Don't think my buyer's agent is serving MY needs... (commission, contract, Realtors) - City-Data Forum

PotterGeek · 07-01-2008, 08:03 AM

I'm a little angry right now. First of all, my buyer's agent has only once pulled listings for us. I have done all the legwork at which homes to go see.
Late last night, I found a house on MLS (no pics) but sounded exactly what we were looking for, at a TREMENDOUS price. Don't know how long it has been listed, but I called the LA this morning to get a picture or something to see if it was something we'd be interested in. The house just got a verbal contract and was waiting on signed papers to come in. Hubby is going to ride by house this evening to see what it looks like. I'm just so angry, how could our agent have missed this and not told us about it?
We were out with her Sunday and she got a little shirty with me about an offer price for a potential home we found. I think she has showed us 30-40 homes. I never signed anything with her so I might be looking for a new BA, but now I am super annoyed that she never sends us new listings that might interest us. I guess she thinks I'm capable of doing it all on my own.
I just had to vent...thanks...

middle-aged mom · 07-01-2008, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leavingbyron

I think she has showed us 30-40 homes. I never signed anything with her so I might be looking for a new BA, but now I am super annoyed that she never sends us new listings that might interest us. I guess she thinks I'm capable of doing it all on my own.
I just had to vent...thanks...

That's a lot of homes to see and not find something. ( That's a lot of homes to show and not have a buyer's agency agreement, too.) Just curious, why do you think this is?

Are you trying to cover a wide geographical area where the agent may not be familiar with the inventory? What's your price range? I can't imagine that your agent has not been able to nail you a home after 30-40 showings.

Silverfall · 07-01-2008, 09:21 AM

I agree with MAM. That is a lot of homes to show. Is it possible she thinks that you aren't going to buy and is slacking off as a result?

bentlebee · 07-01-2008, 09:28 AM

Every one knows I'm not always seeing eye to eye with realtors, but IMo it isn't fair to have some one showing you 30-40 houses and not having signed anything and taking all this time from a professional. That she hasn't send you the listing can have several reasons....but if you want to see so many homes and don't want to sign, than you have to do it on you own or sign....by the way I can't believe how many houses you have seen...I never in my life have been in so many homes and have bought and sold many, but know what I like before going to see them...well every one is different I guess.

Good Luck finding your dream home and maybe the seller of the home you like will take a back up offer.

pghquest · 07-01-2008, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leavingbyron

I'm a little angry right now. First of all, my buyer's agent has only once pulled listings for us. I have done all the legwork at which homes to go see.
Late last night, I found a house on MLS (no pics) but sounded exactly what we were looking for, at a TREMENDOUS price. Don't know how long it has been listed, but I called the LA this morning to get a picture or something to see if it was something we'd be interested in. The house just got a verbal contract and was waiting on signed papers to come in. Hubby is going to ride by house this evening to see what it looks like. I'm just so angry, how could our agent have missed this and not told us about it?
We were out with her Sunday and she got a little shirty with me about an offer price for a potential home we found. I think she has showed us 30-40 homes. I never signed anything with her so I might be looking for a new BA, but now I am super annoyed that she never sends us new listings that might interest us. I guess she thinks I'm capable of doing it all on my own.
I just had to vent...thanks...

How could she have missed it? There are MILLIONS of homes for sale, (ok, maybe only thousands in your area), unless your expecting your agent to show you every single home on the market, they are going to miss some..

PotterGeek · 07-01-2008, 09:52 AM

First of all she never asked me to sign anything. Which was fine with me. I'm not trying to cover a wide area, just certain school zones. And as I sit here and think back to the times she has taken us out, it's probably been really more like 15-20 homes. But still that is alot of homes. We have learned alot about the area in the process, though. If this was a home we were purchasing local to my area, I would know where to go and where NOT to go in search of homes just based on the neighborhood. If I were buying into my local area, I would have NEVER seen so many houses. When you're buying out of town, it's just different. Neighborhood means alot to us, and we're looking to buy and STAY put. This means homes with no stairs (we don't want to be 70 climbing stairs). She knows what we are looking for, and even on the occasion I will entertain her to look at something else that's not really for us, she seems to get frustrated with me. I'm angry at missing the dang listing, but I feel if she had done her job from the first time we talked, neither her nor I would be in this position. It's like from day one she has just waited for me to call her and say, "hey, what about this house?" Her response, "ok, let's go look at it."
I don't want to dump her, and don't plan to, not after she's invested so much time. She's the broker and struggling, I know she's busy. But you don't just hand someone a stack of listings one time and be done.

bentlebee · 07-01-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leavingbyron

