When is it OK to “unload” on another agent?

I’m working on one of my last few sales, which carried over from 2009.  It’s a short sale with Chase Home Finance, and we’ve had really good response from the negotiator.  They have been patient with the transaction like I’ve never seen before from a negotiator.  They granted an extension after a request from the buyer for more time with their financing and clearing some conditions.  And, they even gave us more time when the buyer couldn’t meet that new expiration date.  But, we’re at the end of that timeline, and the negotiator told me today he just can’t keep the file open any longer, so at the end of today, the file is closed.  I don’t blame him; this can’t go on forever.

This leads me to the buyer’s side of this transaction.  Everyone on that side of the deal, starting with the buyer’s agent, on to the mortgage broker and then the funding lender, has been TERRIBLE about communication.  (I did get to speak with the broker for the buyer’s agent, and he’s at a loss for speaking with his own agent, too.  He apparently has given her an ultimatum over her professionalism.)  There seems to be a complete aversion to picking up the phone and returning a phone call.  Literally ALL communication has been handled through email.  I’ve even called them all to the table about not using the phone, but I get no response, as if they are ignoring it.  Ok, I get that some folks like to have everything in writing, so email may be a preferred method of doing things.  But, we’re talking about a transaction that has gone on and on for a couple extra months.  Each time I call to get a simple update on things, my call goes to voicemail and I get not much more than a short email with very little information.  Nothing of substance is to be seen.  The mortgage broker has gotten better with communication in the last couple of weeks, but we’ve still not received our clear-to-close.

Today, I decided to respond even more directly to an email from the buyer’s agent.  This was after I sent an email to her broker, earlier in the day, asking, “What the hell is going on with her!?!”  And, I had even left a voicemail message for the agent earlier in the day, specifically requesting a return phone call and not an email.  Here’s what I sent to the agent: “[Buyer’s Agent], bluntly speaking, why will you NOT call me?  I just don't understand how you can operate a business without speaking to the folks on the other side of the transaction.  Seriously, how about a professional courtesy of a frickin' phone call!!!!”  I doubt I’ll get any worthwhile response from that question, but I felt I needed to get that out there to her.

So, my question, when is it OK to unload on an agent for their continual lack of professionalism?  Some of you may say, “You gotta pick your battles,” which I’ve always thought implied a passive look at dealing (or not dealing) with certain issues.  But, I’ve recently come to the realization about myself that I really need to heed that advice in an active manner and truly “Pick my battles.”  There’s a scripture in Proverbs that says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Prov 27:17)  I gotta believe that we must pick our battles and fight for what’s right in our lives.  And, we can certainly apply that to real estate transactions!

I look forward to your comments and thoughts.

Thanks for reading!!

Eric M. Boyd, Realtor, e-Pro
Residential Sales and Property Management
Step One Realty http://StepOneRealty.com
cell: 904-813-5010 fax: 888-345-5054
mailto:EricBoyd@StepOneRealty.com