When a caller wants an agent to do all the work without commitment
Q: I’m doing the groundwork to buy a home for an adult daughter who works in Silicon Valley. My husband and daughter are purchasing the house. I explained this again to the same top agent I spoke with in June. I reminded the agent we have a loan officer in San Francisco. When we talked at length before, the agent did not have any concerns about what I am trying to accomplish. This week, she questioned everything. She asked why I have an out-of-town loan officer if we are buying in Silicon Valley. The agent wanted to know if she could meet my husband and daughter at a property. I told her my family trusts my judgment because I am a tough customer. I said to her I would view the homes and decide which one deserves a visit by my family.
She responded that we had once again spoken for over 30 minutes and had accomplished almost nothing. At that point, she said she would email another list of available properties for me to review. I told her I didn’t have time to consider all the homes she was emailing. I asked her if she would inspect properties and only bring good homes to my attention. She replied with a resounding “no.” I then replied maybe I should represent myself. That’s when she quickly ended the call. Where do I complain about this agent?
A: Consumers can file complaints with the Department of Real Estate at www.bre.ca.gov and the local Association of Realtors. You’ll learn that agents who are selfemployed strive to make the right business decision. It’s a red flag that your email address has someone else’s name. The agent had no information on the buyers or loan officer. Plus, you have no financial involvement in the proposed property. Unlike other areas of law, real estate lawsuits most often are settled in mediation or arbitration. At this time, we lack case law on customer versus client. Regardless, 10 and 20 years ago, I was called upon by both associations of Realtors operating in Silicon Valley for dispute resolution. In my opinion — you are neither customer nor client.