Six
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.

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






Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Tigard OR homes for sale, homes for sale in zip code, 97223,97224, Tigard Oregon Realtor, Tigard OR Realtor, Tigard Oregon MLS Search, Tigard OR MLS Search, 1st time home buying expert, short sale expert, avoiding foreclosure in Tigard, helping families home, LivingBeaverton, Townhomes for sale, home for sale, house for sale, Bull Mountain North, Bull Mountain South, King City, Mountainview, Greenburg, Summer Lake Neighborhood, Summerfield neighborhood, Tigard neighborhood, Walnut Grove Neighborhood. Tigard Oregon Real Estate, Tigard OR real estate, Todd Clark, (503)524-9494, WWW.LivingTigard.com, www.IFoundYourNewHome.com, www.SavingyouFromForeclosure.com
©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
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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Not all realtors are created the same!
I would have to agree with Amanda I won't pull punches, even if they are my friend they're going to hear it!
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!
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
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!
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.
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
Todd --- yes, when one lists with friends, they are sometimes disappointed and cannot figure out how to get our of the listing.
Mama Liz
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.
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.
Todd, I am surprised she is still in this business with handling issues in a manner such as that!
Todd, I am surprised she is still in this business with handling issues in a manner such as that!
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.
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.
I wonder if she couls be sued by her former sellers for lack of intelligence?