It never ceases to amaze me that a Seller "assumes" when they list their property with a broker that specializes in Short Sales that they get a "de facto" property manager as part of the deal!
"Do you have a coffee runner that can......"
Translation: Could you drop what you're doing - negotiating a contract - negotiating with a lien holder - and go to my property to meet a vendor to let them into the house.
or, after receiving a report from an agent that it looks like a previous agent visiting a property left the back door unlocked, and kids subsequently had a dry bean fight, and forwarding it to the Seller
"Do you plan to inspect the property...."
Translation: Could you drop what you're doing - negotiating a contract - negotiating with a lien holder - and go to my property to meet a vendor to let them into the house so they can clean it up (or perhaps take a broom and vacuum cleaner with you and clean it up yourself), "inspect" the property so that if anyone else gets in I can hold you liable, etc., etc.
Some Sellers are convinced that once a Listing Broker lists their home for sale - whether a regular resale or a short sale - they now have their own private "gopher" to gopher this, gopher that on their behalf.
"I don't understand why you won't do that....after all...you're getting a fee for this"
Reaallly?! And here I thought I was getting paid a commission, paid at Close of Escrow, IF the property closes escrow.
In fact, company policy states:
- Agents are prohibited from conducting any duties relating to property management, business brokerage, and other areas that are outside their area of expertise.
-
Agents agree to not order services on behalf of their buyers and sellers
-
Agents may not conduct final a walk through on behalf of their buyers. Should a buyer be unavailable to perform a final walk through, the buyer should be instructed to contact a family member, friend, or other acquaintance that can perform the walk through on their behalf.
- Agents may not perform work or do repairs on properties where they are representing a buyer or seller.
So - what's the solution? I sent out the following email to our Short Sale Sellers yesterday whose properties are vacant on lockbox. Currently there are 17 "candidates".
We have observed a need for Sellers to be able to provide access to their property for vendors they contract with so that the vendors may perform the contracted service for the Seller. These services include (but are not limited to):
- Cleaning of the property
- Inspection of the property
- Maintenance of the property
- Repairs to the property
- Access for utilities to be turned on (gas, water, electric)
Also, occasionally the key in the Realtor SUPRA lockbox ceases to function, denying access to a Realtor attempting to show the property.
We propose to install a vendor lockbox at every listing where the Seller authorizes such installation, with a duplicate key, so that Sellers may provide the code directly to the Sellers Vendor at the discretion of the Seller.
This also allows us to instantly provide the vendor lockbox code to Realtors having trouble with the key in the primary SUPRA lockbox so that they are able to continue with the showing of the property.
Our listing agreement now requires 3 key(s) to the property to be provided by the Seller. At the time of your listing, the requirement was only 2 keys, 1 for the SUPRA lockbox, and one to be kept on file at the office. We will be sending out Addendums for your review and signature to authorize the placement of the Vendor lockbox on your listing.
We are absorbing the expense of the duplication of the key and the installation of the vendor lockbox at your listing.
Please understand that should you choose not to sign the Addendum and authorize the placement of the Vendor Lockbox at the property, with key(s) to provide interior access, in the event that you need to provide access to the property for a vendor, contractor or any other party who does not have the electronic key to access the SUPRA lockbox, you will need to make your own arrangements to provide such access.
In addition, should you choose not to sign the Addendum and authorize the placement of the Vendor Lockbox at the property, with key(s) to provide interior access, and we receive a report from a Realtor that the key in the primary SUPRA lockbox is not functioning, we will advise you of the situation and update the MLS to note that the property is currently unavailable for showing. In that situation, you will need to make arrangements directly with a locksmith who also has a SUPRA lockbox key to replace the key in the SUPRA lockbox with one that functions, notify us in writing that the property is now available for showing, and the MLS will be updated to reflect that information.
Comments(88)