My colleague was asking two questions when she threw her hands in the air. "What's a girl to do?" encompassed more than one aspect of her last transaction.
The listing agent was a heavy hitter, a top producer, a multi-million dollar producer, a "professional" (by Chris Galler's definition) . . . Let's see. Are those all the labels this agent had earned? No, he had also earned the labels of condescending, disrespectful, lazy, law breaker, and sloppy in my colleague's eyes.
"What's a girl to do"? Outside of the closing room and in the broker's office, repercussions for the agent's actions were discussed. Strategy was examined. The agent's actions were worthy of a report to the Commerce Department, but would the offense be shrugged off by the clout of the big company and the agent's top producer status? A report could be made to the governing Board of REALTORS® as well, but a fine would be minimal for a top producer's pocket. The MLS? Probably not the right venue.
At the very least a "courtesy" call to the listing agent's broker needed to be made. Because the real estate broker holds the licenses for all of the agents in their firm, the broker has supervisory responsibility and liability for any agent's wrong doing. The buck stops with the broker. The broker would want to know. At least the broker should want to know!
In like manner, my colleague's decision on what to do will rest in her broker's hands. It will be his/her decision what action will be made, because my colleague is also under the supervision of a broker. "What's a girl to do" is not just her question. Ultimately it becomes the broker's question.
Click here for part one of "What's a Girl to Do?".
My experience with top producers has been that they are too busy to attend the closing or spend the entire closing time on the phone in the hall. From the date the purchase agreement is signed, they pass all work to their assistants so I never get to talk with them again. I've even had one couple whose house was listed by a top producer refer their son to ME, the buyer's agent, because they could see the commitment I had to my clients compared to what personal attention they got. Top producers have well oiled machines that process each transaction like a car on a factory line.
Posted by: Bonnie Erickson | October 02, 2007 at 10:04 PM
It seems to me that some "top producers" are ethically-challenged. I was an RE agent 30+ years ago - the "Wild West" compared to today, and the top producers then would do almost ANYTHING to sell a home!
This guy needs to have his chain pulled big time IMHO.
Jack
Posted by: Jack Boardman | October 02, 2007 at 05:11 PM