When you list your property with a real estate agent, you are right to expect that the agent works for you, especially when your listing agreement says "Exclusive Seller Agency". As a sellers agent, your agent should represent you at all times.
We sure have horror stories the longer we are in business. I consider these situations as learning experiences so they are welcome, even if it serves as an example of what NOT to do.
Case in point. Couple comes into the office and is mad at a selling agent from another agency, they report that they made an offer on a property listed with that agency and the agent informs them the offer is too low and the agent refuses to submit it to the seller! This is what the agent told them, "the seller has been offered this before and they refused it."
My answer "so?". That agent works for the seller, and is held responsible to submit ALL offers to their seller client. At no time during the entire process is the agent the owner, or have any right to speak to what the owner will or will not take. Situations change. We must present ALL offers to the sellers even if we feel they are low or feel the seller will refuse it. By doing so, it is sometimes possible to take a low offer and work it back and forth long enough to maybe come to an agreement. But to flat out refuse to submit an offer is an intolerable practice and goes against the duties outlined in the Real Estate Brokerage Disclosure.
So what happened in this particular, recent case? We were not in the loop, we were just a source to come and complain to. Sonya took the complaint and told the buyer to go to that agent and demand that the offer be put on paper, in the form of a contract, and be sumitted to the seller! So, the buyer went back to that agent, empowered. A few days later the property is showing "under contract". Hope that buyer got the house they wanted. Sad that we had to inform the buyer of how to get their offer past the agent and presented to the seller.
What kind of an agent would refuse to submit an offer to their seller?
Mary Welch Broker-Owner Preferred Choice Realty of Harper, Ks.
Member Wichita Association of REALTORS, Kansas Association of REALTORS, National Association of REALTORS.