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What is a Good Scenario For an Agent to Call "The Other Agent's Broker" - Probably Never

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Savvy Home Pix B.1000860.LLC

This question was posed in a facebook group this morning.  

My answer will be controversial - it is never a good time for an agent to call "the other agent's broker".  It is always a good time for an agent to have THEIR broker to call "the other agent's broker."

Why is this you would ask, wouldn't you want to know if shenanigans are going on?  Absolutely yes I would want to know if shenanigansreal estate agents out of control are going on.  THE PROBLEM is most often is is not shenanigans.  Most often it is either a) complaining agents lack of experience, b)  complaining agent's lack of knowledge c) complaining agent's lack of ability to negotiate. 

Therefore, complaining agent needs to use one of their lifelines and "phone their broker."

Often, these phone calls start with an agent SO pissed off beyond belief.  If they would have called their broker, the broker could have been a third party to neutralize those emotions and potentially educate them on whatever the problem is before escalating it to another broker.

My experience with brokers contacting me is that they leave their emotions out of the equation and are armed with facts and ONLY then problems can be solved.

Problems cannot be solved when someone is so emotionally charged that they cannot even express their point of view correctly.  There have been times when I have said "I am hanging up now, call me when you are calm, minimum 10 minutes."

Likewise, I would like my agents to come to ME first, rather than going straight to the other broker.  I received a lot of complaints from my agents when our market was shifting about - COMMISSION.  I had to do a lot of internal educating about how a seller decides how commission is paid out.  You see, my agents were crying "fowl" when they saw that the list agent was being paid more "ducks" than they were and they wanted to go to the broker and file complaints and waa waa waa.  They simply didn't understand how compensation works.  I am glad they came to me before they made a fool of themselves in front of another broker or by filing an erroneous complaint!

Do I sound unapproachable?  Maybe.  The fact is I am not.  I am completely approachable and completely reasonable.

Agents hire & PAY brokers for guidance.  If your broker isn't there for you when you need them & to go to bat for you when you need it the most, it's time for you to start shopping for another broker.  It's that simple!

Posted by

Thanks,  Renée Burrows 702-580-1783 Broker/Owner, REALTOR®
 

 

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Comments(18)

Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

Amen to that Renee!  I am blessed with a very level-headed and completely reasonable broker who does a great job of supporting his agents.

Apr 25, 2013 08:41 AM
Greg Large
ERA Real Solutions - Grove City, OH
A Tradition of Trust

No major controversy here, I agree the Broker should ALWAYS be informed and advise whether a call or complaint should be made and decide who should make the call.  There have been times when my Broker has "cleared" for me to call, especially when there may be extensive pertinent "details" and the Broker knows my temperament NOT to go....ummmm...Postal?

Apr 25, 2013 10:47 AM
Tom Braatz Waukesha County Real Estate 262-377-1459
Coldwell Banker - Oconomowoc, WI
Waukesha County Realtor Real Estate agent. SOLD!

Renee

Took me forever to just hope I work with great agents. I used to expect more from other agents until I learned to do my best and dont let the bad take my day down.

Apr 25, 2013 12:52 PM
Florida Tolbert Team Keller Williams Advantage
Keller Williams Advantage III Realty in Lake Nona - Orlando, FL
Keller Williams Land Luxury Division Specialist

I know that our broker, Gail Hovey is Switzerland.  She knows that I am the factual, straight to the facts that never backs down because let's face it, I am always right...lol.  But on the rare occasions when the other agent actually dares to challenge me, she steps in and delivers the news in a nicer way that I would.

We make a great team. 

Apr 25, 2013 02:04 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Renee, you are absolutely correct.  Always best to have the broker talk to the broker.

Apr 25, 2013 08:47 PM
Richard Wilson
Cherry Creek Properties, LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Town or Country, in Colorado, we do it all.

In my experience broker to broker is always better, after all, isn't that part of the reson we pay them?  They are there to assist and help.

Apr 25, 2013 11:28 PM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

I think your last line summarizes this post very well.

Apr 26, 2013 06:42 AM
Marc McMaster
RE/MAX Centre Realty - State College, PA
Putting my clients before myself

Most agents should start by going to their own broker first to make sure they're "in the right".

Apr 26, 2013 07:44 AM
Brad MacKenzie
Brad MacKenzie - Duxbury, MA
Turning Houses into Homes on the South Shore

I agree with Jill and Richard.  I have a broker for a reason.

Apr 26, 2013 07:52 AM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC • Short Sale • Probate

There are quite a few listing agents who just under no circumstances will return your call/email/text message. I just keep on trying reaching them and fortunately get an answer. My partner just got his license and he has being trying to reach one agent for ....2 months! A listing is active, standard, instructions: ''showing on Friday, 2-4pm'', but must call to schedule. She never returns his calls/emails. The listing is 200-300 days on market. Try to work with such agent.... He does want to call her broker. Sellers are probably confused ''why my house is not selling.....no showings, no offers''.

Apr 26, 2013 08:26 AM
Liz Lockhart
Riverbend Realty, Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape Girardeau, MO
GRI, Cape Girardeau Real Estate

Good blog, and I agree with you. I might add that a broker should call the other broker, not  the "other" agent.

Apr 26, 2013 11:08 AM
Andrew Martin
REMAX Accord - San Ramon, CA

In my experience it's never a good idea to call the other broker because they usually don't care about the issue any more than the agent does. The Brokers are thinking only one thing, "money", and when you call and complain, it may take one second away from their money making and they don't want that. Brokers in my experience, turn a blind eye to the bad behavior of their agents.

Apr 26, 2013 12:12 PM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

I agree and sometimes I wish the agent would talk to their broker.  Lucky us, when we are the broker who do we turn to before making "that" call.  ;-)  I've called brokers before because I've dealt with their agent on a previous transaction and I didn't want the same thing to happen again . . . yikes!  

Apr 26, 2013 01:33 PM
Doug Anderson
Tucker Associates Real Estate Services - Danville, CA
Bay Area Real Estate Views

Great advice as ususal Renee. Let one's Broker deal directly with the other Broker if there is truly a legitimate issue. 

Apr 26, 2013 01:46 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M
Renee - It makes sense to me to take the emotion out of it and to talk broker to broker.
Apr 26, 2013 05:01 PM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate
Renee, excellent advice. It's the Brokers job to handle the awkward situations that many agents shouldn't.
Apr 26, 2013 08:49 PM
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

I agree Renee.  People get so emotionally charged sometimes that it doesn't help for them to call anybody.  Broker to broker will normally solve the problem.  Great post!

Apr 26, 2013 10:01 PM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes
Renee...I would only call the other agent's broker if I saw meaningful benefit for my client. That would be very rare.
Apr 28, 2013 01:12 AM