Home > Blogs > Deb Brooks > Welcome to Wichita Falls, TX!

Agents Down and Dirty ~ Do you sleep well at night?

By Deb Brooks

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas

January 30, 2009 02:33 AM

We recently represented a couple that was looking for their "Dream Getaway" on the water of Lake Livingston Texas. They are lovely people and she was just about to retire from NASA in Houston. He had been retired for a couple of years and they were looking for a place to play. IMG_3049.jpg image by FindStuff2

FIRST HOUSE: Almost perfect. We made an offer but the Seller wouldn't budge. It was overpriced so we walked away with a hope and a sparkle in our eyes.

SECOND HOUSE: THIS IS IT! We found the most beautiful, brand new build on the most gorgeous water and it was a PRE-FORECLOSURE. It had languished on the market for many days and the asking price was $150,000 BELOW appraised value. WooHoo wowser. THIS WAS IT.

We placed the offer right away with the listing agent. It was a strong offer and our clients were platinum buyers. The agent himmed and hawed and said she had a showing coming over the next weekend. We said, "So?"

She told us the Seller was in Mexico and it was difficult to get hold of him. But, of course. she would do her best. We said, "well, yeah!!!! Since we only have a few days till the bank takes over!"

The days were going by one by one and she kept telling us that she was going to get the paperwork to the buyer...we told her we needed to know something and we had to have time for inspections. (you're going to tell me you have no communication with the man that is about to lose the house all together?)

Whatever...

She casually mentioned that there may be another offer coming in...we had a sick feeling in our guts and told her that we expected to be able to give it our "FINAL AND BEST" OFFER. She said, of course, of course. No problem. stewie_evil.jpg evil plan image by chocastarfish

Another weekend went by.

That Monday we received a call from a different agent in her office. She told us there had been a mix up over the weekend and that all the paperwork, INCLUDING THE OTHER OFFER, had been submitted by another person in their office and the other offer was accepted. This woman wouldn't even talk to us.

So sorry !

Do I need to tell you the rest? Yesterday we went to the MLS and pulled the records on the house. SHE WAS THE AGENT THAT TOOK BOTH SIDES OF THE DEAL AND FOR ONLY $4,000.00 MORE...

Our clients were willing to come up to full price. Nothing was ever negotiated with them. That sleezeball agent not only lied over and over but she crushed the hearts of our buyers, and cost the seller over $30,000.00 dollars real money.

BE VERY SELECTIVE WITH THE AGENT YOU CHOOSE TO WORK WITH. WE ARE NOT ALL BAD BUT ONE LIKE THIS SURE SPOILS IT FOR US HONEST, HARDWORKING, GIVING, FAIR, AGENTS...I'm considering a very large complaint...strongly. I've never done that before. Maybe I should just let her toss and turn at night.

HOUSE THREE: They are living happily ever after but with a bad taste in their mouths over some sleezeball, selfish, dishonest, undeserving, jerk.

Shall I tell you how I really feel??? LOL.

Re-Blog

Featured

Comments(108)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Katie Van Nes

Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley, & Fraser Valley - Abbotsford, BC

Local Real Estate eXpert | eXp Realty

Maybe he missed the memo ~ When they ask who are you working for? The answers isn't ... OURSELVES. I can see how utterly disappointing this would have been for you and your clients.

Even more so in this market we need to treat each other like gold, be thankful to have our listings shown, present all offers with vigor and respect each other above all else.

Jan 30, 2009 06:43 PM

Jesse Clifton

Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

Can't we vote these sleaze balls off the island? :)

Jan 30, 2009 08:04 PM

Anonymous

Marie Drew ~ REMAX PREFERRED/St. Pete Beach. FL

Dear Deb,

Your tale does not surprise me in the least. Times are tough out there for many... and many agents are running scared so they do whatever to get the deal done in their favor. It's a jungle out there so you have to watch your back! There are the agents that are hustling (and are hustlers~!) and then there are the ones who are just staring at you with deer in headlight looks. I don't know how some of these agents are surviving as I hear people tell me they have not closed anything for 6 months! CRAZY!

It is unfortunate that you had to go through this and I feel for your buyers but I think we will be seeing more and more of this if times get leaner. Stay alert and watch yourself! It's a jungle out there!!!

Sincerely,

Marie Drew, REMAX Preferred, St. Pete Beach, FL

Jan 30, 2009 11:00 PM

#91

Dorie Dillard Austin TX

Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX

NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Deb,

And we wonder why our profession has such an unprofessional reputation! It is really a shame that the seller did not get what he could have and your buyers did not get the home of their dreams. It is a jungle out there and some agents are fighting for ANY commission. Unfortunately it is at the expense of their integrity and ethics. Glad your buyer found a home but isn't it unfortunate they will always remember the one that got away and why?

Jan 30, 2009 11:22 PM

Paul McFadden

Responsive Pest Control - Seattle, WA

Pest Control, Seattle, WA.

Deb: I'm sorry to hear this. It only takes one to spoil the fun for the rest of us. I applaud you for handling it with class. Just remember that someday that person will have a funeral and very few people will attend!

Jan 31, 2009 02:40 AM

Jason Neumann

Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd. - Kelowna, BC

Realtor - www.KelownaRealEstateNews.com

Deb, it is agents like that that give us all the undeserved perception of being on par with sleazy used car sales people. Sorry to hear about that but I am a big believer in what goes around certainly does come around! Take care and happy blogging!

Jan 31, 2009 04:25 AM

Kat DeLong

Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ

REALTOR

Oh brother! That makes me want to throw up... I've seen it happen so many times. BUT you know what? The folks that don't play fair, WILL get theirs in the end.

