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Agents Who Scheme to Double End Commissions

By
Real Estate Agent with Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker DRE #00697006

Real estate is a service business but most sellers don't know what that means. Some of them think it means we answer the phone or we offer curb-side limo service. When you're a top listing agent in Sacramento like I am, it means looking out for my seller's interests and maximizing my seller's profit potential.

Agents who aim to double-end commissions don't necessarily think that way. Their objective is to make as much money as possible from the seller without a lot of regard for either side of the transaction, much less the seller. You can read more in my personal blog today at this link: Are Double Ending Listing Agents Bad News for Sacramento Sellers?

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Elizabeth Weintraub is co-partner of Weintraub & Wallace Team of Top Producing Realtors, an author, home buying expert at The Balance, a Land Park resident, and a veteran real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown, Carmichael and East Sacramento, as well as tract homes in Elk Grove, Natomas, Roseville and Lincoln. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put our combined 80 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at RE/MAX Gold. DRE License # 00697006.

Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of RE/MAX Gold. Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice; it could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.

Comments (17)

William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I do a lot of double sided deals.  No complaints in 20 years.

Many have told me it was the smoothest transition they ever had and would do it agan in a heart beat.

But, I will agree that is not always the case.

Aug 31, 2017 06:02 AM
Norma J. Elkins
Elite Realty Group - Morristown, TN
Realtor - Elkins Home Selling Team

We love double sided deals!  With 5 people on my immediate team, we do a lot of double sided deals as a team.

Aug 31, 2017 06:07 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Good points!

Aug 31, 2017 06:10 AM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents I did read your blog post and I sense a high degree of frustration in you and rightly so. We see the same events take place in our market areas and not just with the national company you mentioned. I find when agents force showing agents to have to retrieve keys at an office rather than siting lockboxes at the subject home, or insist that the listing agent be present at all showings, means an inconvenient barrier particularly when several homes are to be shown on that workday. It is downright sleazy.

Aug 31, 2017 06:43 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Good morning, Elizabeth -- interesting to read that you think double-ending agents may come to an end --- more things to ponder in addition to offering curbside limousine service.  

Aug 31, 2017 07:25 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Well Elizabeth - I think you are spot on if listing agents are intentionally making it difficult if not impossible for other agents to cooperate - that is pretty slimey and unethical. We have transaction brokerage in Colorado, that does allow us to work with both- but to limit access to other represented buyers is clearly wrong and not in the best interest of the seller!

Aug 31, 2017 07:35 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Elizabeth. I don't think your perspective is accurate. Sell it if you like but there are agents who can & do both sides well.

Aug 31, 2017 07:39 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Love your examples like the divorce attorney and the prosecuting attorney.  Why sellers hire these agents that entice them with, "If I sell your listing myself I'll work for less," is beyond me.  Like you, I won't do it.  

Aug 31, 2017 08:27 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents, although allowed in FL, I personally stay away from them. I know many agents do a great job having both sides but the opposite happens as well.

Aug 31, 2017 08:34 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I agree with your sentiments about double ending, Elizabeth.  It is virtually impossible to represent both sides of a transaction well.  There is bound to be give in the middle that takes away from your primary client, the seller.  And, the buyer isn't likely getting the best representation either.

Aug 31, 2017 01:19 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Elizabeth... I know lots of agents justify the dual agency thing. I hate it. As I always say "how do you represent the best interests of two parties at the same time?" It's an oxymoron. And when prospective sellers ask me how many buyers I personally have for their home, I tell them I hope to have none. That once I become a dual agent I can no longer negotiate for their best interests... and isn't that one of the reasons they hire me?

Sep 01, 2017 06:00 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Carol Williams ~ hi Carol... this is one you should feature in your Second Chance Saturday!

Sep 01, 2017 06:01 AM
Carol Williams

Thanks, Nina Hollander .  I'll put it in the queue.  

Sep 01, 2017 06:55 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Nina Hollander and Chris Ann Cleland and Myrl Jeffcoat -- agents can sugarcoat this topic all they like but the truth is staring everybody right in the face. What motivates dual agency is greed.

Sep 01, 2017 10:38 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

When I have a listing, and an interested buyer comes on the scene, I refer the buyer to another agent. However, one time the buyer refused to use anyone else, and the same was true of the seller and they both agreed to my handling both sides. It was one of the smoothest and friendliest transactions I've done. The seller got the price they wanted and a timeframe that worked for them, and the buyer got the home they wanted at the price they wanted to spend. It worked great. And I didn't do it because I was greedy. 

So I would say once in a while a dual agency transaction is okay. Sneaky methods though to make sure both sides go to the listing agent are not okay.

Sep 09, 2017 06:39 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

I would never seek out dual agency by short selling a seller - clearly that is wrong and unethical. However, sometimes it happens and both sides are happy. 

Sep 10, 2017 08:13 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

I agree with some of your points, Elizabeth. Sneaky and sleazy is not an attractive quality in real estate agents. I hold myself to a higher standard and I'm sure most here do, also. That said, a seller loses advocacy when dual agency is involved.

Sep 10, 2017 08:27 AM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

I think the real issue is the attitude and motivation of the agent.

In Florida, we are Transactional Agents. 

If an agent can take self out of the equation, and do what is best for the consumer, double side transactions will work.

Sep 12, 2017 09:18 AM