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Don't let unaccompanied-by-agent strangers in while showing a home

By Hella Mitschke Rothwell

Real Estate Broker/Owner with (831) 626-4000 CA #01772851 HI #RB-21268

September 27, 2011 10:40 AM

I was just reading the excellent discussion on Gita Bantwal's blog http://activerain.com/blogsview/2525895/-is-this-ethical- when a comment by Anja Kerstens #175 caught my eye.

It seems she was showing a listing to a client, and the listing agent said she only had one key. Anja continues that "while my clients toured the property another person walked in. When I confronted him he stated that his agent told him to help himself because the door was open. "

NO, NO, NO - DO NOT LET HIM IN:

At no time should an agent admit anyone into a listing being shown without that person's agent being present. Even then, close and lock the door behind you before leave!!!!!

Even if Anja had called the (I am presuming it was the listing agent whose client this was) agent to ask about the situation, I would not have let the gentleman in.

It is clearly an ethics violation to show a property without an/their agent being present.

Additionally, if something goes wrong in that house, guess who is responsible? You the showing agent.

DON'T LET UNACCOMPANIED STRANGERS INTO A HOME DURING YOUR SHOWING

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Catherine Ulrey

Keller Williams Capital City - Salem, OR

Equestrian and Acreage Property Specialist

some agents are just lazy. Why would anyone let a buyer go see a house without accompanying them?

Sep 27, 2011 10:45 AM

Hella Mitschke Rothwell

(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI

Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Cataherine: I agree. There are so many things wrong with that scenario.

Sep 27, 2011 11:11 AM

Chris Druesedow

Five Star Realty - Kenai, AK

Great post. This is really good information! Thanks for sharing :)

Soldotna Real Estate

Sep 27, 2011 12:03 PM

Gail Robinson

William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT

CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

Hella - There are so many reasons that this is wrong. First of all, if my client wanted to buy the house I would have a fiduciary responsibility not to aid and abet my client's competition! Second, I am very safety conscious. I lock the door immediately after I enter. I was raised that way by my parents and that's one habit that is ingrained forever. What if the person who came in planned to rob her and her client? Third, there is the liability issue. If that person falls down the stairs while you are upstairs with your client or steals the jewelry from the master bedroom, who gets blamed? Fourth, what kind of listing agent only has one key??? How cheap or lazy can you be? Fifth,...oh I could go on, I'll stop here...

Sep 27, 2011 01:09 PM

Chris: Thank you. Agents are so accustomed to trying to be nice, I think, that sometimes they don't think it through.

Gail: You have to explain it to that person OUTSIDE, that you are ethically bound not to let him in. Then go back in, shut the door, and join your clients. And if you are alone, in my opinion, leave, come back later. I've shown some REOs and several times clients were outside waiting for their agents. You can't let them in, and when you leave, lock the door even if the other agent has shown up. It goes against our "courtesy" grain, but that's what we need to do.

Sep 27, 2011 01:33 PM

Don't let unaccompanied-by-agent strangers in while showing a home

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