This is Just Unbelievable!!!
Suzy a buyer’s agent, showed a co broke listing last Monday... she was pretty familiar with the house because her buyers had previously looked at it, made an offer and had a home inspection done but it ended up falling apart.
Meanwhile the listing expired, got foreclosed on, is now bank owned and put back on the market with a new firm.
The showing was at 11 a.m. on Monday and at 1 p.m. an offer was drawn up. Suzy called and spoke with the listing agent, Leslie.
Leslie is a experienced agent and works for a small office. Suzy told her that she had an offer on the property and asked if there were any other offers on the table …Leslie told her that there were no other offers in and that she was out straight and couldn't talk so please call her back at 5pm.
At 5pm Suzy called and spoke with Leslie…Leslie was abrupt and told her that she had another appointment and was running late…could Suzy fax the offer to her home fax? 
The bank was closed anyway so it would not be presented till the next morning.
Suzy agreed and asked again if there were any other offers in and stated that she wanted to go over the details of the offer and the buyer’s history before Leslie presented the offer to the bank.
Leslie told her no other offers were in and that she would call her in the morning.
When Suzy didn’t hear anything by 10:30 that next morning (Tuesday) she called and left a voice mail for Leslie.
She called again at 1:30 and again at 3:30… Suzy’s buyers were anxious…they had made a full price offer and were asking for one minor fix and could close in under a month…Suzy wanted to explain the buyers history to Leslie.
Suzy left 3 more messages both at Leslie’s office and on her voice mail to no avail; she decided to e-mail all the details to Leslie…still no response.
Wednesday after leaving 4 messages she finally heard back from Leslie who told her that she faxed the offer to the Bank on the previous day but hadn’t heard anything back from them yet and that they usually respond via e-mail.
Suzy asked her why she did not call to discuss the offer and she responded that since it was UA before with these same people that she didn’t see the need. She then said she was on the road and she would check her e-mail when she was at a computer later on and would call Suzy back before 5pm.
Guess what …no call back!
Thursday… several unsuccessful attempts were made to contact Leslie.
Friday afternoon Suzy finally reaches Leslie. Leslie explains that she has not heard back from the bank and that…that was unlike them and she reiterated that there were no other offers in.
She told Suzy that she would track it down and get back to her ASAP.
No call back that day…several messages were left for Leslie.
Saturday afternoon Suzy called and actually got to speak with Leslie’s Broker who told her she had no idea what was going on but would look into it and then casually mentioned that whenever you have multiple offers these types of things happen!
Suzy flipped out and gave the Broker an earful. The broker promised to straighten it all out and get back to Suzy.
Early Saturday evening…Leslie finally called Suzy back!!
She apologized and said that there were multiple offers on this property all along and that she had NOT presented Suzy’s buyer offer at all!!!!
She said that she has more than one property with the same address and had gotten them confused.
She then assured Suzy that she would call the Bank 1st thing Monday morning and get it submitted right away especially since Suzy’s buyers offer was the best offer!
She promised to call Suzy as soon as it was presented.
Monday ….several messages were left with both Leslie and her Broker…no call back till 4p.m. Leslie told Suzy that the bank had accepted one of the other offers before even getting to look at Suzy’s offer and get this, the one they accepted was for less money. Leslie then asked if Suzy’s buyers would like to be a back up offer.
Suzy is Livid…and her buyer’s think all REALTORS are a bunch of crooks…they are thinking of hiring an attorney but still want the property.
Can you imagine being treated like this by a fellow REALTOR? How would you handle it if it were you?
Aside from a clear, in my opinion, violation of The REALTOR code of ethics there are some license law issue at play here…What would you do?
I mean who was Leslie representing here?? Not her client....they have no idea that they even... had a better offer.
Does this type of stuff happen in your market?
Monika McGillicuddy
Serving Southern New Hampshire and Rockingham County
Monika McGillicuddy Real Estate Training Website
Hampstead NH Real Estate
603-548-7728
We talk about everything you need to know about buying or selling real estate in Southern NH. and training to be a great real estate agent! Call 603-548-7728 for additional information.
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Oh no! Every once in awhile we have to deal with "special" brokers, like Leslie .. AAAGGGHHHH! There is nothing much to do but maintain a professional stance, and keep your clients "in the know" - Ick!
You mean we can't strangle her??? Seriously imagine...confusing the address although I wonder what the other seller thought IF she presented him with the wrong offer...how long should it take to realize you messed up.
