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So you think you're alone now...

Sometimes I hear stories that just leave me wondering.

A listing agent met a Co-broker and her clients at her listing to do a showing. During the showing it was readily apparent that the home did not meet the buyers needs.

While standing in the kitchen talking about the home the listing agent mentioned another listing that she had just listed. One that she thought would better suit the buyers.The home was in excellent condition was priced competitively and had everything the buyers seemed to be looking for. She suggested that they go take a look at it as it was easy to show.

Still standing in the kitchen they talked further about the amenities that the new listing had and agreed to go look at it. Using her cell phone the listing agent phoned the other seller and set up an appointment. Careful to turn all the lights off and lock all the doors before leaving she told the co-broker to go ahead out, that she would meet them at the other property.

Later in the day the listing agent got a call from her seller. The owner of the home that she had showed to the Co-broker when she told them about her new listing.

The seller was furious, so furious that she had to take a few hours to calm down before she could call the agent... she was just so mad!

How dare the agent who the seller hired to sell their home try and sell another home instead? Didn't the agent have an obligation to them? Wasn't she hired to sell their home? How can she stand in their kitchen talking about someone else's home...trying to sell that home instead of theirs? What are the sellers paying her for? Where did she learn her real estate sales skills? And on and on and on. The home owner was absolutely furious and fired the agent on the spot!

Turns out the home owner has a small baby and the house had a built in baby monitoring system. During the showing the home owner went next door and somehow had the monitor in her diaper bag. The kitchen wall monitor was left on and the seller could hear every word spoken. I don't know the first thing about those monitors, they didn't have them when my kids were little but they apparently work pretty well!

You think you're alone ...but are you really? I know of another situation where the seller felt uncomfortable during showings for what ever reason and installed a video camera...I call it a REALTOR Cam instead of a Nanny Cam...and got an eyeful and an earful.

What do you do when you think you're all alone in a home? Can you be sure you really are alone?

I think we're alone now...

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Posted by Monika McGillicuddy~REALTOR®~ N.H. Real Estate Broker & Trainer on 06/13/2007 05:35 PM

Comments (118)

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This post has been included in New Hampshire Information Rockingham County, NH Information
Post is included in group: What NOT to do in REAL ESTATE - BAD BUSINESS

118 Comments on So you think you're alone now...

JUN

2007

Monika,

I have heard of owners using tape recorders as well! My first broker taught me to not say anything negative about a home while in or near it, for this very reason.

Wow...in this day and age you have to watch what you say! Ouch!

Do the right thing, Rey "Steak Dinner" Gallegos

Hi Monika - creepy! I've not heard of something like this happening here in my area, but I have read about it on other forums I belong to. It's really too bad that seller wasn't listening to the conversations when it became clear that house did not meet the buyer's needs and wants. Instead she grossly over-reacted, in my opinion, to that listing agent reading the buyer and then mentioning another listing. How does that seller know that this same agent hasn't mentioned this listing to other buyers when houses they're looking at don't meet their needs? Jeez, good thing she calmed down several hours before calling that agent - imagine how she would have reacted had she not waited to call!?!?!?!?

Ann

I agree about YIKES big brother. But, also find it odd that this home owner was so upset. Anyone who has bought a house should understand that a person can not be forced into a house they don't want, and that people like to look at other houses to find the perfect one.

Kristina...I thought the REALTOR Cam was bad enough! I imagine tape recorders have been used as well.

Rey...My feelings are say only what you'd say if the client was standing right there in front of you.

Ann...She definitely reacted. Happened in Windham! I can only say that I would not have stood in the house talking about an other listing. Probably because the REALTOR Cam thing happened a few years back and since then I have ever felt alone enough in a house to say anything I wouldn't say in front of my seller.

Dawn...I think they were upset because they felt their agent made no effort to sell their home instead focusing in on another listing.

This isn't the first time I've heard of agents getting into trouble because of baby monitors.

But, it shouldn't make any difference. The listing agent should NOT have been inteferring in the agency of the buyer and her buyer's agent anyway. She was totally out of line. She doesn't know what has transpired between the buyer and the buyer's agent.

She should have closed the house, then later in the day, contacted the buyer's agent and suggested the other listings.

She was clearly wrong on many levels. Real estate practitioners need to learn when to keep their mouths shut.

