I recently encountered a situation that left me feeling taken advantage of and deeply disappointed.Upon expressing my reservations about the steep cost of their course $8k,  I was pressured into signing an agreement by their representative.

The realtor I've been submitting my bids to also represents the property.

Are you representing the buyer or seller? 

Traditionally, these agents, often younger and less established, educate buyers about market nuances, show properties, and represent them in offers.

I used there platform/CRM to get the place under contract but went about it my own way to find the buyer, therefore the speed of the closing was not representative of the companies ability. 

Contact your representatives and urge them to do something about the insurance industry.

By way of background, I have been working as a Medical Device Sales Representative specializing in orthopedics and total joints with Johnson & Johnson | DePuy Synthes.

In my 20+ years of buying and selling Real Estate, I have represented many International Buyers on investment properties in California. 

I can't address the accounting question, but from the listing perspective you always want to represent the property accurately, and make it as attractive and enticing as possible.

A much easier way would be talking with a builder/developer, or realtor that represents them like myself, who could just tell you what this value is.