My very first listing: The buyer's agent goes to Thailand when the docs are signed at title. Tells his client to call me for keys. In Nevada we have to wait for it to record for possession. Had another agent's client crying on my shoulder because he told her it was "ok to shut of the electricity in her apartment". I quickly arranged a possession prior to COE with my client and his client but I wish it wasn't all thrown in my lap.
My second listing: Buyer's agent disappears two days prior to COE, mtg broker doesn't know when loan will get out of underwriting, can't find broker, buyer's agent MIA 10 days. Penalized the buyer at the tune of $3000 nonrefundable EMD to prove they still wanted the property still.
My fourth sale: New construction forgot to tie incentives to preferred lender. My clients wanted to switch lenders, no one would call me back. We went ahead and switched and deposited the extra EMD via wire. The builder went ballistic.
My third listing: Title forgot to call and tell us it recorded after they gave both the buyer's agent and I the "don't call us we'll call you line"
Fourth listing: Fell out of escrow due to an inept buyer's agent and lender who could not follow probate instructions.
I would say 1 out of 10 transactions here you will have a diligent agent on the other end.
Renee...Wow you poor thing! I always say it's better to have the hard ones in the beginning...makes you a more aware agent. You know what can go wrong...because you've seen it happen.
Could they sue the Listing agent. Doesn't her brokers errors & ommissions insurance cover this type of bad behavior?
Monika: What's funny is every transaction I know something NEW will go down and it pretty much does. I keep my antennaes high.
My newest one is (and this precipitated after I wrote this) new construction. My client put a lot reservation down last Sunday (week ago sunday). Now I get a call from the builder who was slow to return calls and they said they may "call back" the entire subdivision and just rent them out until the market gets better.WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHATTT??? Never heard of that. They are still marketing and completed properties are still in the MLS :SIGH:
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!
Karl...They are getting an attorney so I imagine this will get ugly.
Renee..I like your attitude..What doesn't kill you makes you stronger...I have to remember that!!!
Monika: Best of luck to you and your clients :(
This can make my blood boil. It gets down to the one area of unprofessionalism that I see in Realtors® in my market, although no one ever told me they actually didn't present my offer! Good lord. The other thing I see in play here: once the Broker became involved, it never really got any better! Unbelievable. This is what helps give us all bad names. What a sad state of affairs! There is definitely State and license law at play if you go by Ohio law! All I can say is unbelievable.
I hope your buyers stick it to her and her broker. Unbelievable that any agents have ANY clients with behavior like that-how DO they stay in business?
These scenarios are repeated often with bank owned properties. The listing agent takes them on a reduced commission, gives them short shrift and the banks don't help much as they conduct their "asset disposal" by committee.
There are ethics for the Realtor to follow, if the agent IS a Realtor, but there are no rules for the bank to follow. They can do as they wish an do.
Unless the offer they accepted falls through, I would say "It's over".
this happens in my area as well.
I had something similar happen just a month or so ago, although it was the bank that was calling the shots.
Property had been listed for over a year. We submitted an offer. It took the bank over 3 weeks to get us a response. We submitted a counter offer(basically what the bank told us we would have to submit to get the property). We waited 3 more weeks. Listing agent calls us finally and says that bank has another offer on the table and has accepted that offer.
Not much that we can do, the banks can do what they want. I verified this by calling the bank directly, they just sat on our offer for weeks for no reason.
It sounds like the listing agent might have had her own buyer and wanted to get both sides of the commission. I find that it's always a red flag when anyone begins to not return your phone calls. It's always smart to talk to their broker but I guess you need to be talking to a broker who is willing to make things happen. Dealing with banks is always a slow and agonizing process even when you are working with a good agent on the other side. Sometimes it seems like the banks really don't want to get their homes sold.
I am not a realtor, so I cannot comment too much on it. I am just shocked that the broker did not get more involved once the problem was brought to attention. Had I been the broker, I would have taken it away from the agent and handled it personally from there on out. Also, I would probably end up firing Leslie becuase my license and reputation are at stake, and those kinds of problems can destroy both quickly.
Monika, clearly you have hit an irritated nerve with this one. There is no excuse for the lack of professionalism in this case. I am a firm believer in setting the record straight with my clients and customers. I would have advised my clients that they have recourse via the state's real estate commission, which would have more than likely subjected this Realtor to a fine and possible suspension of her license. For my own part, I would have filed a grievance with the local real estate board. Trust, me on this one, if she were allowed to continue to practice and if she personally survived the sanctions from the board and the commission, I would not be the one to have any problems with her on future transactions. Would you think anyone else would?
Just remember that these are the types of agents who will be weeded out as the mark tightens- lets just hope that those "bad apples" dont give us all a bad name!!!