With all of the part-time/nebie/fly-by-night realtors out there.... i think it might be wise to monitor th home during showings. especially if my listing agent couldnt be there.

if anyone has a problem with it, then THEY are the problem.

it is my home.

Monika,

Yikes again, that's a tough one, and I can see both sides. Seller's are very sensitive to this issue.

I agree Lenn. The buyers agent didn't mind though and they all went and took a peak at the other listing. I personally would have minded and as the buyers agent I would rather the listing agent call to tell me about her new listing. I can understand the seller being upset for sure. Those baby monitors must be pretty powerful to be able to pick it up next door!

Tom...That is why I always say and do only what I would say or do if my client was standing right next to me. If I wouldn't say it in front of them then I won't say it all.

The seller can fire me if she likes. On my listing appointments I explain diligently that I do not, nor can I, "SELL" a home. I can drive traffic. Put people through the house and I can point out features and benefits. But I simply cannot make them (sell them) buy the home.

Please, don't be ridiculous. You know I'm an agent. If the home doesn't meet their needs, I'm sorry. But I'm still going to try to acquire them as clients.

Just my opinion.

Lynda...It is a tough one. The listing agent was clueless about the fact that the seller could hear what she was saying and got caught saying things that clearly upset her seller.

Rereading the comments I see Lenn Harley's comment. And she has a point. But I still maintain that the job is to move homes. And the public knows, or should know, that. The agents could have had a private conversation without the buyers (Private? With a baby monitor?) to discuss a "pocket" listing or an upcoming listing.

Chris...She wasn't trying to acquire the buyers as clients. They had their own agent there with them. She was trying to sell one of her other listings while in an other clients home. Ticked off client # 1.

It was the seller who got mad Chris. The buyer agent was okay with it.

Hi again Monika....very nice post. I have heard and seen security cams used for this purpose of monitoring agent comments. The baby monitor is new but has been published as a monitoring method. Thankfully I have not gone to the dark side with inappropriately made statements that have created this type of reaction.

Great, now we have to worry about Parko, P.I. with a glass to the wall.

Right. I understand it was the Seller's agent that got mad. And let me say that I don't think the baby monitor thing was an accident. The Seller was mad that her agent had the gall to mention another property that might fit their needs. I really don't see the problem with that.

Again, I let my clients know that my job is to find the Buyer for their house. Who that is and where they come from I do not yet know. But I can't say that the third person walking through that door is buying! No amount of positive affirmations will make a Buyer purchase a house that is wrong for them. Well, not any self-respecting buyer.

Do you side with the Seller? I'm not trying to start an argument. Just curious.

Monika...Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I will certainly be careful from now on. I think the owner over-reacted; after all, their home was clearly not suited for them and I think the agent did absolutely the right thing. suppose it had been the other way around? The seller would have ben saying, "Thank You!" instaed of "you're fired".

Regards...Jay

ahhhh caught by the old baby moniter trick! I know this isn't a first. I've heard of sellers doing this to listen to buyer feedback.

We had an agent lose a listing over something she said during a showing that the owners heard from a security system. I won't even let my husband/daughter say anything tacky when we go previewing. They have learned to wait until the car.

Gary...Wow it was news to me. I had never heard or thought about a baby monitor being used like that before.

Chris Elizabeth

Chris L... I can understand why the seller was upset. I think firing the agent went too far but...

I would not talk about another clients listing or attempt to steer a buyer to another clients listing in front of my client if she were standing in that kitchen with us...would you really do that?

I would bring the listing to the buyer agents attention but not in the kitchen in front of my client. Because she over heard her agent trying to sell another listing to buyers looking at her house she got very upset. Maybe she was wrong to react that way but as a seller she does not really understand our business. All she knew was that her agent at that time was not working in her best interest.

There's privacy issues galore here. But truth is we just have to be careful... all the time. And even then there's always a new one that jumps up and bites us that we have to learn. Thanks for reminding all of us.

Wild story.

It pays to be discrete. Great Post.

I think sellers in this market are doing drastic measures to find out why they arent selling. This seller happened to drop in on a conversation where HER agent was trying to sell a different home to someone elses buyer.. Ouch! I too feel she was not accidentally eaves dropping. (Hey- its her house though and she can.)

