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So you think you're alone now...

By
Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty

 Sometimes I hear stories that just leave me wondering.

A listing agent met a Co-broker and her clients at her listing to do a showing.  During the showing it was readily apparent that the home did not meet the buyers needs.

While standing in the kitchen talking about the home the listing agent mentioned another listing that she had just listed. One that she thought would better suit the buyers.The home was in excellent condition was priced competitively and had everything the buyers seemed to be looking for. She suggested that they go take a look at it as it was easy to show.

Still standing in the kitchen they talked further about the amenities that the new listing had and agreed to go look at it. Using her cell phone the listing agent phoned the other seller and set up an appointment.  Careful to turn all the lights off and lock all the doors before leaving she told the co-broker to go ahead out, that she would meet them at the other property.

Later in the day the listing agent got a call from her seller. The owner of the home that she had showed to the Co-broker when she told them about her new listing.

The seller was furious, so furious that she had to take a few hours to calm down before she could call the agent... she was just so mad!

How dare the agent who the seller hired to sell their home try and sell another home instead? Didn't the agent have an obligation to them? Wasn't she hired to sell their home? How can she stand in their kitchen talking about someone else's home...trying to sell that home instead of theirs? What are the sellers paying her for? Where did she learn her real estate sales skills? And on and on and on. The home owner was absolutely furious and fired the agent on the spot!

Turns out the home owner has a small baby and the house had a built in baby monitoring system. During the showing the home owner went next door and somehow had the monitor in her diaper bag. The kitchen wall monitor was left on and the seller could hear every word spoken. I don't know the first thing about those monitors, they didn't have them when my kids were little but they apparently work pretty well!

You think you're alone ...but are you really?  I know of another situation where the seller felt uncomfortable during showings for what ever reason and installed a video camera...I call it a REALTOR Cam instead of a Nanny Cam...and got an eyeful and an earful.  

What do you do when you think you're all alone in a home? Can you be sure you really are alone?   

 I think we're alone now...

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.monikamcgillicuddytrainer.com

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Posted by

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH and the Seacoast area real estate specialists.

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy, covering southern NH and the Seacoast area. If you’re thinking of selling or buying a southern NH or Seacoast area home give us a call…we’d love to help make your home ownership dreams come true.

E-mail Jay and Monika or call or text at 603-548-7728

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy, NH REALTORS

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty

603-944-9172 direct line

603-434-2377 office

 

Comments(117)

Danny Smith
DISCOVER TEXAS HOMES - Round Rock, TX
You definitely got the traffic on this one Monika! I enjoyed reading all the comments and really have nothing extra to add that hasn't already been said.
Jun 17, 2007 03:44 PM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

David...Thanks for stopping by and reading my post. I do think it's best to watch what is being said when inside someones home.

Leanne...I've had listing agents talk my buyers out of buying the house they were showing us! I agree they simply in most cases do not know what the buyers are really looking for.

Jun 18, 2007 12:05 AM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
Danny...I hit a hundred comments. I think every agent reading this can imagine themselves in this situation or learn from it. Thanks for stopping by Danny.
Jun 18, 2007 12:08 AM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
Monika, that is unfortunate for the sellers, it's always hard to hear things about that, but truthfully they thought they were private.
Jun 18, 2007 02:18 PM
Monika McGillicuddy
Prudential Verani Realty - Atkinson, NH
NH Real Estate Broker

Missy...I agree the poor agent had no clue that she was being listened to. Best to just always keep our lips zipped.

 

Jun 18, 2007 02:24 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

This is something I'm actually paranoid about. I guess it's not just paranoia! I Florida, we're usually functioning in the role of a Transaction Broker so that we can best represent whichever client we're working with at the moment. But the truth is, we really can't communicate effectively with buyers or sellers if the other is listening. 

port orange fl agent

Jun 18, 2007 02:34 PM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
Lisa...I'll tell you I will be a little be nerved up if I see one of those monitors. LOL I'll be tip toeing through hosue from now on.  Thanks for stopping by.
Jun 18, 2007 03:16 PM
Midori Miller
Talk 2 Midori, LLC - Daytona Beach, FL
Online Marketing For Real Estate Professionals

Monika-Nothing suprises me anymore and honestly if I were a seller, I think I would be very cautious.  Here in Volusia County homeowners are being set up to have their wallets and credit cards stolen.  

One thing, I don't know why when I sold houses, I would never discuss another realtor, listing or transaction in a  seller's home.  I always stepped outside.

This incident might have something to do with it..... 

