Do I have to List my house with my neighbor?

Every agent has gotten listings they thought a relative would have instead. But everything is not cut and dry and if a neighbor, agent expects something as absolute. Well, good luck with that notion. Keep listings, working on those listings and don't get bogged down with ruffled feathers. You can not please everyone.

An agent needs to earn the listing, no matter how much experience they have.

That's an overly agressive "neighborhood" agent there, Scott.  I remember a certain neighborhood in my community, which had an agent who "claimed" it as her farm area.  However, not everyone there appreciated or liked her soliticiation efforts.  I listed a home there, and she had the audacity to call my broker, and complain that I had infringed on her area.  She didn't last but a few years in the business.  But, quite frankly, I was surprised she lasted as long as she did!

I had my upstairs neighbor approach me yesterday- and while they have stated they would like to work with me- I don't assume that it's a done deal until we have walked through the process and I know they are comfortable signing the listing contract and my commission amount- which hasn't even been discussed yet. It's a process- and just because I am the owners neighbor, I never assume that it's my listing nor do I forcefully push owners that they must list with me.

The one exception to my non-assuming position is on a foreclosure in the building. As board President of a small building, I have put in thousands of hours as an unpaid volunteer- on this issue alone, since foreclosures in NYC are so wrapped up in the courts. After 11 years, we should be finalizing ownership of the apartment in the next few weeks. I was the sole point person for all of these years. This is the one time and likely only time I feel entitled to a listing. I have saved the owners tens of thousands of dollars with my finance background, and willingness to research issues to minimize legal bills, etc. My position is that I not only saved each owner a large chunk of cash, but I put in my time unpaid offering expert level advice, and no one else was willing to step up and help me. The cost of all of that- well I expect once we own the apartment, that I will be the listing agent. If not, then, they don't have to list with me...but why should I continue to serve on the board at any point in the future? I also gave up lots of other earning opportunities to rectify this situation. It's not like we have other people willing to step up, and even the couple of people that do, they have been looking for me to pick up the bulk of the work.  It's also in my own best interests since no one is more motivated to sell this apartment than I am- to be able to move on with my life after 11 years of non-sense. Earlier this month I sold an apartment in the building- setting a new record for high sales price for a 2 bed in the building, highest price per sq ft in the building, and highest price for a non-gut renovated sponsor sale in the neighborhood. So it's not as if I haven't earned the opportunity- either as an agent that is an expert in the neighborhood and building, but also because I have brought so much value to the building as a board member- having single handly turned the health of the building around.

WOW...talk about aggressive AND ENTITLED!  The sad part is that if the "neighborhood expert" who SOLD ALL the houses in that community had been doing their job, the seller probably would have called them 1st.

I listed a home last year, and the seller had an agent (who was also a very good friend) living next door.  She didn't want to list w/that agent due to her reputation and didn't want to mix business into the friendship.  That agent  was so upset--she broke off the friendship.  Not professional in my opinion!  I've had that happen to me and ...just shrug it off.

Good evening Scott Godzyk ,

Real estate is a relationship business and clearly this seller does not have a relationship with her neighbor who "sells all the homes in the area". There is plenty of business to go around and no agent is going to sell "ALL" the homes in a community.

It is amazing why some folks choose to list with someone.  1) They are new 2) They are related 3) I want to help them out 4) I go to church with them 5) They are my neighbor.....   We all know not all agents are created equally, or market correctly, or are great negotiators.  Sometimes I think when we do a great job for our sellers, we make it look so easy (because we do the right things) they think anyone can do a great job!

Hello Scott - sounds as if this person may now be known as "the agent who previously listed "all" the homes in the neighborhood. . .".  Extra emphasis on the word previously.  

Great story. I don't have one of those in my neighborhood nor am I that agent either. I provide the highest level of service I can and am very knowledgable...if a seller believes they can get a better deal somewhere else then so be it. If they choose me then great. God will provide.

Scott -  A customer once told me that she is with AMWAY and an Amway upline would list for 50% off the commission.  Bottom line, I matched the AMWAY person and then Sat on the high priced listing for 6 months before dropping it.  She had refused to come down.

I hear and see this all the time. Going to list with the next door neighbor or she will be mad at me. Or in another case, having me come in and give them all the information which they then gave to the realtor who lives down the street.  There is a realtor on pretty much every corner here. They can get agressive if you go against them.