I say both sides have reason..I tend to think the listing agent should have stayed quiet. Her job that moment was to promote the home she was standing in. BUT- Monika did say the home DID NOT MEET THE BUYERS NEEDS- meaning, the home was off the list anyway..so I see that as a list agent taking opportunity to suggest something that MAY suit the needs.Something I would have done.

Lastly- This is a good reason why I am so against a sellers agent touring me around with my Buyer. Open the door for me if you have to, but let me do the rest..You just sit on the couch and wait to see if we have questions.

Jay...I think the agent should have waited till they left the house and or called the buyers rep on the phone to tell her about the listing.

Linda...Ouch I am clueless...Never heard of it before!

Ashley...Security system as well...wow! It pays to behave while showing property.

Wow, great post! I laughed my butt off. I realize this wasn't supposed to "funny" per se, but to picture the look on the busted agent's face...it just cracks me up. That's mean, isn't it? Sorry, I am not really mean. Also, I can't get that song "I Think We're Alone Now" out of my head. It's making me nutso. So thank you for that.

Loved the post though. Great story.

Monika - I wouldn't tell of another listing right in front of the Seller because it would be rude. But then again, and I want to stress, I do go over how the real estate business works with people during the listing appointment. If the house I'm showing doesn't fit a buyer's needs I will be thinking or looking for other houses. That's what I do for a living.

And you made an interesting point on your comment back. The Seller not thinking the agent was working in her best interests. That could be. But I don't believe it would be in the Seller's best interests to have a buyer, likely to back out, who filled out the paperwork "under duress."

Maybe that wasn't communicated to the Seller from the beginning. That may be my point. Great discussion topic. Good job.

Gary...Privacy issues for sure but they can do what they want in their own home. Best we be prepared because you just never know.

Jeff...It pays to be discrete is right! Who would have thought of it...not me. Now we can be forewarned.

Michele...I can see both sides. The listing agent lost the listing over it and then didn't make a sale on the other house with those buyers after all of this.

It's not so much what the agent did as where and when she did it. Most of us have multiple clients and we are obligated to serve them all. However, when you are showing a clients home, and you are standing in that clients home, you have a fiduciary responsibility to act only in that clients best interest - and it is definitely not in their best interest to stand in their kitchen and talk about all the great points of another home. I think it's unfortunate that she was fired. It seems that she just got caught up in the moment and was trying to help sell a home - just not the right home at the time.

LOL...Karen I keep humming that song too! Thanks Karen for stopping by.

Chris L...In that case it was as if the seller was standing right there in that kitchen with them. So to me, if I won't say it front of my client I simply won't say it. Since the buyer had their own agent present I don't the listing agent could have pushed them into doing paperwork on the house. As an agent I would have told the buyer rep about my new listing just not in the kitchen...thanks so much Chris for commenting.

Now I've heard of everything . . . Taping people that come in, listening in with baby monitors.!?!?! Even if I wanted to be the pererbial "fly-on-the-wall" and found a way to do it. If no one went throught my personal stuff, stole anything or rummage through my food sources, I guess I would keep my mouth shut.

As for the listing agent, I guess I'd apprecate knowing about another listing that would suit my client but I'm not sure if I would like that agent bringing it up while my buyer was right there next to me. That sort of situation makes me wonder if my client would think of me as less of an agent.

This post is certainly an interesting one. Thank you for sharing.

Can you say "Open mouth insert foot?" Wow, Thats crazy.

I guess I don't see the problem here. It is the home owners house. If nothing is said that shouldn't be, then there is no problem. Why didn't they just go outside? I think their was more said than just that...did any realtors make a comment about the house that offended them? Like "This is kind of a low class house and I have a better one that isn't so old and rundown, and kept up alot better". Someone needs to call Paul about "the rest of the story".

Wow Monika, you are on a roll! it just shows that if nothing good to say, say nothing at all - although a seller should understand that their home is not perfect for everybody, and the same way that agent drove the buyers to another listing, they are also getting traffic from other properties.

Craig and Amber...It is definitely the where she did and not the what she did. Too bad for her she got "heard".

ok Karen, Now I have the song stuck in my head !!!

In case you dont.... Heres to torture you !

Cynthia...I agree if they went through my personal stuff or stole something it would be a big issue...but we're agents and know the ropes..our sellers really don't. They simply felt that their agent wasn't representing their best interest.

Shaunwren...Crazy is right...now I'm going to be looking for those baby monitors.

