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When your agent gives you bad advice, even if they are friends, it may be time to say NEXT!


Friends and adviceSix and a half months ago I had a couple that was looking for their first house together. Though we had some hits and misses, we thought we finally found the perfect one for their situation. It had a mother-in-law quarters for, hey wouldn’t you know it… A mother-in-law.

Well, we did the inspection and found that despite what the listing said and what the agent said, it just wasn’t true. The seller had the famous Louisiana Pacific (LP) Siding on the house when it was built, and like most LP siding in the pacific northwest, it started to grow mushrooms and warp as the moisture penetrated it.

The problem came when the agent was telling my buyers that the south side of the house had all the siding removed and had been replaced with Hardiplank siding 7 years ago. Well, this agent didn’t know what Hardiplank or LP siding looked like and the fact is it was it was replaced with just more LP siding and it was starting to repeat the process of what had happened 7 years before.

After calling the agent and informing them of a leak in the ceiling of the garage, caused by the siding and the mushrooms on the side of the house and the fact that the whole house was still LP siding, she told us that we were liars and would have her own independent inspector check it out. (Can you guess what he inspector found?)

Finally, after all this she tells me that the house is priced right and that there is no way that she will tell her friends to make those repairs that totaled $15,000. The price of that home at that time… $282,000! At that time, I told that agent that it wasn’t her decision to make she needed to present the repair addendum to her seller. The time line passed and there was no signature. (We never did get one rejecting or accepting repair addendum.)

So, three days later we issued a termination agreement and we were walking and the other agent said that was fine, she would have a full price offer within days at that price and she guaranteed the repairs wouldn’t need to be done! I told her that I hope your client doesn’t find out what you did and my clients will see you in court about their inspection money because you put on the disclosure that the house had been redone in Hardiplank when it actually hadn’t!

Now six and a half months later I saw that there was a siding truck out in front of the listing and the property is now for sale for $240,000 and has expired with this agent twice! How does this agent live with themselves knowing that she has cost her client $40,000 because she thought she was right?

So, if you hire a friend, make sure they are doing what is best for you and letting you decide. They have a fiduciary responsibility to you and they also have to let you make the decisions not them. Sometimes it is better to keep a friend a friend rather than lose them over one of the biggest transactions of your life.

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Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

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©2009 Todd Clark - When your agent gives you bad advice, even if they are friends, it may be time to say NEXT!


Todd Clark and the Friendly Home Team
Knipe Realty
Todd@IFoundYourNewHome.com
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)746-9573

 

 

 

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 I am a licensed Realtor who specializes in Washington County, Oregon and also work in both Clackamas and Multnomah Counties including the cities of Aloha, Beaverton, Canby, Clackamas, Gladstone, Gresham, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Sherwood and Tigard. All information contained in these posts are copyrighted and cannot be used without prior written approval authorization from the author me Todd Clark. If you are looking for an outstanding agent please give me a call I would love to help you with all your real estate needs.

 

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Comments

Not all realtors are created the same!

Posted by Amanda Wilson, Real Estate Advisor (EWM International Realtors, Inc.) over 2 years ago

I would have to agree with Amanda I won't pull punches, even if they are my friend they're going to hear it!

Posted by Heather Adkinson Moses Lake Real Estate Agent (Windermere K-2 Realty LLC www.propertiesinmoseslake.com) over 2 years ago

Todd -  are your Buyers still around?  What a nice bargain for them if they are.  I had clients this summer who finally got the place of their dreams after 3 years and at a much lower price too! 

Posted by Susan Emo in Gananoque/Kingston/Brockville ( RE/MAX Riverview Realty Ltd - Brokerage 1000 Islands Canada) over 2 years ago

You have made some good points here today.  I won't get involved with friends and business. It most always doesn't pay off.  Better safe than sorry!

Patricia/Seacoast NH

Posted by PATRICIA AULSON, REALTOR Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes (PRUDENTIAL VERANI REALTY- Portsmouth NH Real Estate ) over 2 years ago

This broker sure isn't doing her "friends" any favors.  I wonder how strong the friendship will be after the house has been on the market for a year or so.  There are lots of properties for sale in that price range!

Posted by Marcy Eastham (Town & Country Realty Corvallis Oregon) over 2 years ago

Wow, Todd, that real estate agents' behavior is alarming. Not only is she doing her friends a disservice, she is not performing her fiduciary duty.

Posted by Maria Morton, Kansas City Real Estate (Prudential Kansas City Realty) over 2 years ago

Great article!

Todd,

Competence or rather incompetence has nothing to do with friends or family. Even component professionals should avoid doing business with family or close friends, but it's a hard lesson to learn. Personally I'll turn clients into friends, but never friends into clients.

Bill

Posted by William J Archambault Jr (The Real Estate Investment Institute ) over 2 years ago

 Todd --- yes, when one lists with friends, they are sometimes disappointed and cannot figure out how to get our of the listing.

                                                                             Mama  Liz

Posted by Liz Loadholt- AgentOwned Realty- Covering SC over 2 years ago

We need to give advice not make decisions like that for sellers. What a mistake we make when we get too personal with the transaction.

Posted by Terry+Bonnie Westbrook Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Real Estate (Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner) over 2 years ago

Todd - I was going to state what Terry said "We need to give advice not make decisions like that for sellers" and it shouldn't matter if they are friends or not.

Posted by Michelle Gibson REALTOR® Wellington Florida Homes for Sale (Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. ) over 2 years ago

Todd,  I am surprised she is still in this business with handling issues in a manner such as that!

Posted by Heather Fitzgerald | Indiana REALTOR Greenwood Indiana Real Estate (REALTY WORLD-Harbert Company, Inc.) over 2 years ago

Todd,  I am surprised she is still in this business with handling issues in a manner such as that!

Posted by Heather Fitzgerald | Indiana REALTOR Greenwood Indiana Real Estate (REALTY WORLD-Harbert Company, Inc.) over 2 years ago

Boy.... I have a friend experience, but only as it relates to mortgages. This reminded me of is, so I'll have to go post now. Excellent points though. Just because you hired your friend does not mean they are truly watching out for you completely. Sometimes they think they know best and instead should be consulting the homeowner.

Posted by John Cannata - Supreme Lending Frisco Texas Home Loan Originator (214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com) over 2 years ago

Great story... Todd, here is the good news, chances are the agent may no longer be in the business, cleaing the way for competent agents like us here to represent our clients BEST interest.

Posted by Dan Edwards, REALTOR® Helping you home in Sammamish Washington (Northstone Real Estate, Inc.) over 2 years ago

I wonder if she couls be sued by her former sellers for lack of intelligence?

Posted by Robert L. Brown~Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Michigan (www.mrbrownsellsgr.com) over 2 years ago

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