Real Estate woes

[takemethere]

So we put our house up about a month ago. We live in what is considered a "hot area" where houses were going over list, I realize we are a little late to the game but none the less we listed it with a local realtor who targets a specific market. We were away last week and I told her no showings. Which was fine. She then tells me we should reduce the price by 100k which my DH is not on board with. It than dawned on me the only 2 showings were from her office, I low offer I didn't bother countering. Anyway, I went to an open house yesterday in a town about 25 miles from me. Spoke with the listing agent and she offered to investigate for me,, Come to find out that the house is noy on a sight called SHOWME all inquires have to go thru my listing agent, A friend that is working with another agent tried to make an apointment never got a call back. My realtor is unavailable from sundown Friday to Sunday, I asked her to call me today and she said she couldn't get to me until tuesday. I want her to know that I am very disappointed with the lack of showings and her trying to keep it in house. What would you say to her, I don't want to be rude just let her know h=that I'm onto her. Every other listing she has either a pending or sold sign up, Something just seems suspect, The other realtor told me the comps were on target with my price, and to not reduce this early.

Any suggestions or tips appreciated,

Thanks

 

[tvguy]

Fire the agent. My son and DIL sold their house last month. They had 5 showings within 3 hours of the listing hitting MLS. 8 the next day. They had 6 offers 5 days later.

 

[1GoldenSun]

What kind of contract do you have with her? She sounds awful. It sounds like she wants the entire commission herself.

 

[Suzabella]

I would go over her head to the broker/owner of the agency. I wouldn't bother with her because anything she tells you will likely be a lie. Demand the broker replace her or better yet, take her place on the contract.

 

[VandVsmama]

So we put our house up about a month ago. We live in what is considered a "hot area" where houses were going over list, I realize we are a little late to the game but none the less we listed it with a local realtor who targets a specific market. We were away last week and I told her no showings. Which was fine. She then tells me we should reduce the price by 100k which my DH is not on board with. It than dawned on me the only 2 showings were from her office, I low offer I didn't bother countering. Anyway, I went to an open house yesterday in a town about 25 miles from me. Spoke with the listing agent and she offered to investigate for me,, Come to find out that the house is noy on a sight called SHOWME all inquires have to go thru my listing agent, A friend that is working with another agent tried to make an apointment never got a call back. My realtor is unavailable from sundown Friday to Sunday, I asked her to call me today and she said she couldn't get to me until tuesday. I want her to know that I am very disappointed with the lack of showings and her trying to keep it in house. What would you say to her, I don't want to be rude just let her know h=that I'm onto her. Every other listing she has either a pending or sold sign up, Something just seems suspect, The other realtor told me the comps were on target with my price, and to not reduce this early.

Any suggestions or tips appreciated,

Thanks

Go and re-read the termination clause of the contract you signed with your agent. Then make plans to terminate that contract.

 

[takemethere]

I would go over her head to the broker/owner of the agency. I wouldn't bother with her because anything she tells you will likely be a lie. Demand the broker replace her or better yet, take her place on the contract.

She is the broker/owner

 

[takemethere]

What kind of contract do you have with her? She sounds awful. It sounds like she wants the entire commission herself.

6 month standard NOT EXCLUSIVE I'm perplexed

 

[izzy]

I agree that you don’t want to be rude, but that doesn’t preclude you from being firm. She is working for you, not the other way around.

 

[sasywtch]

I use to sell Real Estate years ago (for those in CA, Red Carpet) When you sell, you split the commission with the buyer's agent (and if you're not the owner broker, you further split it with your broker/owner). So if I listed a house, another agent brought the buyer, I got 1.5% commission (6% split between the two agents 3% then split with our brokers 1.5%). It sounds like your broker/agent is wanting all the commission. I would contact your state board that licenses agents/brokers and if you have a local board that monitors them. Your broker/agent should be putting it on the MLS (or whatever it's called in your state) multiple listing service, having an open house, certainly returning phone calls. I can guarantee you that there is no state approved contract that they can draw up stating they must be the agent for both buyer and seller. You wouldn't want that anyway because the buyer's agent is NEVER working for you. The same for anyone looking for a house. Always have your own agent and not the seller's agent. I realize in this market that bargains aren't being made but your agent might see something with the house that the seller's agent doesn't want to point out. If it was me, I'd be contacting your agent to let them know that you were contacting the state agency and that you want out of your contract now. Don't feel bad, it's your house, your money. They are working for you. You are not working for them. When you find a new agent, look them up for any reviews. You can look online on zillow to see when houses were listed, the price, what they actually sold for and how many days they were on the market. That will show you what type of agent they are.

 

[joyadrian7013]

I would contact your state board that licenses agents/brokers and if you have a local board that monitors them. Your broker/agent should be putting it on the MLS (or whatever it's called in your state) multiple listing service, having an open house, certainly returning phone calls.

 

[longboard55]

That seems to be the norm, they put out a sign that says preview or coming soon and do not list the property, seems totally illegal and unethical.

 

[GreatLakes]

6 month standard NOT EXCLUSIVE I'm perplexed

Read the contract first. Make sure you didn't sign one that explicitly states they will only accept showings through limited channels. Also see if there is language to indicate they would utilize all reasonable channels to show the house. Lastly, see what your out is.

If they are not meeting the requirements of the contract you can break or sue to break it. If they spelled out their model and you sign on you are likely stuck. I would never sign a listing contract that didn't explicitly state the house would be listed on MLS and that there would be no preference given based on the buyer's agent.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Saying this sounds shady is an understatement, keep track of unanswered communications in case you need to justify firing her. Sounds to me like she is intentionally keeping you off the market so she or a friend can scoop the house for a cut rate and then they get a 100K profit for duping you. Tell her to show you the other homes she is comparing you to in order to justify the 100K drop.

 

[tvguy]

That seems to be the norm, they put out a sign that says preview or coming soon and do not list the property, seems totally illegal and unethical.

Not uncommon here. The house sells before it ever makes MLS. At least that was the case 5 months ago when my DS and DDIL sold their house. The actually offer they accepted was made before the house hit the MLS.

 

[StephMK]

I'm so sorry this is happening. Hope you are able to break the contract and get it sold quickly.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Read your contract in full and then speak with her abou what needs to be corrected

 

[TCRAIG]

All this reminds me of a soap opera or all those horrible ‘Real Lives of …’ - the way to cut the drama is to talk to the agent and ask what’s going on and why no showings and why cut the price…get your information direct - then decide what you want to do…

 

[focusondisney]

The OP is from August. I’m hoping the issue is resolved & that the house is sold. Maybe @takemethere can come back & let us know how things went .

 

[NYCgrrl]

Read your contract in full and then speak with her abou what needs to be corrected