A Listing Agent is not the same as a Property Manager

HERE HERE Ed...I have done and paid for those types of maintenance issues just to get them done, but it should not be expected.  I just recently closed on a short sale where I had a neighbor call me because my seller let the yard go jungle...out of the kindness of my heart and 90 bucks later, he had a mowed and manicured lawn...not so sure I would be willing to do that again...

but probably lol :)!

I have no problem pointing a seller in the right direction with vendors, etc but I was hired to sell the home, not maintain the property.  I have enough trouble finding the time to market my other clients homes that I don't think my time is best spent maintaining the property.  

Ed- I remember viewing an empty house with a Realtor and she was out there in 90 degree weather trying to clean the pool.  The things you do !

Ed  You are so right .. What they expext from us because they pay us a commission

Ed I know of Realtors that do that, because they don't like what the alternative will bring.  Tough way to make a living some times :)

I do whatever I can at the inception to have sellers have a plan to take care of the property when then leave.  So far, I have been very fortunate to have clients who had friends/neighbors/ or others to take care of their property.

Here here!  So true and great blog about this topic!  Need to bookmark!

Ed - Vacants can be a real challenge. There's real safety issues as well if there is natural gas and a rupture or leak. Just last week I had to make two emergency calls due to intense gas smell in vacant houses.  I really thought the second could have blown it was so bad.....I wouldn't even go in....I smelled the gas through the door. Listing agents can should set limits as you are so correct that they are NOT property mgrs. on call.

Ed, I wish sellers/owners/landlords understand that when we list the home for sale or lease we are not obliged to take care of the home!

I had one such client and after 2nd lease, I had to decide my priorities....and had to 'D'elete the client, even when I knew I could list the home for lease at least few more times and eventually list for sale!

Ed - A real estate agent is not a property owner though you are right that, especially these days, sometime things come up that might make people think we are.

I agree wholeheartedly although sometimes I find myself in that exact situation.

Ed. been there, done that. But you have to draw the line somewhere, listing agents are not property managers or if they are they should get paid for it.

Hi, Ed...excellent point! Sometimes the sellers expect the agent to take care of things, and sometimes the neighbors do! Great reminder that this has to be discussed with the seller at the time the listing is taken.

I am with Wallace #7 winter cubicle here. P.M's work better if they have skin in the game for every-ones sake

Makes me crazy! I recall one client who had a torrent of water pouring in the garage of their townhouse on a daily basis. Yes, I was there brushing the water out and emptying MY dehumidifier twice a day. All in the name of making my listing as presentable as possible. I learned my lesson on that one - I'm not doing that level of property management ever again.

Absolutely agree with you, Ed. When we take a vacant listing we try to make sure the sellers have someone who will be responsible for property upkeep in their absence. So far, so good! Like you, we've done a few small tasks when necessary, but it's not our house, it's the seller's house. We'll take care of our own house, thank you, they can take care of theirs.

Thank you for sharing your post with all of us. I hear these stories all the time. Hopefully a few home sellers should read your post.