When I was a young girl working at a drug store, I stuck my big foot in my mouth and really caused some havoc, I almost lost my job.  I learned if you want to keep a secret or not tell anyone something than do just that no repeating.  That way anything you say cannot be held against you!  

Honestly I expect that from a seller including survelience and cam's, etc. etc.  

My parents are selling their house and my father is handicapped and if they chose to do something like that I would totally understand.  I have already coached them and one of the things is safety and taking precautions to prevent being robbed.

I only wish baby monitors were around when my kids were babies, who ever thought to use them this way?  Interesting.....

p.s.  any spelling errors, sorry but firefox shut down and look my words are still here.  It shuts down every time I  use spell check.

Jun 19, 2007 02:23 PM
Rick Turner
Key Realty - Toledo, OH
Puts People In Their Places!!
You should forward this story to Leslie Stahl of 60 Minutes!  She thinks we have such an easy job selling and now Big Brother is watching us!
Jun 19, 2007 03:17 PM
Jay McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Exeter, NH
Real Estate Broker
Midori, Firefox crashes for us too when we use spell check. So don't feel like you are alone.
Jun 19, 2007 08:49 PM
Jay Beckingham
Christensen Financial Mortgage - Port St Lucie, FL
Seniors ROCK!
is it still safe to talk outside?
Jun 20, 2007 02:42 AM
S. Leanne Paynter ☼ Broward County, FL
United Realty Group, Inc. - Davie, FL
Davie, Plantation, Cooper City & Weston Specialist

Monika, I don't mean to answer for you, but I had to laugh a bit when I read Jay Beckingham's comment.  You may have been kidding, but voices do carry!  You'd be surprised how much you can hear even when people are not right next to a door or window.  Plus, don't forget the neighbors.

Jun 20, 2007 04:28 AM
S. Leanne Paynter ☼ Broward County, FL
United Realty Group, Inc. - Davie, FL
Davie, Plantation, Cooper City & Weston Specialist
Monika, I forgot to mention... the house & property in that photo look really nice.  I love wrap-around porches.  Is that a listing you have (or had)?
Jun 20, 2007 04:30 AM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

Midori...I love Firefox but not with AR!!!  I can't tell you how many times I've seen those monitors in homes I've shown. Never thought much of them before! Thanks for commenting.

Rick...Leslie Stahl would probably spin it to be that we deserve to be spied on or something! 

I'm not sure Jay...I mean you never know who is the shed your standing next to. Not safe to talk anywhere! 

Jun 20, 2007 06:28 AM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

Leanne...It may have been a joke but really I would wait till I'm in my car...or maybe thats not safe either!

That beautiful house you see in my photograph is of the Five Gables Inn in East Boothbay Maine. We went up there Memorial Day weekend and took the picture while driving by the Inn. What you can't see is the lobster trap and row boat that caught my attention and made us stop and take a few pictures. It was at the end of the driveway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jun 20, 2007 06:42 AM
S. Leanne Paynter ☼ Broward County, FL
United Realty Group, Inc. - Davie, FL
Davie, Plantation, Cooper City & Weston Specialist

I'd noticed the lobster traps which I thought were a nice touch, but could not make out what else was around them.  Thanks for the 'blow up' version and I love the Adirondack chairs on the expansive green lawn.  What an idyllic setting!

Jun 20, 2007 06:49 AM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
I thought the row boat full of flowers and the wheel barrel was pretty neat. We love to go up the coast of Maine so many pretty spots!
Jun 20, 2007 06:54 AM
Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn
Sell with Soul - Pensacola Beach, FL
Author of Sell with Soul

This is great. I always advise agents holding open houses to act as if the seller has a video camera watching them. Don't push other properties on visitors and speak only good things about the home you're holding open. Even if there isn't a video camera, you never know who the visitor to the open house may be! A sister? A close friend? I've opened my mouth in such situations more than once, in candor, and lived to regret it...

Sep 06, 2007 10:18 PM
Kelly McDonald
Lagrange, KY
I'm so glad I joined this group!  As an agent in my 2nd year, this type of situation never crossed my mind. I'll be sure to remember this next time I'm out showing a home/holding an open house, etc. Thanks so much for sharing this with us!
Sep 07, 2007 12:31 AM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

Jennifer...So do I. I always tell the new agents in my newbie class to say only what they would say in front of their clients and act like they are always present. I also know sellers who call their listing office disguised as a buyers...just to see how the calls on their home are being handled.  Not fun!

 

Kelly...Thanks for stopping by. These things happen more often than we think.  Best to always act like your not alone.

Sep 07, 2007 05:01 AM