I guess I am not different from most agents, and view real estate as a great profession that allows me to live the life I would like to, and at the same time assist others in their life when buying or selling a home. I like most of my friends in the business take it very , and go out of my way to do things the right way. I feel most agents are in this category. In the past few years real estate has gotten very lax with a lot o new licensees in the business, and times have changed for sure. There are a lot more independent or sole proprietorship's and many agents that think they are creative but are really pushing the limits on lack of ethics and possible breaking the law. This does not serve anyone's interests, and for the most part if you have worked with an agent that was less than above board, you do not want to work with them again. When that happens, everyone suffers, buyers want to buy, and sellers want to sell...and the other agent is a control freak acting like Lex Luthor! So here are a few of my most common pet peeves when dealing with other agents. I know there are many, but these are some of the more common ones.
Agents that lend out the lockbox keys to their clients.
Agents that give a rebate if their buyers view homes with other agents, but write with them.
Agents that posture and tell you this is a lousy offer, my sellers are insulted and won't look at it.
Agents that do not present contracts and posture using the sellers name.
Agents that want to do contracts verbally and then renege on terms.
Agents that try to re-write offers by changing contract verbiage after the contract has been accepted.
Agents that lie and tell you they have another contract offer when they do not. It's fraud!
Lazy agents that do nothing for their clients.
Agents that lend out their MLS username and password.
Agents that tell you a home is under contract when it isn't so they can double dip.
Agents that do not respond in a timely fashion.
Agents that have you call agent first before showing a vacant home.
Agents removing the key to the lockbox so no one else can gain access.
Agents leaving rear doors of homes open for clients to roam a home vacant at their leisure.
Agents buying listings, and over pricing.
Agents that do not comply with MLS rules and regulations.
Agents that knowingly solicit active listings.
Agents that stop in homes that are "UNDER CONTRACT" to use the bathroom!
Agents that go into a home that is "UNDER CONTRACT" when you tell them not to!
Agents that leave a vacant home with every light on!
Agents that ask you if the home you have listed for sale is also for rent!
Agents that ask you if the home you have listed for sale is available for lease purchase - with no money down!
50 Comments on Pet Real Estate Agent Peeves! | Sometimes Agents Can Drive You Nuts!
Jim, I would have to agree with you on all of those points. I've come across most of them. However, recently I picked up a new client who had been looking at bank owned homes on her own, an agent gave her some lock box codes! So keep it up lazy agents, I met her, she asked for my help and she is now under buyer agency with me! If they don't want to do their job, I'll take the cheese!
Jim: The one dreamy thing that is coming out of this market is that I think alot of agents who are using these tactics are going to fall out of the business. What goes around, comes around and I think the ethical, hard-working agents WILL be the ones to survive and we can start gaining the respect of the public again!
What's sad, is that most of those things have happened to most of us along the way--that's what has gotten us our tainted reputation!! You know, I don't do those things because they're just WRONG but, if I ever did, I'd get caught and probably lose my license over it!! That fear keeps those of us honest!
Agents who do not extend the professional courtesy of providing timely feedback. Agents whose voicemail message is as long as the Gettysburg Address and intended for buyers even though they get more calls from other agents.
Agents that do not comply wiht MLS rules and regulations.
Agents that knowingly solicit active listings.
All great points. I have one to add that is sort of related to those last 2.
Agents that put their own personal contact info on their virtual tours. Its against mls rules and they are soliciting my buyer client! How would they feel if I just mailed a few business cards to their listing client?
I have to agree....... and I am NOT an agent that has been around for years!!! However, I take my career seriously!
I have had agents tell me they have offers on a home, only to have an open house listed a few days after I tell MY clients there is an offer - for goodness sakes, who looks like the ass here???
When I sold my family home I was licesnsed but not affliated with a broker, so I had my friend list it - the buyer was an agent and gave the code out to workers - they left it opened and unlocked and took apart the furnace and then had the gall to ask me why I would not let her in prior to closing to pull up the rugs - you lose!!!
Screw me once, shame on you - screw me twice - well then shame on me
Jim - after a long debate this morning about the value of agents, it is frustrating to read this and to know that these agents exist (in large numbers). I don't know understand why agents don't recognize (care?) that taking shortcuts and lowering ethical standards is not good for the them, the client, or the industry. Ughhh.
