How to list a property that's already listed.

Yes, it WOULD tick me off!! I would be upset with myself for not anticipating my Client's needs.

Regarding the issue of 2 signs- What about when you list a house that was previously listed (post dated or not) and the first agent hasn't bothered removing his sign? Would the attitude be just as foul about an old listing agent who has his sign in front of another agent's listing?

Wow!  I didn't know that was allowed.  Thanks for the information.  I will need to check the laws in my state.

I never forgot something I learned when I was a kid: "It's easier to get forgiveness than to get permission".

Meaning that we all know it's unethical to even indirectly attempt to get a listing from another agent by asking the seller even indirect questions, but how is anyone going to prove that your questions provoked the seller into thinking why the house hasn't sold and cancelled the listing to go with you.

In legalese, you cannot arrest someone for having bad thoughts or intentions, which is almost impossible to prove. They can't arrest me for telling a cop I'm thinking of robbing a bank.

A few years ago I had a seller cancel my listing with him and he went with a national franchise. He beat me to it, because I was going to release him anyway. Totally unreasonable in every way. No lockbox, must schedule an appointment 24hr. in advance and after 5pm only. OH only on Sat. no Sundays (his day of rest). Refused to clean up and de-clutter his home, refused to pay for property and termite inspections. He said if buyer wanted it bad enough, let them pay for it themselves. This was the only listing that I had ever cancelled. Wished the other agent good luck.

As it turned out, it became a short sale after 8 months on the market, and eventually became an REO.

PAM: There is no law in any state that said you can't solicit another listing. It's unethical, but not against the law. The difference is local ethical guidelines vs. law.

In CA the lowest priority is given to complaints about one agent against another. I've heard horror stories where the accusations were outrageous, but nothing was done about it.

Great post doing what a great post should do - demanding to be read and commented on! I believe the moral (no pun intended) of the story including all 257 comments thus far is: KNOW and REFLECT UPON your personal ethics, UNDERSTAND the difference between legal and ethical, READ your state's laws and NAR's COE, ASK your broker if you're not sure about something. And, of course, it would be wonderful if all REALTORS, brokers and licensees behaved legally and ethically at all times - if that were the case the public would have a higher opinion of us all.

Great post!...Get the home marketed and priced to sell and agents wouldn't have to worry about there listing expiring and a more aggressive agent getting it!

BB, you've certainly got a variety of opinions don't you?  If I was everyone, I would check out the possibilities in case it happens to you (or could happen) with your local board & broker if you feel your stepping on toes.  I'm just surprised we have a bunch of people that never took a listing right after it expires?  OR gonna expire?

Well with the discount brokers that we have, what if the relisting agent offers a lower commission, do you think the seller would negotiate in good faith if he could save some money? It may be ethical but this is why we won't be considered a profession any time soon.

Wow.  That was one of the most interesting reads I've had on AR in a long time.  Way to go, BB - you cheating, lying, unethical slimeball.  Ooops... I forgot to add "snake" in there.  :)

Kristina...

You also forgot to mention that he's a prick :)

He wears that label proudly :)

P.S. And you Guys thought I wasn't paying attention. Ha :)

TLW...ROAR!

Peter -

I do hope that you are not being serious with your comments.  Unethical behaviour, whilst not "illegal" is distasteful and it gives the industry a black eye.  I can't even believe that you would even think that way!

I hope that you are not some broker's agent in CA.  If you were mine and you expressed something like this in a public forum such as Active Rain, you'd have a big "DEHIRED" stamp on your forehead!

Bryant - I've never had this issue come up, but didn't know that I could actually take the listing.  Now I know exactly what to do.  I look forward to getting my first post-dated listing.

This is the greatest post in the history of all real estate post ever! Human nature at its best and worst. Real estate practices at its most hypocritical.

Real estate is a business.

Business is about profit.

You wouldn’t be in real estate if you didn’t want to profit.

Ethics are relative.

Many say it’s unethical to earn a percentage of sale based on sale price!

Almost all of you touting “not ethical” or “I wouldn’t do it” still take that percentage from those homeowners. They said it’s unethical. You think it’s ethical. Now a business practice you don’t agree with is unethical?

***Those thinking this is NOT ethical don’t realize how you are being “unethicated” against with your everyday common needs. You play right into many unethical business practices with living habits by companies you can’t live without.***

Nobody is looking at the big picture anymore.

We're all trying to justify our beliefs saying my puzzle piece is right and your piece doesn't belong ... yet every piece forms the big picture, interlocked together to make a united and awesome display.  It's about the completed picture, not the individual piece.

Wow, I'm reading this over a year after you originally posted because your brain was picked clean and gave me a page of listing presentation links to read in the meantime. Boy have I've been entertained.

I knew of post-dating placement on the MLS, but had no idea you could post-date a listing while a seller was already under contract because of signature date.  It has simply never came up and I've heard no discussion of it during meetings or watercooler talk. 

I of course have had to hunt down AWOL listing agents to sign Listing Cancellation Agreements before.  Unbelievable...I get more referrals from AWOL agents.

Question; if an agent saturates an area with their marketing materials and is contacted by a homeowner who received their mailing but, has an active listing agreement with another agent could it be considered the agent made 'initial contact' through their direct marketing??