Midori - I do totally agree with you regarding the verbal.  IMHO, even when working with offers.  However, that viewpoint isn't totally accepted around here. 

I once hd a friend email me that his wife was going to be coming to Bellingham where I live to look for a home and he old her that I was an agent and to expect to hear from her. When she walked into my office one day, and asked me to show here some homes, I was expecting her and didn't ask if she was working with another agent. After showing her a few homes she found one she liked and wanted to put an offer on, When we got back to my office she told me that she had been lookong at homes with another gent and renting a condo from her and felt obligated to her. I told her it was up to her and I would be glad to give the  other agent a referal fee or have her write it up and give me one. To add a bit of interest when doing a search for her I went a bit above her price range which is where we found the house she liked.  The other agent didn't like that I did that. 

She called me back that night and told me the other agent had yelled at her and made her feel awful and said that I was unethical.

She went with her and bought a different house. She told me she would be referring her sister to me, never heard from her again.

 

Midori - I agree with you, To many people are sincere but not Honest...  Great post, Midori.

Midori,

Another great example of why a Buyer Brokerage agreement in writing should be a mandatory practice. We would not list a home without a contract, why should we work with buyers without a signed and dated contract?

If everybody had to do it -- then there would be no fear from agents to ask for it - resulting in less complaints and disputes in our local associations.

Great post! Absorbing all of the information given. Active Rain is a great place to learn more about this business!

substantive services is the key phrase ... Regardless, it is always ggod practice ... thanks for the refresher

I see this is still attracting well deserved comments.  Good post.

Thanks for commenting on my post today: Law of Attraction: Your bank balance reveals your thoughts

I will never forget to ask again.  Thank you for the post!

I myself have been to arbitration because of this. Another Realtor had taken my client. I did get a 20% referral fee out of it and that was it. Great Post.

Some agents have to learn the hard way, but it doesn't benefit anyone. We need our rules to keep some honest.

I cannot imagine you need another comment, But this blog is outstanding and I just wanted you to know it so you will continue writing blogs like this to keep all of us in top order with the laws.

I am not a seasoned agent but I cannot tell anybody how many times I run across people who do not go over the realtor informaiton and find out if they are or are not working with another realtor and do not step on their toes. would you like it done to you, of course not.

I'm with Lenn Harley. The question is not "Are you working with an agent/REALTOR?" It's "Who is your agent?" 

Great reminder Midori about checking on representation by a client already by an agent. We can make many assumptions in real estate which are completely false. It never hurts to keep checking. Even some FSBO signs that do not mention listing agents are in the MLS.

Well let me throw my 2 sense in. I thought i was working with a client(who i've known for many years) but i was informed a few days ago from a lender that she was referred to her by another realtor. I thought ,because we were "friends" i didn't have to worry about that. So yes that was MY fault. Not theirs. It's my responsibility. it's my business. And i'm responsible for it.

Well I will say I was just recently screwed by another realtor that I know. She couldnt have asked the question or else she would have found out the way the buyer knows about the house is because I was suppose to show it to her in a few days but for whatever reason she was impatient and jumped right in. And I hope karma comes back I saved a realtor this weekend. A potential buyer called on an ad I had placed on new construction homes. We started talking and I asked oh by the way are you working with a realtor. She stated yes, I said well tell your realtor too look up communities by this builder in this area and they will be able to help you. She stated back well I would like to see these now can you take me? I explained are you happy with your realtor, has he/she been working with you? If so then no I cannot help you see as realtors we only get paid when you purchase a home through us, so it would be unethical for me to show you this property and possibly write a contract, please call your realtor and they will help you. I did say however if your realtor is unwilling to help or you are unsatisfied with their service then please contact me. 

It does take some work, but if you put some safety nets in place, you can save yourself some aggravation.

At Open Houses, I have an individual sheet for each person signing in.  It has a line asking if the person is in contract with a Buyer Agent.  And I ask that they write the agent's name.  There's a short paragraph stating that if I am not told of buyer representation they have, their agent will not be compensated. That helps to get them to fill out the form completely.

I email agents in my area to inform them of the open house, and ask that they call or email me ahead of time to give me their clients' name if the agent is sending the buyer unaccompanied.  I do get an occasional response and that is helpful.

If the buyer says they are not working with someone, I still probe around - "Have you seen many homes in town?"  "How did you hear of the Open House?"  This flushes more out. 

Sometimes it feels like our job is intrusive to potential buyers, and they get sick of being asked questions. If I get the feeling that the buyer is withholding information in fear that I'm a hard-sell agent, I back off, but insert disguised probing questions as the showing goes on.