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Agents: please don't chew out buyers if they decide to use someone else

By
Real Estate Agent with Alain Pinel BRE 01367196

My mouth dropped in disbelief when I heard about this.

I had shown my listing to buyers. Upon probing on my part, I gathered that they were interested in waterfront properties. So I arranged to show them other properties. I had originally asked them if they had a realtor, and they said they are just looking.

After several showings, they decided to go for a condo that wasn't listed yet but that I knew about. As we were writing the offer, another agent saw them in my office. Apparently, he also showed them his and another agent's listings.  My client was courteous enough to leave the room to talk to the other agent to let him know that she is writing an offer on a property I had shown her, and that she is using my service.  She declined to tell me who met her first because as far as she was concerned, that was irrelevant, especially since there was no written agreement between them.

Unbeknownst to me, and I didn't know this until we were well into the escrow, the agent called her one hour after she left my office, and pretty much gave her the third degree. My client was aghast and too surprised to comment. Her significant other was incensed. In our small town, word gets around. Fortunately, I have been taking very good care of them, so my company's reputation is not harmed in their eyes. But if they were to mention this agent's action to their associates, they would think not specifically of him, but of my company and how badly they were treated.

I realize we show properties to many prospective clients, many of whom may use someone else....but for gosh sakes, this has to rank high on the list of no-no's!

Comments(2)

Johnny Huang
Pleasant Hill, CA
Insurance and Real Estate Broker

1 word...buyer broker agreement! Wait, that's 3 words :-)

May 30, 2008 10:24 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I have gotten saeveral clients because of agents down talking to them.  I hop they keep it up.  NO...it makes us all look bad!

May 30, 2008 01:55 PM