Where I live and work in Southern California there are lots of buyers and a low inventory of houses for sale. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with what I'm writing about. In the last two months I have been approached by buyers who are interested in my listings with a surprising and very disconcerting offer. They have suggested that they will allow me to represent them as buyers (remember I'm the listing agent) so that I can get both sides of the commission if I will make sure that their offers are accepted. I have been really surprised by such a suggestion. This has happened to me on three different occasions recently. I have told them that if they choose to have me represent them, I will present their offer along with all other offers received but that I will not make sure that their offer gets accepted. Their offers will have to stand on their own. If their offer is the best and strongest, then their offer may be accepted by the seller.
This has made me wonder why would people suggest that a real estate agent do something that is obviously wrong? Is it that there are Realtors out there who would actually do what these buyers suggest? Do they think Realtors are greedy and unscrupulous? Or is it that they think the may be able to get a better deal on the house this way? Or maybe these buyers are having trouble getting offers accepted and are trying to find an "in" with the listing agent? Who knows?
I hope that there aren't Realtors who would stoop to this practice - but there are all kinds of people in this world (honest and dishonest) in all the different professions, including real estate.
Written and posted by: Vicki Pedersen, ABR, Pedersen Real Estate, Riverside/Corona, California, DRE# 01435715 -- Phone: 951-840-5212 vicki@pedersen-team.com http://Pedersen-Team.com
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