Am I obligated to buy from the realtor who shows the house to me?(subplot: am I overthinking? or, how much is too much?) (feedback, agent) - Brokers, appraisals, development, lease, investing, relocation, apartments, houses, condos, values, mortgages, loans... - City-Data Forum

lorac07 · 07-13-2010, 06:11 PM

I've been working with a realtor for a yr now. To the point where he's shown me inside at least 6 or 7 homes, and given me info about lots of others. Still, I' haven't bought yet--but I'm close--closer than i've been in 5 yrs. So I'm almost to the point of putting in a bid on a house I looked at today, but I want to look again at one that just came back on the market after it was pending for awhile (not sure why it was pending, then not...)... Just to make sure that the current house I'm looking at will be a decision I'll be ultimately happy with--also, just in case owner doesn't take my (much lower than asking price) bid. (House that just came back on the market is priced 100K cheaper than #2). I think that in the long run, I'd be happier with the house I'm currently looking at; but it's going to take a whole lot of elbow grease, contractors, and about 10K more than I pay to begin with, to get it to be where I need it to be. The house that just came back on the market, well, it's smaller, it's got 2 neighbors breathing down its neck (albeit it is a corner lot) and aesthetically it's not so fabulous--BUT inside, it's set up more the way I need it to be than the today's looked-at house is. Well. After all that mishmash of thought (didn't I read that buying a house is as stressful as getting married, getting divorced, and the death of a family member?), what i"m wondering is this....I feel like I'm being a pain in the butt to my realtor, what with asking him about this, and asking him to show me that...can I have the listing agent of the house-back-on-the-market show me that house, but if I decide to bid on that one, go with my own realtor? IF I haven't lost anybody yet, and you're still with me....I will greatly appreciate your feedback. Thank you.

lifelongMOgal · 07-13-2010, 06:26 PM

Do you have a signed agency agreement with the agent with whom you've been working?

Is the Realtor with whom you've been working the list agent (Seller's agent) for this property?

lawmom · 07-13-2010, 06:28 PM

Your agent's job is to show you houses. The selling agent will ask you if you are already working with someone anyway -- they do not want to step on anyone's toes.

manderly6 · 07-13-2010, 06:38 PM

You are way overthinking it. Ask your current realtor to show you the house. And for the record a lot of people will see 6 or 7 homes in 1 or 2 days, not a year. So I don't think you are being a pain.

Kandy · 07-13-2010, 06:45 PM

Just ask your current realtor to show you the house.

FalconheadWest · 07-13-2010, 07:40 PM

If you call the listing agent to show you the house, and then submit an offer with another agent, the listing agent can go after the commission with something called procuring cause. Procuring cause is what determines who gets paid, not a buyer's rep agreement. You might owe your agent cash out of pocket if the listing agent is the procuring cause of the sale.

Just call your agent. I showed 7 houses to a couple today, and we're looking at 3 more tomorrow. 7 in one year is a joke... that typically is a sign of a not-so-serious buyer, but you've already admitted to that.

manderly6 · 07-13-2010, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMichelle

Good grief. If you had been working with someone for a year and then they didn't buy from you, would you feel ... used??? I have read nothing about any dissatisfaction you have had with the agent you have been using for a year. So why would you dump him/her?

Yes, if you have not signed any type of buyers agreement you have a legal right to throw him under the bus. If you do you will have no repsentation - no one one on your side. If I were the listing agent - I'd love it. My seller would do very well in this transaction. Good luck to you.

You might consider the standard of your own ethics. If the agent you have been using has been dishonest, disrespectful or has failed you - drop him like a rock. But if he has filled your requests and has been honorable - you should be, too.

In business, you will never be sorry you did the right thing.

Unless I read it wrong, the OP had no intention of not using their existing agent to buy. The question was if they had another agent show them a house and then use the first agent to buy.

lovesMountains · 07-13-2010, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lifelongMOgal

Do you have a signed agency agreement with the agent with whom you've been working?

Is the Realtor with whom you've been working the list agent (Seller's agent) for this property?

If he doesn't that's one stupid agent

EducationNeverEnds · 07-13-2010, 08:46 PM

If an agent has been giving you satisfactory Real Estate services for over a year by showing you houses, complying with your wishes, providing information, updating relevant topics and donating quality time without the benefit of an upfront fee; WHY would you risk the possibility of cheating this Agent out of his/her well earned commission?

Agents only make money when the Deal is Sealed and as I am learning the hard way, Some of them pick up a check: But most of them earn every penny dealing with Clients, Title Co., Inspectors, Banks and doing the job of the other Agent!!

Call your Realtor to view the property!! So as not to cause any issue with his commission, he stuck it out with you this far and I am sure he has a vested interest in closing the deal!

Good Luck!

TexasHorseLady · 07-13-2010, 09:02 PM

OP, I appreciate your obvious concern for your buyer's agent. If you've only looked at 6 or 7 houses in a year, trust me, you are NOT being a pain! (My record with one buyer was 37 properties in 5 counties in 3-1/2 days, which IS extreme but it was a unique situation and I was more than happy to do it in that case because we had to get his wife settled before he shipped BACK out to Iraq.) Six or 7 in a day is pretty normal. (More than six in a day and I've found the houses start running together in the buyer's mind.)

It's not unusual at all for an agent to do what you're asking your agent to do, it's just part of the job. Call your agent and ask him to show you the other house and explain it just the way you did here - trust me, you're simply asking for him to do what he's supposed to do and he won't (or shouldn't) be put out at all to do so.