My blog entry comes today after much annoyance, stress, and a few other emotions I just don't think fit into this forum.  I pose the question to you all.

Is fairness part of real estate?  Is it FAIR to make a buyer wait 3 months for a home that was 90% done when his offer was excepted?  Is it far that this buyer had to pay an extra, unexpected months rent with no consideration for a contribution from the seller to cover this cost?  Is it far that this builder believes agents should not get paid so much and that they have no real reason to read over the schedule C (apparently it is not the agents business to do so)?

I am so annoyed that builders seem to play by a different set of rules when it comes to our profession.  They can (in many states like Texas where we work) hire unlicensed sales "hostesses".  They can offer buyers expensive gifts to use their hostesses for referrals.  In Texas a closing gift from a licensed agent cannot be a $500 Lowe's gift certificate.  Would you call the agent that was by your side and help you with the builder during your purchase or would you call the builder to give a referral?  I might even want a nice $500 incentive myself.  Why refer to my great agent who can only give me a nice plant of take me to dinner when I can get a new dryer???

What truly bothers me is how captive a builder has the buyer.  MOST large names builders try to keep a very strict deadline but the little guys, well not so much.  The medium size builder will leave you homeless 3 months into your agreement.  I am just a bit annoyed by a recent experience had with a medium sized builder here in Houston.  They have lied to us, delayed us time and time again, with no recourse the buyer can take.  He has invested time and money into this house only to walk away with nothing except expenses.  He was considering legal action last week but we decided that is not the way to go.  However amazingly the house was finally finished and appraised today.  God willing we want have any problems with the appraisal.  This first time home buyer really has been through the wringer.

So I would like to start a dialogue.  Why do builders get to play by a different set of rules?  What have your experiences with them been?  We work with many new home builders and the last few, mid sized builders have been quite the ride.  I just think they should have to follow the TREC laws when selling.  All states should require licensed agent to work for new home builders.