Let me set this scenario for you:
I listed an unimproved acreage lot in a brand-new development. No homes yet, just roads and infrastructure. Received an offer on MY listing and was set to close in just a few days when the phone rang....
"Hey, Paula, This is agent so and so and WE HAVE A PROBLEM!" I kindly asked him what was the issue. He responded, "Well, I sold the lot you have a contract on."
WAIT - WHAT????
He then tells me his contract is already in escrow at the Title Company??? I then tell him:
1. This property is MY listing, therefore, had you done your homework, you would have known it was listed and all offers would have had to go through me.
2. How did the SAME Title Company miss this as both contracts were escrowed with them? Well, the other agent used the address of "TBD" rather than going through the process of locating the proper address which was CLEARLY listed on my listing.
He goes on to inform me that my clients would need to find a new lot.
WAIT - WHAT???
Um, NO! You did not do your due diligence as an agent. Had you done your homework to pull comps for your clients, this lot that is LISTED would have come up.
He continues to argue with me and basically hangs up on me in a huff. I call the Developer who didn't realize the lot he allowed me to list was one and the same as the one this agent brought. Rut Roh!
Oh my! In my 18 years in real estate, THIS is a first! Thankfully, he realized the error of his ways and found his client another lot - WOW!
So many missteps that were unnecessary, to say the least. Bottom line, we are all responsible for the work that we are doing. It is essential to our clients that we are completing our due diligence. This could have been a train wreck!
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