The Truth of the Matter
Okay, so this is going to be a vent, not a "blog". Here's the story. A REALTOR® friend of mine worked diligently to help her young buyers find a home. They became engaged and she celebrated with them. She even liked their dog!!
After much searching, the young couple found the Perfect House!! Great! My friend, the REALTOR®, agreed to meet the young couple on a Monday evening to write an offer on the Perfect House. But...on Sunday morning, after she'd been to church, she received a voice message from the young gentleman asking her to give him a call. When she called the young gentleman, he advised her that, after all her hard work and diligence - and even though they had an appointment set up for the Monday evening, he was going to work with another REALTOR®. "Why?" you may ask. Actually, so did she. Well!! The answer was simple: the young gentleman's father told him to use this other agent because this other agent MIGHT bring more business to their company so he would be a better person to "cultivate."
Now, here's the Truth of the Matter! First of all, my friend, the REALTOR®, was partly to blame. She should have asked her buyers to sign a Buyer/Brokerage Agreement before she started working with them. This document protects trusting REALTORS® against just such occurences while it guarantees that REALTORS® work for their buyer client and protect their client's interests. Next, the young gentleman was partly to blame. He works on commission, just like the REALTOR®, so should have realized that only a successfully-closed transaction leads to a pay cheque which, in turn, leads to groceries on the table and a roof over his head. Thirdly, the father was partly to blame. He should definitely not have interfered in the agency relationship that was forged between my friend, the REALTOR®, and his son. Being in business himself, he should know when a service provider is working hard and following the rules and taking care of her client's needs and interests.
The only person who was not at fault was the "other " REALTOR®. "Why?" you may ask. The truth of the matter is that this other agent did not solicit the young gentleman's business away from my friend. The father, being full of business, saw an opportunity and took it...and took the income from my friend, the REALTOR® and her family.
The truth of the matter is that most REALTORS® are like my friend. Because they are honest and ethical, they trust others to be honest and ethical, too. The truth of the matter is that most buyers ARE honest and ethical. However, people who are dishonest in their own business dealings see no reason to behave otherwise with a REALTOR® or other service provider.
Please!! When you decide to buy or sell a home, find an honest, ethical REALTOR® and give her your loyalty along with your wish list. You'll have a hard-working friend for life!