First of all she never asked me to sign anything. Which was fine with me. I'm not trying to cover a wide area, just certain school zones. And as I sit here and think back to the times she has taken us out, it's probably been really more like 15-20 homes. But still that is alot of homes. We have learned alot about the area in the process, though. If this was a home we were purchasing local to my area, I would know where to go and where NOT to go in search of homes just based on the neighborhood. If I were buying into my local area, I would have NEVER seen so many houses. When you're buying out of town, it's just different. Neighborhood means alot to us, and we're looking to buy and STAY put. This means homes with no stairs (we don't want to be 70 climbing stairs). She knows what we are looking for, and even on the occasion I will entertain her to look at something else that's not really for us, she seems to get frustrated with me. I'm angry at missing the dang listing, but I feel if she had done her job from the first time we talked, neither her nor I would be in this position. It's like from day one she has just waited for me to call her and say, "hey, what about this house?" Her response, "ok, let's go look at it."
I don't want to dump her, and don't plan to, not after she's invested so much time. She's the broker and struggling, I know she's busy. But you don't just hand someone a stack of listings one time and be done.

I understand what you are saying and even if you sign now, you probable won't be happy with her in the future. So maybe better not to sign and start looking for your dream house and work with the agent who is going to show you that home....but still 15-20 houses is a lot and I do understand buying in a different area can be harder. Keep in mind that you have to go and look at the street where the house is without an agent at different times of the day and evening....you can find out things you like about the dream house neighbors or maybe better what you don't like to avoid a wrong decision.
I believe that everythign happens for a reason so maybe that house is not the house ment for you and a even better house and deal will come along.

chet everett · 07-01-2008, 11:08 AM

I completely sympathize with you in your attempt to find a house -- it can be very challenging emotionally, physically exhausting, and financially ruinous to get the wrong property.

OTOH I have been on the other side, as a an agent and it is pretty damned hard to stay enthusiastic through more than 5-10 showings let alone 40. Now if all of those involved trips in the agent's vehicle that must be a substantial cost. The agent might keep pluggin' along if you are in a really high price range, as the "pot o' gold" will more than make up for the expense but if not...

It takes time to set up showings and even to query the MLS. A lot of brokers have a mindset that agents should spend a certain percentage of their time developing listings. Hard to argue that can be a more efficient route to go...

Anyhow I think maybe you need to ask the agent if they have a good command of the automated features of the MLS -- just about all have some ability to send at least a minimal notice to the emails of clients registered with an agent. That might be the way to not miss the next hot candidate.

You have to realize that agents are not mind readers -- some clients never want to get any emails, other are happy to screen through every listing to find a gem. No agent is going to devote 100% or their day to trying to mentally sort through every listing for an angle for every client. Just cannot be done.

It is GOOD to be picky, but the agent is not going to be a substitute for your judgment. They MUST give their input on the offer you may be considering for several reasons. Number one, despite how it might seem, they do not want you to make an offer that will be unsupported by comps and will not close. Offers too high are just as wasteful as too low. Sellers that get offers below what the owe will need to talk the lender into doing a short sale, that adds time that is not good for the process. Sometimes "****ty" is just "prudent". Don't forget too that if you are shopping lower priced properties your agent may already have done the mental accounting and determined that their commission will not cover the expenses they've incurred by helping you view 40 properties...

If the agent still wants you as a client maybe all they need is a bit of discussion so that you can be back on the same page. An agent's job can be very tough when things are not selling, even in a good market if the client has not found "the one" then there is no "food in the cupboard". It can sometimes be worse when other agents in the office have lucked into several clients that came, saw, bought while you are not getting "the closes"...

PotterGeek · 07-01-2008, 11:52 AM

I get what you are all saying, and believe it or not, it helps...thank you.
I guess another thing I should mention is I'm relying on her (alot) because the county we're buying into is a major declining market (arent' they all these days?) but there are pockets of stable neighborhoods and it's hard to figure it all out. I don't want to buy something and be upside down this time next year.

On two of the four trips we've been out, we took our minivan so she wasn't wasting gas carting us all over creation...I know it's got to be rough out there for the agents, so I am empathetic to that. I'm just frustrated with my home search. Hopefully we'll find something real soon that we can be happy with.

It's not really a matter of being picky, I don't have to have all the upgraded fluff. I just want a 3 BR brick ranch with a bonus or maybe 4th BR. I don't care if it's 20 years old. Schools have to be good, though. I think that alot of the construction we've seen in the homes we're looking at is just not what I'm used to (it lacks alot to be desired..). There I go comparing apples to oranges.

Anyhoo, thanks for letting me vent.

kensgirl · 07-01-2008, 01:51 PM

I agree with all the other posts, but I also encourage you to sit down and talk with your agent and express the same concerns with her that you've put in the forum. If I'm working with someone and they aren't happy, I want them to tell me. Better you express yourself and give her an opportunity to address your concerns than have you walk away. I'm pretty good at judging how my clients feel, but even my crystal ball gets fuzzy. I would want the feedback - even if it is that I'm not doing what I should. Good luck with your search.