I don't want to bother my agent... can't you just show it to me?

I've had a slurry of calls, recently from potential buyers wanting me to show them my one of my properties.

In each case, as per Illinois Agency Law, I ask them if they are currently working with an agent, or plan on using an agent when writing an offer. The answer is typically "yes, but my agent is buys", or "yes, but it's a Sunday morning, I don't want to bother my agent".

I have tried, 'till I'm blue in the face, explaining to these buyers, that if they're currently working with an agent, they need to make the appointment through their agent. In fact, if their agent knew they were attempting to make appointments without her/him, they'd probably be a little irritated, because you're adding an unnecessary complication to their ability to get paid their commission.

Last week, a gentleman called me, and when I explained that he needed to have his agent make the appointment, he got very upset, and accused me of trying to force him to use ME as his agent. He didn't understand why Coldwell Banker would put this obstacle in his path of trying to see the home. Nothing could be further from the truth... I was just trying to protect HIS agent... (not sure why I bother).

Today, a much nicer couple explained that their agent was "out of town", and I suggested they contact their agent's "back up". I told them that if the agent didn't have a back up, that I would happily show them the house... but it would be a whole lot simpler, if their back up would show it.

Agency law is a tricky little business, and I try very hard to explain, up front, how it works, so nobody become "trapped", but it seems to be boomeranging on me lately.

The general public doesn't get "agency law", and I can't expect them to. It's complicated, and many agents don't understand it properly. The laws in Illinois changed, effective Jan. 1, 2010, and now you have to discuss agency (and give the client something in writing explaining it) the very first time you interact with them. It used to be we could do it on the "first significant meeting"... (meaning that we could wait 'till we actually knew they were a client, before explaining how agency works ... not just a tire-kicker).

Maybe, I should just show the properties, chat-up the buyers, and if they're out there running about loose and carefree, see if I can pick them up as buyers. But that's just not how my momma raised me.

- heavy sigh -