Chuck...That is the whole point...would you say it in front of the client? If yes then no big deal.

Ines...Thanks so much. I just noticed that I'm featured! Thanks to the Monitors! Ines I do believe if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all or at least be careful of how you say it.

Monika,

As always great post. You never know, it is creepy to know that this could happen. However, I agree the agent should have waited until after they left to discuss any other properties. :)

Michele and Karen here is my version....Tommy James and the Shondells...

LOL..much better than Tiffany's version...No?

Suzanne..Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. It is creepy to know that this can happen. I know an agent who went to the bathroom while waiting for his customers and left the door open thinking he was alone in the house...LOL! YUCK!!

Monika yours (Shondels) is a romantic vacation version....( Tiffanys)Mine is a "glad we passed the 80's era" version!!!

Thanks for clearing my head!

LOL...Michele! I'm dating myself but I like the original better :)

Hmmm I wonder should I add it to my post? So that people reading it can enjoy the beat???

Anything is better than Tiffany... But, unfortunately, that's the one in my head. (There I go being mean again! I hope Tiffany doesn't read this.)

Karen...I linked the original in the post for you. Maybe it will help you clear out Tiffany's version.

This is really interesting. Thanks for posting. We must always remember to be careful what we say...never know who might be listening in!

Thanks Kelly and you are right on the mark, we should always be careful of what we say.

Hi Moni, home from golf and this is a classic example of keeping your mouth shut. Even if the buyers didn't like the house the agent shouldn't have been so blatant about promoting their other listings while in their clients house.

They could have waited after the showing when they left the house.

Hi Honey...This is a Classic example one I'll use in my classes. There is a time for everything!

What a shame that happened while you were in the home. I can understand how a new listing could have been discussed but who knew the seller was listening. Sounds to me like it was intentional. Sorry that happened to you.

Oooooh, Monika, what a story! I think we can all agree that she wasn't doing anything extraordinarily unusual (or unethical) but it just wasn't her day. Darn baby monitor!

Diane. Thanks so much but it didn't happen to me. Thank god! I suppose it could happen to anyone.

Maggie...It truly could have been anyone of us. Thanks for stopping by.

If the agent showing the home is clearly building up the listing but it still does not work for the buyer, how can an agent be faulted for providing an alternative? I'm sure the seller would be ok if the same agent was at another home showing property and the agent switched them to her (the Sellers) house.

I think the baby monitor is irrelavent. The seller needs to be educated on the buying process as well. Now, if the listing agent was not trying to sell or educate the potential buyer on the sellers house, that's a different story.

Doug...I think once it became apparent that the buyers were not interested she stopped trying. Right or wrong her client was totally ticked off and fired her. The agent did not fight being fired in any way...maybe she felt that she did wrong as well. I don't know.

I think that monitoring is not as uncommon as some think and probably will grow. I was previewing a home about 1 month ago I saw one. That is the first time I have actually ever seen one, but I have heard of others around here.

I can see both sides. I'm not sure who to side with. I kind of think the seller over reacted.

Monika-

Like Tim, I think the seller over reacted..

In any event I was doing an open house this weekend.. and I was wondering the same thing... am I really alone...

Great post!

I wonder if it was an accident or just her way of snooping in on the conversations. What great feedback. It comes directly from the buyer's mouths. I will definitely keep this in mind! Thank you.

Monika -- your are so right -- you never know who is listening. -- once I was showing a home and there was tailer parked near the home. -- Since I was not the listing agent -- when I noticed a couple of red flags - I pointed them out to the buyers. The next thing I knew when we left - the seller came out of the trailer -- I realized they had heard all the comments I made to the buyers-- the good thing in the case, is that I was not prepresenting them.

That was a spooky story. Makes one wonder about their client's...just to be on the safe side I will surely keep this in mind.

JUN

2007

Good story to share, Monika (where have you been??). I can see both sides of the story. I don't see a problem with the listing agent discussing the other property but it would have been better to do so privately. I have heard, as others have, of monitors being used, either deliberately or accidentally. I expect I, too, have been at fault and discussing things without being as careful as I could. Good reminder.

Jeff

One must be careful everywhere .. in homes, in restrooms, walking down hallways...... careful everywhere.

Wow. Messy.

This is something to think about even when you are the buyers agent. Seems these days everything you say is likely to be used against you.