I agree with Tim.. Watch the solds... I bet she is the selling agent. I had the same thing happen to me over the summer, and well you can guess who the selling agent was....
Uaually when this situation happens the listing agent also have a buyer or someone else in the office. Some how they can't locate a phone or computer to check messages.
You have a kindess impaired and an integrity impaired agentsto deal with!
www.HomeRome.com
Baltimore,Md
What a mess. I try to represent ALL of my clients in person rather than by fax. With a bank, it surely is more difficult, in which I find out who the conact at the bank is so that I can speak with them directly.
The problem here is that other Realtors or real estate agents have gotten accustomed to doing business this way. None of us our doing any of our clients any favors by trying to do business by fax.
Why not take the extra hour, get the buyer and seller together, go through the offer, couter-offers, etc and open escrow that day?! I just don't get it.
I get so many hastles from other agents when I ask to represent in person. Did you know that it is your fudiciary duty to your client to represent them completely? Do you think you are able to represent them fully over an email, fax or other data line?
I must park and come back to this I have a busy morning.
No handing out a ticket. I am not double parked.
I do have some thoughts to share with you on this.
TLW...ROAR!
Hey Monika,
A GOLD star!! This is a great post, and so very sad at the same time to think fellow REALTORS conduct themselves this way. Her behavior is disgusting, and I hope whoever the agent was who had to deal with this has turned her in - potential Code violations and law license law issues as well.
Thanks for taking the time to post this!
Ann
Wow..A Gold Star!!! What a thing to wake up to LOL...how cool!
Thank you ALL so much for reading....
Carole..You're right it never got better once the broker knew about it. Our real estate commission has been contacted unofficially...the buyers still want the house and are a little reluctant to ROCK the boat...they do have an attorney on it as well. Very Unprofessional!
Leigh...They've been in business about 15 years and she has been licensed for about 8 years. I think Ethics will be filled as well as a formal re commission compliant.
Lenn...Can you imagine though having two similar listing addresses and confusing which one has an offer on it? Yikes!
Michelle...I guess it is all over. This just really shocked me ..pretty disgusting behavior from a fellow REALTOR.
Craig...At least you know your trouble was with/from the bank and they did have your offer. Ive had that happen as well...it stinks. in this case however the bank never even saw the offer due to the REALTOR being unprofessional.
Tim...That was the 1st thing that came to mind...bet she had her own offer in! She kept denying multiple offers and claims she had two listings ...similar address and was confused...Yeah right!!
Jason....I would fire Leslie as well!! In fact I really can't understand why nothing was done to Leslie or why the Broker didn't step in!
William...Both of your suggestions are being taken....problem is the buyers still want to buy it and if there is a glimmer of a chance...they do not want to rock the boat. That however will not stop the agent from filing an ethics complaint...and commission compliant. The buyers attorney is going to b very aggressive.
Karisa..Your right agents will be weeded out as the mark tightens but she has been around a fairly long time (8 years) so unless something happens with this...she'll probably hang in there!
Shari...We'll be watching the solds...absolutely!
Jennifer...not only can't she find a phone and computer..she couldn't even find the right property...according to her!
Margaret...A kindness impaired and an integrity impaired agent...I love that line!! How very true.
Patrick...I agree with you we have lost so much of the service part of our industry... I try and always present my own offer along with the listing agent...not always possible though especially in this situation.
Caron...I love it...Turn her in.. period! I'm with you on that one.
TLW...Are you parking on my blog...LOL..I can't wait to read your thoughts on this.
Ann...Thanks, the gold Star... wow I was surprised when I woke and saw it!! The commission has all the info unofficially and an ethics complaint will be filed. This type of stuff has to stop...it reflects so badly on us all.
makes you wonder what went on in a hot market.....Bring the agent up to the ethics commitee, she will soon have the word get around an no one will want to bring offers on her future listings. Good Luck
Dick and Sandy
I'm afraid to really think about that...in a hot market everyone was too busy to complain. But I think this one would resulted in a complaint anyway..it's just incredible to think that the Listing agent didn't know what house the offer was on... It's not like she personally was carrying a huge inventory...
Monika, See, you did get a Gold Star! You're on your way now.
In regards to your post. The big problem with forclosures is the Realtor is working for the Bank and sometimes they really do not get back to you in the time you would like. However, I know that the Banks expect the Realtor to be following guidelines, one of them being "submitting all offers" And the second just out of common courtesy ..getting back to every phone call and email within 24hours at the most!!!