Debe Maxwell (Helen Adams Realty) We are preaching to the chior here. Most great agents in AR and Realtors try to do things above board and for the benefit of all. A few are self serving, adn give the rest a bad name.
Colleen August (Real Estate Investments) You are so right. Also... we hesitate working with others on another deal sometimes anticipating and not fully trusting other agents.
I think I've met just about all those agents on your list.
One that I recently experienced ... and it's not on your list ... was an agent who did a preview showing on my vacant listing. Most of the seller's belongings were gone except for some files that dealt with the builder when they purchased the home. The agent rumaged through the file drawer and then left some of the important files out on a counter top. The agent who showed it the next day noticed the file (with canceled checks) and immediately called me to alert me. BTW, the agent was previewing prior to listing a similar home in the neighborhood!
I mentioned before that there should be a performance clause in every sales contract that says the other agent should only be paid based on their performance ...this way if we are stuck doing all the work then they don't get their whole share.
Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL (RE/MAX Premier Associates) That is one good idea! I also have a problem with these MEGA agents that do nothing for the entire contract period and are too lazy to get you contracts, notify their own clients. Theer is one in the Atlanta area that listed everyone cheaply, and then does nothgin but pick up the check at closing, and lets you do all the work. What a piece of junk!
Jim, you seem to have a plethora of lists lately:) Sadly, except for the under contract bathroom one, in my short tenure as a Broker, I have seen just about all of it:( I guess my greatest gripe is the lockbox combo being given out to the world. It's against MLS regulations yet so many Realtors do it anyway!!! Don't they realize they are "responsible" if something happens to that house?
Great list. Another is when agents schedule a showing and then just don't show...and they don't even attempt to call. How rude! Especially when I call for an explanation and the best they can do is "it's a buyer's market." What?! How does that give them a reason to be an a$$!! There..I feel better now.
You think that common sense and good manners would prevail, but I know exactly what you're talking about. It's gotten to the point that we remove lock boxes after a contract is ratified to prevent potty breaks and unplanned intrusions.
Great list, Jim! I've only been in the business for a few years, but I've already developed a long list of pet peeves. My top ones were already on your list.
Agents that lend out the lockbox keys to their clients.
Agents that lie and tell you they have another contract offer when they do not. It's fraud!
Agents that tell you a home is under contract when it isn't so they can double dip.
Agents removing the key to the lockbox so no one else can gain access.
Agents leaving rear doors of homes open for clients to roam a home vacant at their leisure.
Agents that leave a vacant home with every light on!
Thanks for letting me vent! Have a safe & happy 4th of July.
Jim, You must know the same agent that I do because everything you listed is all rolled into this one agent in my neck of the woods. Just when you thought you heard it all, this agent blatantly comes across with something else, and actually believes they are the best agent in the business. Well they aren't fooling anyone but themselves, it all comes out in the end.
Amen! About 2 months age, I wrote a decent offer for a nice young couple moving up and this arrogant listing agent played that "won't consider" game with me. He even had the nerve to tell me that the "ball is in your court." I told him that "you probably won't be hearing from me again." My buyers were furious and wrote an almost identical offer on their second choice which was accepted. Last I checked, Mr Arrogant's listing was still on the market. What an idiot!
Here is my pet peeve: Agents New listing has no photo posted to the MLS and the hot-sheet comes up without a photo. But, they always have them posted on their personal or office website. Which is where I learned go if I am interested. It is amazing how it is always the same agents who do this all the time. Very Annoying.
Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO Atlanta, GA More about me…
RE/MAX Greater Atlanta
Office Phone: (770) 238-0122
Cell Phone: (770) 664-9516
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Atlanta real estate broker associate, real estate columnist for www.RealtyTimes.com, real estate speaker. Real estate marketing, Internet marketing for real estate, real estate coaching
Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO
Jim, I would have to agree with you on all of those points. I've come across most of them. However, recently I picked up a new client who had been looking at bank owned homes on her own, an agent gave her some lock box codes! So keep it up lazy agents, I met her, she asked for my help and she is now under buyer agency with me! If they don't want to do their job, I'll take the cheese!