Good post.

Hi Monika,

Thank you for posting again on What NOT to do in REAL ESTATE - BAD BUSINESS. Again, I hope someone (at least one) will realize it is so simple....."just do the right thing".

First of all as a real estate professionals we do not sell homes we introduce various people to various opportunities and allow those people to make the best decision. Our selling comes into play getting these Leads to work with us and becoming Clients. The homeowner obviously went way over the "deep end" and was not properly educated on the process of real estate sales. Leave the baby monitor where it belongs and trust the professional you hired. It would be much worse to push a house on someone that they are not interested in buying.

Best of success!

Monica- this is an interesting post. I would have never thought about a baby monitor. It sounds like the sellers watch a little too much Reality TV! What is that show where they walk buyers through before they stage it? The Reality was however, that the eavesdropping seller's house did not meet the buyers needs. Rather than lose the sale completely, the listing agent was trying to find a better match to the buyer wish list. Perhaps discussing it, outside may have been more discreet.

Early in my career, someone told me to speak about a property as if the seller were listening. That advice referred to calls about property - in fact, you never know when a seller is sitting there while a co-worker is calling to find out what you say about the property. But I've always had that advice in the back of my mind when showing, as well. I've never heard of it actually happening, though. I would have to reply to this seller that she is just as likely to be the beneficiary of the agent's knowledge of inventory... not that she would hear you, when she's so annoyed...

While I can understand the seller being upset, I would also think that the seller might realize that not every home appeals to every buyer. Sad but true. If the showing agent was not trying to discourage the buyers then this whole thing could only be seen as unfortunate.

Even though that conversation should not have taken place inside the property, it's not unusual for any of us to promote other properties in the event that the property being shown doesn't meet the buyers needs.

How about this twist..I have seen it with may different angles----
example: Agent is a heavy hitter- maybe 30-40 listings all over town.

Front of flyer offers all the subject home details BUT the back of the flyer or attachments offer all the other listings this agent has available with the statement----"If this home doesnt suit your needs, please consider one of the following lovely homes."

I realize the big difference is that the "agent; isnt pushing this upons another agents buyers.

Does anyone argue that angle. We call it cross-farming. Just wanted to know thoughts on it..

Michele, I had a listing and in the brochure binder had a list of all of the other homes available in the gated community. I did it mostly to show the home was priced below every other home in the neighborhood. The other homes were not my listings. THe homeowner had a little of kittens over it. I got a tongue lashing and invited him to find another listing agent. I don't need micromanaged by paranoid seller's. It turns out there were about 7 or 8 agents that tried to sell that home over the life of it's ownership. I made up my mind at that point I'd never work with someone from New Jersey, again! I have since gotten over that, but I was pretty annoyed at the behavior.

I just wanted to comment on Michelle's "cross farming" post. I often send a flyer out (to my farm and sphere...everywhere) with all of my listings on it. Of course, my sellers should understand that I have more than just their one listing...and more than just one client. So I'm always trying to sell multiple properties at a time and some of them may be competing with theirs...

I guess I don't see a problem with an "outside" brochure box flyer having all of that particular house's information on the front and the rest of the agent's listings on the back. The outside brochure box, in my opinion, is great because it turns the basic advertising opportunity of the sign (your home is for sale) and makes it into a marketing opportunity (here are the details). However, we all know that those outside flyers "fly" out of the box and into the hands of neighbors and people completely uninterested in that particular house. It's a great way to sell one of your other listings. In fact, I know an agent who is extremely successful with this technique. The seller needs to remember that their house is on the back of another house's flyer too...so they are getting more exposure too!

And what about a public open house? I'm often asked by a buyer (who after walking through the house or getting the price decides that they don't want this house) if I have any other listings they might be interested in. We all use open houses not only as a way to potentially sell that house but also to secure a buyer, whether for that house or for another...couldn't the seller potentially get upset about that as well? What should we do in that situation?

Or how about dual agency? I always show the potential buyers other properties as well as my own listing. But I keep my mouth shut and let them do the comparisons...

Everything we do should be approached with full disclosure and complete honest and integrity. If we follow these simple rules, then 9 times out of 10 we will be fine. There are always a few clients out there, however, that defy logical explanation...no matter what we do. It's a tricky business...

