I say "crazy" because some things still don't make sense to me. Take a listing agent who lists a residential or any type of property for sale and will not let another agent show it. Why would the agent act this way? After 10 years in this business I can honestly say there is only one answer: the agent listing the house does not want to split the commission.
This has never made sense to me. The mls (multi list service, something offered by the REALTOR association) was started because it was determined it was better for the seller to list a property, that listing agent would then put the listing on the mls for all other agents who have buyers or potential buyers to show the propert to. Sounds like a win win for the seller. The seller gets their property exposed to as many potential clients as possible, ultimately resulting in a sale!! Win/win.
But use the wrong agent to list your property and that agent might be one of those that never learned to share in kindergarten. One of the core things a person has to learn at an early age. Some never picked up on it. Most likely, their report card read "Runs with scissors". LOL.
But not funny. The seller never knows their agent works like this. And the agent that finds this out cannot report the listing agent for this behaviour because it is unethical to say anything against another agent.
I have experienced this many many times, and it is usually from the same listing agent. A typical scenario goes like this. I get a call from a buyer not wanting to call the listing agent because of past bad experience. So I have buyer sign a form that allows me to represent them and this way they do not have to have any contact with the agent. I do. So I call the agent and ask for appointment to view their listing. These are the answers I have heard over the years. "I can't right now, too busy". (you are too busy for ME to stop by your office and pick up a key? or "I'll call you back". (5 days later no call back so I call and agent won't pick up the phone because they know it is me) or "there is a situation going on with that house right now" (ok, meaning what? Further inquiries brings no clear answer, suffice it to say I don't want you to show my listing to your buyer) or a real winner "are you a buyer's agent?" (which I guess is being interpreted, if you are a buyers agent you are too intimidating so I can't show you this property, why? Because I am still old school and working in the past when there was such a thing as subagency, and that is all I know.)
So, the result of having a bad listing agent? Only the listing agent shows the house as they do not wish to share the commission. Splitting the commission is a not a problem with a REALTOR. REALTORS understand we work for buyers and sellers, and working for sellers mean that we expose the property to as many potential buyers as possible and one of the ways we do this is work with other agents.
One of the key things my agents are told is never ever treat the agents the way we have been treated. Always, always make our listings easy to show, even to those who always make up excuses why we can't show theirs.
I love working with professionals. lol
Mary Welch, Broker/Owner Preferred Choice Realty of Harper Kansas
Member Harper City Council
Member Harper County Economic Development Council
Member Wichita Area Association of REALTORS, Kansas Association of REALTORS, and the National Association of REALTORS