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Why Do I ALWAYS Assume That the Agent on the Other Side Knows What They Are Doing?

By Suzanne McLaughlin

Real Estate Agent with Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael)

June 20, 2011 09:54 AM

We WERE supposed to close today. And, I offered our closing companies services to the buyer's agent at a reduced fee....proposed by our title office.

But, no, they were good. They were using their big box title company. All is good.

Well, lo and behold, this morning THEIR title company found an unpaid association fee.

Oops. So, the agent is on the phone to me. Now they need a new HUD and they HAVE TO CLOSE today.

Well, Mr. Buyer's Agent, the HUD was submitted to the bank last week to comply with the 48 hour prerequisite for approval.

Your title company had the information about the association THREE WEEKS ago. And, they just checked it out this morning. You have buyers with nearly keys in hand...just a few signatures away from moving in and your title company who was ALL GOOD, couldn't do the job until the morning of closing.

I feel so bad for them.....we are closed. We will wait for you.

Oh, and good luck explaining to your buyers that they will need to take an extra day off of work to get this closed.

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The Scott Loper Team Bux-Mont Premier Properties

Keller Williams Real Estate - Montgomeryville - Lansdale, PA

Hi Suzanne,

Your first mistake is assuming the other agent knows what they are doing. :) There is a reason real estate agents have a bad reputation. It does stink to have to watch over what the other agent is doing though.

Lisa

Jun 20, 2011 10:51 AM

Liz and Bill Spear

Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.WarrenCountyOhioRealEstate.com - Mason, OH

Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Ouch.

Jun 20, 2011 01:12 PM

Mike Frazier

Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN

Northwest Tennessee Realtor

In this business we cannot assume anything at all.

Jul 06, 2011 04:30 AM

Doug Patterson

Park Place Real Estate, Broker-In-Charge - Winston-Salem, NC

CRS, ABR, Broker-In-Charge

Mike Frazier has hit the point: We Cannot Assume Anything At All. We are taught in our Ethics Classes to "work together" for the good of the client.... That's the bottom line...

Thanks for this post...

Sep 19, 2011 02:21 AM

Ginger Harper

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC

Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

Most of the time, I end up working both sides. I would rather helo that other agent out and get it closed, rather than let them screw up the deal.

Nov 17, 2011 01:58 AM

Janis Borgueta

Newburgh, NY

Retired RE Salesperson

We have so many people involved with deals here in New York it can be painful. We use attorneys for closings.... the buyers, the sellers, the bank and the title person.. The table for our closings is way too big, and they still screw it up! I have been pushed around a few times as attorneys don't always like to keep you in the loop with what is going on. It can prove....interesting at best! I have found out over the years i have been doing real estate, NOTHING surprises me! Just when i thought i have heard it all... well.. something else shows up to prove me wrong...

Dec 06, 2011 03:32 AM

Kerry Lucasse

eXp Realty - Urban Nest Real Estate Group - Atlanta, GA

Your Urban Nest Atlanta Real Estate Consultant

Great title -- and so true, Suzanne!

As Janis mentioned above, it is never a dull moment in this rollercoaster real estate buisness :)

Feb 20, 2012 01:13 PM

Holly Weatherwax

Associate Broker, Momentum Realty - Reston, VA

A Great Real Estate Experience

Unfortunately, this happens too often. A rookie agent is swayed by a good discount rather than a solid reputation. I hope it settles quickly!

Feb 25, 2012 01:23 AM

Robert L. Brown

www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic

Been here before. It works itself out in the end but usually at a cost.

May 28, 2012 09:19 AM

Mike Young

203kOnLine.com, covering the USA - Hickory, NC

FHA 203k Consultant 916-758-1809 cell direct

U know what they say about Assuming... lol

Aug 11, 2012 06:22 AM

Lise Howe

Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC

Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

Sorry to hear it went so badly - that is pretty common these days! Everyone is swamped and some of the title companies seem to let things fall through the cracks frequently!

May 31, 2013 10:36 PM

Ginger Harper

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC

Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

The longer that I am in Real Estate...the more that I realize and know that the agent on the other side my not have the knowledge and experience that I have. Since I have been in the business for 33 years now..I have had to learn and re-learn so much of this business.

I know that I can count on myself..but usually I have to hold the hand of the realtor on the other side. That is ok with me. We will get the job done then..

Oct 14, 2013 11:59 AM

Larry Riggs

Century 21 Redwood - Frederick, MD

GRI, SRS, MRP Your Frederick County Specialist

Fortunately the agents I'm dealing with in current transactions are on the ball but recently presented an offer on a listing and got into quite an argument with the agent saying my offer was "going no further" because of her communication with the buyer's lender. The issue, the lender was having to comply with new CFPB regs that came into effect in January. I got the "I've been doing this for 38 years and never had this problem." Of course you haven't. The regulations just came into effect!!! Just goes to prove that these issues aren't only with newer agents.

Apr 22, 2014 09:35 PM

Suzanne McLaughlin

Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN

Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

I agree, Larry. The "I've been doing this for X years and never had this problem." is one of my biggest gripes, too! And, if the agent gave it some thought about their realtor education, they wouldn't say such drivel.

Apr 23, 2014 11:19 PM

Chuck Willman

Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT

NewHouseUtah.com

My pet peeve? The listing that is riddled with errors. Every time I see a listing that has obvious mistakes I assume that the closing will have a few challenges.

May 16, 2014 11:48 PM

Suzanne McLaughlin

Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN

Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

There are so many reasons that agents don't do what they need to, Chuck. Getting the listing is usually the easy part!

May 26, 2014 02:58 AM

Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573

MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME

Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

It is so so much easier when just you on the teeter totter and just buyers, sellers that you manage hop on, off in the list and sell at the other end. You are the other agent, broker in small rural markets where nothing snarky happens, no one is chased down for information in the missing link AWOL/MIA.

Jul 11, 2014 01:56 AM

Suzanne McLaughlin

Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN

Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Thanks for the interesting comment, Andrew. I think I get your drift. Have a great weekend.

Jul 11, 2014 04:38 AM

Laura Filip

Laura Filip Broker , Opening doors for All Seasons of Life - Whitesboro, TX

Real Life Realty

Suzanne McLaughlin ahh another Minnesota person what a joy to see your blog Minnesota a place to call home indeed. Miss Minnesota memories of a joyous time of my life.

Why do we assume that the other agent knows what they are doing.... because they have a license maybe but that is just not a reason to believe they know what they are doing. Dealing with this right now agents that do not even show the property and write offers say they are showing and never do ... Crazy but true. Why would a buyer work with an agent that does not show them the property????? someone please explain this .... Really why would a buyer do that???? Seems to be happening more and more. Just call the listing agent they will show it to you sure thing ... The buyers agent is MIA but when the commission check is written they sure show up for that ohhhh wait no they are not at the closing either ohhh wait sent the check to 123 zxy please....

Oct 11, 2014 08:57 AM

League City, TX - Worrell Team, REALTORS, GRI, CNE

RE/MAX 1st Class - League City, TX

Par for the course!! Sounds about normal these days, but hard to circumvent when we rely on so many other people to do their jobs.

Sep 07, 2016 08:41 AM