Have a great day, everyone! :)

i always make it a point to never have anything negative said about the owner of the house when i am working in it, a healthy does of paranoia goes a long way

Steve...I sure hope it does not grow but you're probably right it will grow.

Tim...I can see both sides as well. It was a tough situation for all parties.

Thanks Nattalie and good luck on your open this weekend.

Christy...I wondered the same thing, did she pack that monitor on purpose...I bet she did.

Joan...I heard of an agent talking next to a shed...where the home owners just happened to be hiding out during the showing...you just never know.

Sally...Best to be safe rather than sorry!

Thanks Jeff...I've here, there and everywhere. Just came back from St Louis.

Bob and Carolin...Best to be careful everywhere just like you said.

Doreen...Thanks so much for commenting.

Melissa...It is simple isn't it...do the right thing and keep your mouth shut.

Rory...Thanks so much for stopping by and I agree we can't push people into buying something they don't want to buy!

Allison..It blew me away as I never thought of a baby monitor before as well.

Margaret...I think that is the best way to be to always act as if as if the seller or buyer were listening.

Carol...That conversation should not have taken place inside the property, and while it's not unusual for us to promote other properties... It should of been done outside or on the phone with the buyers rep.

Michele...I've seen that as well and the big difference is that the agent isnt pushing other listings during the actual showing. When I've done that I've explained to my seller their home will also be listed on the back of fliers at my other listings. Never a problem but I disclose it up front....so no surprises.

Chris Elizabeth...A paranoid seller can be a royal pain...I would guess if my sellers did not like my listing my listings on the back of the flier I would honor their wishes.

Kelly...Great comment and I agree everything should full disclosure and with complete honesty and integrity.

Daniel...LOL...I love it "a healthy does of paranoia goes a long way"

Wow, good post....I read several of the comments and have to say that I disagree with a couple of them. I don't think that it was interfering with the buyer's agency agreement to attempt to cross sell them a different house if this one wasn't what the buyer was looking for. That was just good business

I don't think that the seller had a right to be pissed either. You can't force somebody into being the right buyer for your house.

Bob Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc.

A smart buyer should be glad that you work well with other agents. Given two similar homes at similar prices I am more inclined to show the home listed by the agent I have a good relationship with first. The listing was building her pipeline of buyer leads. I would rather have that listing agent than most others who do nothing to network with people who can work deals with them.

I would explain this to the seller and if the seller did not like it still, I would give back the listing and tell the seller to find a better agent.

My response would have been along the following "I realize that you were eager to get your home sold, and that's what I was doing. Just as these people weren't right for your property when I have a client in another home where it doesn't fit them, and If I think I know another property that might suit them better, ie. Yours, would you want me to mention it to them or.... not bring it up and potentially pass over the right buyer for your property?"

As far as I can tell the agent involved didn't say anything negative about the home they were in, the buyers didn't want the house and from an agent point of view it is easier to talk about a house while in a house and not in a car. The agent saw an opportunity and took it they can't be faulted for that.

Joe Crawford

OOPS!!! You never know who is listening to what you say. Thanks for reminding us

Wow, what a really good post. I really enjoyed reading it. Most people are so caught up in the conversation and what's going on at the moment they don't stop to think that someone else may be watching and/or listening. I know I would not think about that. In this day and age we need to keep this in the back of minds at all times through-out the course of any given day.

Bob...I thought she okay telling them about her new listing but she should have done outside or privately on the phone with the buyers rep. I can understand the sellers feeling but do agree that the seller over reacted a bit.

Don...There was no pleasing the seller after what she heard. Unfortunately.

Wow... thanks for posting this. I will be talking to our agents about it. After reading this I have to wonder how many times I've been watched or listened to. I understand the temptation to try and sell another listing when it's clear that the buyer isn't interested in the house, however in this situation I agree that it wasn't appropriate to talk to the buyers directly. I can sort of understand how the seller felt having her kitchen used as a place to pitch another listing, but I'm certain that this happens often. I like what you said about not saying anything that you wouldn't say in front of your client. I think most of us would agree that they wouldn't have done this with their seller in the house. BTW... do you know if the buyers bought the other house? ... just wondering

Joe...Your potential response is perfect. The agent did not bad mouth the house she was showing but she did stop trying to point out the features. I think that more than anything ticked off her seller.

Dianne...You never know who is listening thats for sure!