Jan 31, 2009 04:57 AM

League City, TX - Worrell Team, REALTORS, GRI, CNE

RE/MAX 1st Class - League City, TX

Sometimes we blame agents when really they are being directed on how to respond by their seller clients. It's not always clear who is at fault. I've found myself getting aggrivated with other agents, when the reality might be that their client is to blame.

Jan 31, 2009 05:25 AM

Deb Brooks

Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

Brian, that's exactly why I was hesitating about the complaint. But, after review...I don't believe any client that's well informed would have opted to take less money. Whew. What a mess.

Later in the rain~Deb

Jan 31, 2009 06:14 AM

Shari Evans

Better Properties Washington - Port Orchard, WA

Moments Like These

This really makes me think we should have a line in the offer that date/timestamps when the SELLER reviewed the offer!

Jan 31, 2009 06:18 AM

Gina Zimmerman

North Eastern Group Realty - Fort Wayne, IN

Fort Wayne Real Estate

There ought to be a law. Certainly you can bring this to the attention of the local MLS. Not good for the already tarred and feathered image the industry has.

Jan 31, 2009 07:19 AM

Jeff Dowler, CRS

eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA

The Southern California Relocation Dude

Deb - it is so distressing to hear stories like this. The lack of integrity, professionalism and ethics in this kind of behavior gives us all a bad name. The seller probably was told he was getting a great deal. I agree with Lenn - the notion of filing a complaint.

Jeff

Jan 31, 2009 07:22 AM

Lorraine or Loretta Kratz

Crescent Moon Realty, Inc. & Land N Sea Auctions. - San Marcos, CA

Certified Negotiation Consultants

It is a very negative situation that is coming to the foreground, here in California we are seeing way to many brokers that have agents in there office that seem to get the REO business again and again when the REO listing originate with the broker and the outside agents seem not to stand a chance. Filing a compliant seem to fall on deaf ears.

Jan 31, 2009 10:55 AM

Bo Kociuba

McGraw Realtors - Mustang, OK

Realtor - Mustang, Yukon & OKC Metro 405-812-1572

Deb, how unfortunate and unethical! This kind of people are found in every business...but as the saying goes: what goes around comes around! And you are richer by one more experience...I admire you staying cool...

with smiles,

Jan 31, 2009 01:52 PM

Esko Kiuru

Bethesda, MD

Deb,

Very unfortunate that you had to put your clients through something like that. When a listing agents has trouble locating the seller for offer presentation, it often means trouble, especially on a pre-foreclosure.

Jan 31, 2009 02:16 PM

Anonymous

unfortunately there are people out there like that! I got into this business to help others...more than and before ... myself!! In fact, that's in my code of ethics!! I'd much rather do right by my buyers and /or sellers and feel great about it! but... that's just me! I like to put others first!

Jan 31, 2009 04:01 PM

#104

SarahGray Lamm

Allen Tate Realtors Chapel Hill, NC 919-819-8199 - Chapel Hill, NC

Realtor - 100K Hours of NC Real Estate Experience

Wish I could say I had never seen this happen before. The concilation is that a bad rep travels faster than a good rep and your buyers KNOW that agent's name! At least tell your clients they can file a complaint with the commission. If nothing else, they'll feel like they stood up for themselves, the agent will have to an answer some questions and your clients will know that some of us value our ethical standards. Everybody talks real estate over cocktails these days...guess whose name will come up and you never had to say a thing!

Jan 31, 2009 11:46 PM

Sasha Miletic - Windsor Real Estate

RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd. - Windsor, ON

Hi Deb,

Good post. Keep posting good blogs. Thanks for sharing with us.

Best -Sash

Jan 06, 2010 02:21 AM

Anonymous

Sharon Carman

Deb,

This has happened to my clients 4 times now!!! YES, I said FOUR! We are just bewildered at this behavior and I'm not quite sure how to prevent it other than to tell the listing agent we want to be present when offers are presented and we will bring the offer with us! That way, there is no opportunity to pull a "fast one" on another Realtor or their clients.

In the first house they lost the listing agent actually said, "I'll just go ahead and tell you the buyer's are my clients and your offer was a little higher, but they wanted to give my buyer a chance since their offer was the first one submitted." ?????????? WHAT ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!? Who does that???

This is a well publized property due to some criminal allegations attached to it, and the courts have appointed a Representative to maximize the profits of all assets. Really? And they accept a LOWER offer?!?!?!?!

We wrote the offer Jan. 2, 2010 and wanted to close by end of month. Clients are PRE-APPROVED with literally ) debt and are putting 20% down. ... Would you believe the property has still not closed as of March 2nd!

And, that is just the first deal...we've encountered 3 more almost exactly like it... we offer well ABOVE asking price because we know it's a multiple offer situation and the listing agent's buyer ALWAYS ends up winning the house. Hmmmm, imagine that. And when you question them...they won't tell you a thing; they won't even say when the closing date is! They say, "It will close by end of the month, you can find out for yourself then."

I've been doing this for 21 years and I've NEVER run into so much unethcial activity going on as I have in the past 4 months. It is seriously unbelievable!! How do these people stay in business when they do this? And how do they seem to get away with it?

My client called TREC and was basically told it would take months, maybe more than a year and it would be hard to prove anything. ... And for my client, that translated into "don't waste your time."

All I can say is that I truly believe that what goes around, comes around and eventually these unethical agents will lose their business and be gone. The good agents will survive and when that happens we'll eliminate the "used car salesman" reputation that we have -- all compliments of unethical behavior by fellow Realtors!

Mar 02, 2010 05:17 PM

#108

Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers

Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ

Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

REALTORS who violate the REALTOR Code of Ethics deserve to have complaints filed against them.

Jul 30, 2010 01:39 AM