dishonest with them?

The worst business deal I ever had in my other business was with an attorney...and in fact he bragged that attorneys are sleazy and dishonest.

Your interpretation implies that I'm saying be dishonest unless challenged which is not what I was trying to convey and my post dealt with a lot more than what you gleaned.

Dishonest dealings will earn a reputation that will be hard to overcome.

My question is can anyone convince me this is not a dishonest business and also is it possible to find an attorney willing to work with you without actually being dishonest with him too.

I also had a deal that left me with a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth because it left the dual agent looking like they might be dishonest, and you can't tell..

I am not going to be dishonest...I am just not sure if future intension is something that will come up in a refinance.

Just because it’s different does not make it dishonest or excessive, (or “GOUGING”).4)  Most folks on BP recoil at the thought of paying any sort of markup on maintenance.

@Kelly Howard, do you want to be labelled dishonest yourself?