Dear Agent: It's not your call!

I wrote a post a couple of years ago about some San Antonio real estate agents overstepping their bounds, in my opinion, by requiring all home sellers to purchase a new survey, even if the existing survey is acceptable.

Something along the same lines happened just the other day. In talking with an agent whose listing in north-central San Antonio has been vacant for months, I suggested that my buyers might want to sign a temporary lease for a few days. They are crammed into an extended-stay motel, and would love to start moving their items out of storage and cleaning the house. In addition, it would allow the sellers to get a few days of market rent.

The agent instantly said, "I don't allow my clients to do a temporary lease."

I said, "You don't allow them to? Well, would you mind at least running it by your sellers to see what they think?"

"No, they won't do it."

And here I was assuming that her sellers were adults and could make their own decisions.

This brief conversation rang a bell. Last fall, I had some buyers in a similar situation, with an approved loan and a vacant house. The agent immediately said, "I don't like short-term leases," and proceeded to tell me why and that her client wouldn't do one.

After she finished, I asked if she would check with her client before making the call on her behalf. She grudgingly told me she would talk to her client, but would advise against it. I submitted the amendment and temporary lease, and not surprisingly, the seller did not agree to it.

I can understand if an agent feels that a temporary lease is risky; but I think it is their duty to explain both the risks and the benefits of any aspect of a transaction to their clients instead of deciding on their behalf.

Maybe it's just a case of sour grapes with me. What do you think?