Thanks Judy...We do need to stop and think about what we're saying and doing all time. She did get caught up in the conversation but at least she never bad mouthed her listing!!!!

Wow, quite a bit to think about. From the agent's perspective I do understand. They were not going to buy the home, period....but from the owners perspective I understand as well. We are supposed to be out there selling their home, not another, and especially not in their kitchen!

Monika,

Some people are just a tad too nosy nowadays. With today's technology they can easily and cheaply install all sorts of listening and video devices in their homes. But, perhaps the agent in question now understands that those types of discussions should be conducted outside. Just in case.

I never would have thought the homeowners would have heard, either. A valuable lesson. Talking about the other homes they had available would have been fine if it was outside. I don't know if she overreacted in firing the realtor but I'm sure she was upset and can understand why. Thanks for a great post and a new insight!

ouch! I would be furious if I were that listing agent. Call me crazy, but if none of my ideas can combat detours that a buyer is throwing up (more space, larger kitchen, basement, flat backyard) then by all means an agent should attempt to sell another property if they have one listed that seems like a perfect fit. The same goes if the agent was showing another listing and brought up the fact that this listing would be perfect for them. I bet that seller wouldn't be mad then...

Nice post Monika. Gives us a few things to think about, although I'd have to say that seller was quite unreasonable. If the home didn't fit those particular buyers' needs or wants, no amount of sales training will suffice. Thanks for the post!

JUN

2007

I am in to MAJOR cross promotion of my listed properties. I have sold properties from flyers so why not include all other listed properties. Maybe the one across town suits their needs better but they didn't previously consider the area? All of my sellers are aware of this and seem appreciative that I am always thinking about them when I come across a buyer that may want their property.

The market is tough right now and sellers blame everyone and everything possible. It really bites to be a list agent in our market.

I would never say anything that is disrespectful to my sellers or their properties but if another one of my listings better suits a buyer then that is the way it is!

Chris T...I think the fact that it happened in the sellers kitchen and they heard it, was the whole issue. Obviously the home did not excite the buyers and the agent knew it...it was natural to try and promote another listing. To bad she did it while in the house.

Katherine...My understanding is that they did not buy the other house. So the listing agent lost out twice. Creepy to think people are watching us!!!

Esko and Carole...Thanks so much. Outside would have been a much better place in light of this baby monitor thing! LOL I know I'm going to be looking at them a little differently now.

Jennifer..I understand how you feel. I guess there is a time and place for everything.

Ryan...Your welcome...I'm glad we can learn from this.

Renee...I think it's a great idea to cross promote on flyers but I make sure my sellers know about it. It benefits them as well as my other sellers so why not.

We just need to always remember that if we only say what we would say if the seller were present then we should be OK. My rule of thumb is to wait and chat about another listing when we are in the driveway. I know how the rolodex's in our mind turn when a potential buyer is around. It begins to become second nature in this business of matching people to homes and an easy mistake we can make. We tend to be a chatty bunch of people. I do think the seller went over the top in firing her agent. Perhaps if we make a point of telling sellers at the time of listing that we have multiple homes listed and that we listen to all buyers wants and needs to help find them homes and in so doing we may get a potential buyer for their house while showing other properties, then they can understand the "cross polination" tactics we use.

We are just a bunch of "busy bees".

Judy T.

Hi Judy...That is my # 1 rule. Only say what you would say if your client was present. We are a bunch of Chatty people <gg>...thanks for stopping by and commenting.

JUN

2007

Monika, very interesting comment! It pays to play by the rules! Thanks for the comments!

JUN

2007

Monika, I've had listing agents do this with my buyers dozens of times and even from the point of view of a buyer's agent, I don't appreciate it in part because their "other listing" rarely meets the criteria my buyers have given me. Just the other day I had to meet a listing agent at a 3/2 and when she saw that my buyers weren't interested in it, she tried to sell them on a 2/2 listing of hers! These listing agents also sometimes come across to my buyers as being pushy, not to mention taking up precious time from our showing schedule.

You definitely got the traffic on this one Monika! I enjoyed reading all the comments and really have nothing extra to add that hasn't already been said.

JUN

2007

David...Thanks for stopping by and reading my post. I do think it's best to watch what is being said when inside someones home.

Leanne...I've had listing agents talk my buyers out of buying the house they were showing us! I agree they simply in most cases do not know what the buyers are really looking for.

