Listing agents who WON'T answer their phone....Arrgggghhhh

I don't understand why Realtors don't understand why many listing agents refuse to answer the telephone, FAX's, emails, and letters. ITS SIMPLE! Why split the sales commission with a Buyers agent when you can get the whole enchilada for your self? As a pre-approved mortgage buyer, I have had this happen to me over twenty times! But the last time I tried a trick of my own. Here goes. The property was listed on the local MLS as ACTIVE, not a short and not an REO. Within minutes of seeing the NEW listing ( The listing posted at 7 am and I called at 7:01 am). NO ANSWER....numerous times. I have already researched ALL properties for sale or not within 3 miles of the property----for several years. Multiple calls to the LISTING AGENT with NO ANSWER. Listing agents usually don't pick up quickly, but need time to run a record search on the calling parties telephone number BEFORE they return the call. I have been through this MANY MANY times. So I did my own mojo tricks. I bought an el cheapo prepaid cellphone with an area code and prefix for Beverly Hills--just for this game. I called from the prepaid cell phone---and the listing agent immediately answered on the second ring! Before I could say anything---she asked Do YOU have to sell your home in Beverly Hills before you but this? As soon as she asked the question, I k new I trapped her. Why would a LISTING agent care...UNLESS she wants to get both sides as a Buyers agent as well. She got very friendly and chummy....and said yes to most of my questions. In 30 minutes I was able to get her to drop over 30% below the listed asking price. She said she made a "mistake" on the listing and would correct it by lowering the asking price. I made an offer and told her I would be flying to her city the next Monday ( This was Friday). I called another agent and asked him to check his listings/ records and tell me what he could find. Well well well...it seems that the house was scheduled for auction in a week. This was a "stealth" short sale. I immediately called my wife and dictated the terms of HER offer through her agent---we have different last names. My spouse made a no contingency offer $5,000 above my telephonic offer in two days. Of course the seller accepted and the bank quickly accepted the offer because there were NO CONTINGENCIES. We still have a minimum 7 day right of rescission for the mortgage ( federal Truth in Lending act). We had the property inspected by 6 different specialists---and all issues were within our budget. We WON! Today the property is valued at 2.5 times what we paid for it. I love it when a "professional" who tries to cheat---loses. Actually the listing agent got paid , and the seller didn't care since she owed 2.5 times the selling price for her delinquent loans. BTW we got a 15 year fixed at 2.70 percent.

Gt to your favorite discount big box store and buy a PREPAID--no contract cell phone. But LIST it to the area you think will get a fast response. I used Beverly Hills...and it worked for me. However you MUST know what you want: PRICE. AMENITIES, AND TERMS. I stress NEVER use restrictive contingencies. In a "Highest and Best Offer" scenario the ACCEPTED offer may not be the highest offer. SELLERS and banks do NOT want to spend more money----so give them what they want- You still have a rescission period if you use a mortgage.