There's a $20 In It For You

 

Someday I'm really going to be able to say "I've seen it all"! Not today, however. (sigh).

I know that we are in a tough market for buyers. I really do! I work with buyers all the time and so many of them are reaching the point of being desperate to get an offer accepted. The agents are equally anxious to find something for their buyers.

But.......

I got an offer the other day (which I did NOT take), which offered me what could really only be called a bribe. Possibly a legal one. Possibly not one which would automatically result in an ethic violation as far as the Board is concerned. But so far out of my own ethical code that I really couldn't believe it.

A buyer's agent send me a commission disbursement form which gave me an extra $2500 "if his client's offer was accepted."

I was stunned...and felt like I needed a shower. Now, negotiating commissions happens all the time really. Typically it's for the benefit of either the seller (getting them a higher net) or a buyer (getting them a lower net). But for the agent? To get an offer accepted? Scary stuff!

For me?

My problem is that I don't even want to present the offer at all. Of course I have to, and so I did....which the commission page that showed clearly that they had tried to influence me. It was not chosen. It was the highest offer, and my sellers felt as I did...greasy.

This market is tough. I'm seeing things that I never thought I would out there. I feel for the buyers....it seems they've missed their "buyer's market," but let's not go nuts here. Isn't "nuts" how we got into this mess?

 

 

 Karen Fiddler
Broker/Associate
The Fiddler Realty Team/eVantage Real Estate
Lic # 01494165

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