I would call the Asset Manager and the Bank and report that Realtor. She makes us all look bad and Realtors have a bad enough reputation as it is!!!!
This profession is challenging not only from clients but sometimes from other professionals as well. The best of luck to you. Happy Holidays !
Ouch! I feel Suzy's pain.
From the mortgage side we know what it's like to deal with companies and their representatives who have an exclusive marketing agreement. Fortunately we're now big enough and have enough of the market captured that we can throw a little weight around but it is still frustrating at times. Whether it is HUD closing agents (usually the most incompetent people to deal with) or listing companies who handle exclusive listings for REO's (tough to say as a lender, but true) you generally will not find such a high level of practiced incompetency anywhere in the industry.
lets just hope that those "bad apples" dont give us all a bad name!!! -- too late. Already did. This is why our public perception is somewhere around used car salespeople and lawyers.
This is an amazingly sad tale of ineptness by an agent and her broker. But is nice to see the training program implemented by the broker worked well for the office.
"The Lovely Monika"
Yes. I parked on your post. :) It is the easiest way for me to get back to it. The comments come into my email. Go ahead and give the ticket. I am now double parked. lol
Anyway, I have read all these comments and just wish to chime in with others. These situations make us all look bad.
The trick on these is not to let it get under your skin. If you strangle her you go to jail ya know. lol. Besides, I personally refrain from being "Livid" it serves no good purpose in a Real Estate Transaction. :)
You have to maintain your Professionalism. One of things I practice the most in business and in life is something My Grandmother taught me.
"You get more out of both with sugar than you do vinegar"...
That was My Grandmother's way of telling me to "play nice". Giving someone an earful is not always the best foot forward in a situation like this. But, you know that. :)
You just never know what would have happened if Suzy had refrained from giving the Broker an earful. Life can be funny like that. There doesn't always have to be a bad ending to transactions like this one. :)
I know many do not agree with me on these topics. But, hey, this is just my opinion and the way I conduct myself. No one says you have to pay any attention to me. :)
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Sorry About The Delay Have Been Out All Day...ROAR!
Oh! I forgot to congratulate you on the star. :) TLW...ROAR!
Karen...Thank you about the Star:) Common Courtesy/Professional Courtesy..definitely lacking here. I know the banks drag their feet but in this case a far superior offer wasn't even presented. Talk about presenting all offers...not!
John ...Very Challenging indeed without having to deal with unethical agents in Top of t! Happy Holidays to you as well.
Ken... Strong words "high level of practiced incompetency" but ever so true in this case and sadly in many cases! I do think we have an obligation to clean up our mess for everyones sake ...but especially the public!
Toby...Bad apples...so true! Unfortunately we ALL get a bad name for the actions of a few...Yes I agree that training program implemented by that broker worked extremely well for them! Geez I'm going to use that line as an example when I'm selling my training programs as to WHY brokers need quality training!
TLW...I think by the time Suzy gave the broker a piece of her mind...6 days went by...personally I would have driven straight to that office and parked myself in front of the brokers door long before 6 days. Anyway I agree with you that in general you get more with sugar than you do with vinegar..but not in this case. I think the listing agent had her own offer...not as good as the co-brokers offer but for what ever reason she wanted to be sure hers was accepted.
Hey you can double park here anytime you want..LOL
TLW....Thanks so much for the congratulations!
Aah....Suzy is a whole lot more patient than I am. My hats off to Suzy and her determination to get her customer what they wanted. I'm sure she kept her customers informed as to the entire situation as it was going down. Maybe this agent had someone maybe a friend or family member who she just wanted to have that house. I would agree with Suzys' buyer to pursue legal matters.
I didn't even make it all the way through the blog....
Didn't present an offer???? Can we say license endangerment???
Jeezzzzz.....
Nancy,
Welcome...I am so sorry to hear your story. I don't blame you at all for not wanting to do business with those people. In your case it sounds as if that agency has a real big market share if the REALTORS you have consulted have advised against banning the office from showing your home. I admire you for making a decision based on ethics and honesty and not fear of losing potential buyers!! I am sorry that you were put in a position of having to make that type of decision.
Thank you for visiting!
Monika
Netta....I would of acted sooner as well...I've no tolerance for unethical behavior. Suzy did tell her buyer what was going on...they were not in the dark at all...at least in so far as knowing what steps Suzy was taking. Of course no one knew what Leslie was up to. I've seen Suzy's notes and records and they are pretty meticulous.
Jeffery...Yes the offer was never presented...and Leslie admitted it. Claims she was confused....had two listings with similar address...Jeezzzz is right!