Mr. Innocent First Time Home Buyer called me (we'll call him IB) and asked to see one of my listings.  When I asked IB if he was currently working with an agent, he politely said, "Yes, I am.  However, she is currently out of town and cannot show the property to me.  She TOLD ME to call you."

Really?  "IB, are you under a buyer brokerage agreement with this agent?".  IB's response, "Yes, I am".

At this point, I really felt sorry for IB.  He seemed like such a nice guy and he also deserves BETTER.

Buyer's Agents:  by having the listing agent (who represents the SELLER, in case you forgot) show the property to your BUYER (whom YOU represent), you are failing in your fiduciary duty to that buyer!  WHY?  WHY?  WHY would you do this??????

Don't get me wrong now...I represent the seller, remember?  I will be more than happy to show my listing to YOUR buyer.  While I'm chatting him up, I'll find out where he works, what his motivation is for buying, take the time to explain to him why THIS house is the perfect one for him.  And...I will use all this information to negotiate on behalf of my client, the SELLER.

Just to satisfy my curiosity, I asked IB if "his" agent mentioned anything about another agent covering her business while she was on vacation.  He said, "No, she told me just to cal the listing agents if there was anything I wanted to see and she would write the offer when she got back".

I wonder how IB's agent would feel if she were being sued and when her attorney went on vacation, the attorney told her just to call the plaintiff's attorney for help.  Maybe if she continues this type of behavior, she will find out.....