Sorry Joe.

This hasn't happened to me yet, but I am going to make sure that the 2 clients I have without a contract are signing one asap!

That is no good news to hear..it happeaned to me once and I was hot...

It doesn't feel good at all.  Not in the least bit.... and even when you think you've learned.. it happens again :O  SUCKS!   And the 'ole saying goes........  next! Go get a few more - it'll feel really good :)

Always be the professional, it's your paycheck and your license.

It's a Good Life!

Fran

We had it happen to us with a couple we thought we our friends.  They just quit returning our phone calls.  Then a few weeks later we got an email from them stating that they had found what they were looking for and bought through someone else.  Lesson learned.

Yes, lesson definately learned.

Kim- I said it, but I didn't get the good feeling you speak of. lol

Eric- Yes, I'm kinda hot. But I will most likely never have to deal with them again. (trying to look at it from a different perspective)

I'm Sorry Joe! I know how it feels to have worked countless hours for free - it truly is a lesson learned although not a very pleasant one.

It is an unfortunate situation but happens quite often.Most people have no idea how we work and get paid.  Even with an Exclusive Buyer Agreeement it can happen.  People just don;t care.

Joe,

I feel for you!  It really hurts the soul and the pocketbook.  And it's a valuable lesson learned!!

(I hate to learn hard lessons....)

Sorry to hear about your experience...I can't show another company's listing without a signed buyer agreement here in CT.  I've learned if someone isn't going to sign one they aren't committed to making a purchase and not worth the time and effort. 

In PA a signed Buyer's Agency agreement isn't required to show listings. The first time I met with the couple, it was kinda "off the cuff", and paperwork was not readily available. From that point on, I never even thought about it. Whenever they had questions, I was there to help. At one point, I think I talked them out of buying a home due to certain defects and the seller (FSBO), Woould not allow them a home inspection. Indeed a lesson is learned. 

I've had a similar experience.  I had a Realtor that wanted an estimate for Home Staging a vacant.  I spent at least 3 days going to property across town, to furn. company to pick-out furn., figuring out what accessories were needed, and what rooms were to be done etc.  I gave them the estimate with what rooms were to be done, being careful not to give the farm away.  One day I called the furn. comp. to get a price quote, and the mgr. told me the Realtor had just been in there and had her pick out the furn. and had just left.  I called the realtor, just to touch base, she said she still wanted me to go ahead with picking out furn. and moving forward.  The nerve!  I learned a lesson fast.  It was a 2.9 million dollar home in a double gated community.  I felt very betrayed. Agreements are signed now.

Joe,

That's a tough thing to have happen.  Keep on trucking!

Mike in Tucson

It happens to the best of us.  It is still a numbers game.  Those lame ones ballance out the easy ones.  Go find the next one. 

It seems to be happening more often in the current marketplace.  It's a valuable lesson, but a hard one to learn.

In my area a buyer agreement isn't the norm. Very few agents do it and none in my office do. I have thought about doing it myself, but haven't implemented it.

I had it happen to me as well and it's not easy to swallow, but don't let it get you down.

This kind of stuff is bound to happen to everyone at some point in their career. No biggie!

I will still bend over backwards for my clients. 

 joe

Bucks County Real Estate 

Bucks County MLS Home Search

Joe,

If you keep bending over backwards for your clients, you will definitely win in the end.  Don't feel bad, it happened with me and it was even my niece...

Lesson learned. DO NOT WORK beyond one or two sessions with ANY buyer without a buyers rep agreement. Just don't do it. Your time and expenses are not FREE.

I have had the same thing happen to me with a couple of friends that I thought I could trust.  I guess I was wrong about them.  That is why now I don't do anything without some loyalty on there part.  It saves me problems all the way around.

I had a guy tell me flat out that he didn't want to "monopolize" a single agents time so he was planning to have an agent on each side of town looking for him and then use that agent for showings, offers, etc.. if it was in that region. I pulled out a 1% buyers rebate and bought him. I hated to do it, but 2% is better than 0%. I also explained to him that he shouldn't do that because it puts the agents in a lottery and when he finds the right house, that agent just won while the other agents get the shaft. Ah.. customers, they provide us with such joy.

Boy, I wish we had a buyers agreement in the lending world,  lol :)

Joe - Just make sure that you do  not let this experience affect who you are.  Sometimes you win, this time you took the hit.  Look at it in the most positive way that you can.  It has to be your turn to win soon!