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Agent Does Nothing and Gets Commission?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Real Living Sugar Pine Realty
MoneyDo you think there are agents out there that expect to be paid when they don't work? I'd be curious to hear your responses to the following real estate story submitted by Karen Pawloski, Transaction Coordinator, in the Sonora office:

I was walking the other day with my neighbor and I asked how it was going with the sale of their house. They listed about 2 months ago. She complained a little about the time she had to spend each day making sure the house was picked up and the beds were made all for just one showing. I was surprised and said, "Only one showing?" She answered yes, and that she had to show it, of all things, herself! Being a little shocked I asked what happened. She explained that the Listing office had called to show the house, that she (the owner) asked if she had to be there for the showing (because she preferred not to be) and they (the Listing office) proceeded to tell her that there was not an agent available to accompany the people who wanted to see the house to the showing and told her (the owner - their client!) that it was up to her to show the house. The following day she did call her Listing Agent and complained and wondered if she (the owner) ending up selling the house, would she get the commission, too?
Anonymous
Derek

Absolutely not...  I could see the agency taking a small fee for covering their costs of listing, etc.

As a consumer, I have had the lovely experience with working with agents are willing to list my place and then do nothing for a commission.  I don't' know if this is because they don't know how to market and work the property or if they don't think it can sell.  Either way, these realtors are bad in either case.  If they don't know how to market  and sell a property they probably get out in this market.  The worst case is the agent who will list a home that they don't think will sell.  If you are a true professional, your ethics should be telling your client the reasons why your house will not sell and to fix them not to list and run.  It's completely unprofessional and waste of every one's time.

In summary, full rates are for full service.  If a realtor cannot provide full service then consumers should not be expected to pay full rates.  I understand times are tough for the industry... but every business has it cycle and if a realtor or broker didn't plan on the down side of the market and worried about the costs of doing business, it's your fault.  Realtors and their Agencies should have been hedging funds in the good years for the bad just like any other business and above all maintain some level of competency and integrity to be honest with your prospective clients.

-Derek

 

Mar 21, 2007 06:29 AM
#1