Danny...I hit a hundred comments. I think every agent reading this can imagine themselves in this situation or learn from it. Thanks for stopping by Danny.

Monika, that is unfortunate for the sellers, it's always hard to hear things about that, but truthfully they thought they were private.

Missy...I agree the poor agent had no clue that she was being listened to. Best to just always keep our lips zipped.

This is something I'm actually paranoid about. I guess it's not just paranoia! I Florida, we're usually functioning in the role of a Transaction Broker so that we can best represent whichever client we're working with at the moment. But the truth is, we really can't communicate effectively with buyers or sellers if the other is listening.

port orange fl agent

Lisa...I'll tell you I will be a little be nerved up if I see one of those monitors. LOL I'll be tip toeing through hosue from now on. Thanks for stopping by.

JUN

2007

Monika-Nothing suprises me anymore and honestly if I were a seller, I think I would be very cautious. Here in Volusia County homeowners are being set up to have their wallets and credit cards stolen.

One thing, I don't know why when I sold houses, I would never discuss another realtor, listing or transaction in a seller's home. I always stepped outside.

This incident might have something to do with it.....

When I was a young girl working at a drug store, I stuck my big foot in my mouth and really caused some havoc, I almost lost my job. I learned if you want to keep a secret or not tell anyone something than do just that no repeating. That way anything you say cannot be held against you!

Honestly I expect that from a seller including survelience and cam's, etc. etc.

My parents are selling their house and my father is handicapped and if they chose to do something like that I would totally understand. I have already coached them and one of the things is safety and taking precautions to prevent being robbed.

I only wish baby monitors were around when my kids were babies, who ever thought to use them this way? Interesting.....

p.s. any spelling errors, sorry but firefox shut down and look my words are still here. It shuts down every time I use spell check.

You should forward this story to Leslie Stahl of 60 Minutes! She thinks we have such an easy job selling and now Big Brother is watching us!

JUN

2007

Midori, Firefox crashes for us too when we use spell check. So don't feel like you are alone.

is it still safe to talk outside?

Monika, I don't mean to answer for you, but I had to laugh a bit when I read Jay Beckingham's comment. You may have been kidding, but voices do carry! You'd be surprised how much you can hear even when people are not right next to a door or window. Plus, don't forget the neighbors.

Monika, I forgot to mention... the house & property in that photo look really nice. I love wrap-around porches. Is that a listing you have (or had)?

Midori...I love Firefox but not with AR!!! I can't tell you how many times I've seen those monitors in homes I've shown. Never thought much of them before! Thanks for commenting.

Rick...Leslie Stahl would probably spin it to be that we deserve to be spied on or something!

I'm not sure Jay...I mean you never know who is the shed your standing next to. Not safe to talk anywhere!

Leanne...It may have been a joke but really I would wait till I'm in my car...or maybe thats not safe either!

That beautiful house you see in my photograph is of the Five Gables Inn in East Boothbay Maine. We went up there Memorial Day weekend and took the picture while driving by the Inn. What you can't see is the lobster trap and row boat that caught my attention and made us stop and take a few pictures. It was at the end of the driveway.

I'd noticed the lobster traps which I thought were a nice touch, but could not make out what else was around them. Thanks for the 'blow up' version and I love the Adirondack chairs on the expansive green lawn. What an idyllic setting!

I thought the row boat full of flowers and the wheel barrel was pretty neat. We love to go up the coast of Maine so many pretty spots!

SEP

2007

This is great. I always advise agents holding open houses to act as if the seller has a video camera watching them. Don't push other properties on visitors and speak only good things about the home you're holding open. Even if there isn't a video camera, you never know who the visitor to the open house may be! A sister? A close friend? I've opened my mouth in such situations more than once, in candor, and lived to regret it...

I'm so glad I joined this group! As an agent in my 2nd year, this type of situation never crossed my mind. I'll be sure to remember this next time I'm out showing a home/holding an open house, etc. Thanks so much for sharing this with us!

Jennifer...So do I. I always tell the new agents in my newbie class to say only what they would say in front of their clients and act like they are always present. I also know sellers who call their listing office disguised as a buyers...just to see how the calls on their home are being handled. Not fun!

Kelly...Thanks for stopping by. These things happen more often than we think. Best to always act like your not alone.

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