A Listing Agent is not the same as a Property Manager

With some Central CT home sellers, being able to occupy the home through the sales process is not always possible, particularly with a short sale. Under normal situations, a home owner understands that keeping up with the maintenance of a home not only protects the investment, but when the home is for sale, keeps it in it's best appearance so as to make the home more attractive to a buyer.

sidewalk with snow

When a home owner is forced to leave the home, for example, with work relocation they may have family members or friends that will keep up with the outside maintenance until the home is sold. This can also be the case with someone involved with a short sale as well. But there are always exceptions to this.

There are cases where the seller has left the house and has left no considerations for the maintenance of the home. If it’s a conventional re-sale, the cost of maintenance can be recovered at closing but with a short sale there may not be any money available to cover the cost of the work.

Many Connecticut real estate agents will extend themselves for the owners to ensure that the property doesn’t fall into a negative condition and is accessible to buyers. I know I have mown lawns, fixed lights, changed door locks, drained plumbing, shoveled snow, spread de-icer  and had windows repaired to keep a property safe, but there will always be neighbors that will call requesting that something be done above and beyond.

Almost anything can be resolved and established at the time of the listing, but as situations develop, there may not be plans in place to cover extreme conditions.

Listing agents are not maintenance people, even though times may necessitate activity .

A Listing Agent is not the same as a Property Manager

 

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Ed Silva  RE/MAX Professionals,  www.edwardsilva.com  203-206-0754

 
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27 Comments on A Listing Agent is not the same as a Property Manager

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JAN
20
620,671 Points 97 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

HERE HERE Ed...I have done and paid for those types of maintenance issues just to get them done, but it should not be expected.  I just recently closed on a short sale where I had a neighbor call me because my seller let the yard go jungle...out of the kindness of my heart and 90 bucks later, he had a mowed and manicured lawn...not so sure I would be willing to do that again...

but probably lol :)!
4:22pm • #8
1 Featured Post Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I have no problem pointing a seller in the right direction with vendors, etc but I was hired to sell the home, not maintain the property.  I have enough trouble finding the time to market my other clients homes that I don't think my time is best spent maintaining the property.  
4:39pm • #9
1,032,482 Points 239 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Ed- I remember viewing an empty house with a Realtor and she was out there in 90 degree weather trying to clean the pool.  The things you do !
4:41pm • #10
631,063 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Ed  You are so right .. What they expext from us because they pay us a commission
4:45pm • #11
1,361,699 Points 244 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Ed I know of Realtors that do that, because they don't like what the alternative will bring.  Tough way to make a living some times :)
5:08pm • #12
715,835 Points 69 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master
I had a client ask me to water her plants and dust the house to keep it nice for showings while she took an extended trip to a warmer climate! I gave her the name of a housekeeper. The last time I did something like that was 7 years ago. I received a bill at closing from my client for discoloring a pillow while cleaning a window, I learned.
6:18pm • #13
867,011 Points 18 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I do whatever I can at the inception to have sellers have a plan to take care of the property when then leave.  So far, I have been very fortunate to have clients who had friends/neighbors/ or others to take care of their property.
6:36pm • #14
761,537 Points 61 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Here here!  So true and great blog about this topic!  Need to bookmark!
6:42pm • #15
478,758 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Ed - Vacants can be a real challenge. There's real safety issues as well if there is natural gas and a rupture or leak. Just last week I had to make two emergency calls due to intense gas smell in vacant houses.  I really thought the second could have blown it was so bad.....I wouldn't even go in....I smelled the gas through the door. Listing agents can should set limits as you are so correct that they are NOT property mgrs. on call.
7:09pm • #16
882,282 Points 10 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Ed, I wish sellers/owners/landlords understand that when we list the home for sale or lease we are not obliged to take care of the home!

I had one such client and after 2nd lease, I had to decide my priorities....and had to 'D'elete the client, even when I knew I could list the home for lease at least few more times and eventually list for sale!
7:29pm • #17
1,352,557 Points 42 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Ed - A real estate agent is not a property owner though you are right that, especially these days, sometime things come up that might make people think we are.
7:52pm • #18
231,519 Points 14 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I agree wholeheartedly although sometimes I find myself in that exact situation.
8:54pm • #19
JAN
21
452,243 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Ed. been there, done that. But you have to draw the line somewhere, listing agents are not property managers or if they are they should get paid for it.
5:41am • #20
1,155,856 Points 86 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Brian, when the clients vacate it's as if they given the property away and expect to be notified when it's sold.

Ron, I have a short sale that was sent to me by the bank and the owners left 4 years ago, that is abandonment. I also have another where the furnace broke and the sellers didn't have the money to replace, that was a vacancy necessitated by survival.

Phil, they are a test of our patience.

Wallace, your are right, but there is a distinct difference and unless we are selling an REO property we are not responsible to oversee the maintenance of the home.

Brenda, I have a short sale under contract and the sellers have vacated and the buyer's agent is after me to fill the oil tank, I don't think so.

Marc, circumstances dictate the little things we do, but not out of expectations.

Kathy, maybe that agent was expecting to throw a party when she was done.

Hannah, in this case it's the bank that pays the commission and the sellers picks up the HAFA relo check.

George, within 24 hours, I was asked to shovel a walk, fill an oil tank and have a plumber drain the water lines to 3 separate listings.

Gail, that client presumed that the commission covered all manner of services.

Joan, we can attempt to cover all contingencies but then issues develop and the client just expects us to fill in.

Thank for stopping Paula

Barbara, everybody calls us especially as out phone numbers are so prominent.

Praful, for that client you were the property manager and you worked cheaper than a property manager.

Christine, we can't be all things to all people and property manager is not part of the job.

Joel, we know we aren't expected to do the job but ultimately we do it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
5:52am • #21
1,155,856 Points 86 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

David, my point exactly
5:53am • #22
217,918 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi, Ed...excellent point! Sometimes the sellers expect the agent to take care of things, and sometimes the neighbors do! Great reminder that this has to be discussed with the seller at the time the listing is taken.
6:07am • #23
840,383 Points 69 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I am with Wallace #7 winter cubicle here. P.M's work better if they have skin in the game for every-ones sake
7:25am • #24

Makes me crazy! I recall one client who had a torrent of water pouring in the garage of their townhouse on a daily basis. Yes, I was there brushing the water out and emptying MY dehumidifier twice a day. All in the name of making my listing as presentable as possible. I learned my lesson on that one - I'm not doing that level of property management ever again.
9:15am • #25
451,140 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Absolutely agree with you, Ed. When we take a vacant listing we try to make sure the sellers have someone who will be responsible for property upkeep in their absence. So far, so good! Like you, we've done a few small tasks when necessary, but it's not our house, it's the seller's house. We'll take care of our own house, thank you, they can take care of theirs.
12:43pm • #26
JAN
22
496,540 Points 29 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Thank you for sharing your post with all of us. I hear these stories all the time. Hopefully a few home sellers should read your post.

 
2:30am • #27

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Ed Silva CDPE, GRI, ABR, Real Estate Agent

Waterbury, CT

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RE/MAX Professionals, CT 203-206-0754

Address: Prospect, Cheshire, Wolcott, Waterbury, Naugatuck, Middlebury, Watertown, Southington,Thomaston, Plantsville, CT, 06479

Office Phone: (203) 271-8000 x 18

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