Dear Emmy,
I am really struggling with the professionalism of REALTORS®…and I am one! I had my own home on the market for awhile and I had to take it off recently after I sustained a serious injury. My home was not showing active on the MLS, but I had a buyer’s agent call me wanting to show my property. I was reluctant because I was out of town but the buyer’s agent indicated that this was a second trip for her buyers and they were really serious about my property. I’m a motivated seller, so I gave in and allowed her to show my property. Since it was off the market, I didn’t have a lockbox on the property, so I made arrangements to have someone at my house to let them in.
And because of my situation, I needed to hire help to get my home back into showing condition. Everything was ready and the anointed time arrived…and no one showed up. I got a call from the buyer’s agent, and she was having trouble getting in. Turns out, she was at the wrong house! Then she told me she was going to continue showing the husband around, but she would send the wife out my house…alone!
I’m so frustrated and angry. This can’t be ethical! What can I do?
Sincerely,
Boiling Over
Dear Boiling,
As REALTORS®, you have duties to your clients and your colleagues. You have obligations to protect and promote the interests of your clients and to treat all parties honestly. The question could be asked whether the agent is representing the client’s best interests when the agent does not guide them through a property they are interested in.
Additionally, safety should be top of mind. When a client an agent barely knows is sent unaccompanied to a property, the safety of the property and anyone who may be on the premises is endangered. Should anything occur, there may be unintended consequences. You have a good reason to be upset.
There are a couple of ways to seek resolution, which include: 1) Speak to the agent directly and let them know that the actions were unacceptable. Be polite but firm and remind them of the safety and liability issues that exist because of it. 2) Speak to the agent’s broker and let them know what happened. Again, be polite but firm and remind them of the safety and liability issues that were caused because of the agent’s actions. 3) Discuss the situation with your own broker and seek their guidance how best to proceed.
Courtesy and professionalism will go a long way in this business to build better relationships. When simple things, such as accompanying a client, is overlooked, tensions are unnecessarily created and are a disservice to both the buyers and sellers.
Sincerely,
Emmy
What advice would you give? How do you feel about clients being unaccompanied? Post your thoughts in the comments below! Remember to keep it courteous!
