Am I obligated?

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program

eggtarte_IHB

New member
Hi I am new to the forum and this is my first post so I appreciate any feedback. Last week, I met an agent while attending a recent open house. He overheard me comment on how I thought the house was too expensive to my wife. This agent then overheard and stated he knew of another listing aroung the corner. He offered to show it to us and we went. We saw the house an are interested in making an offer but rather not use him as we felt he was not profesional enough. To be fair, he did show us around the neighborhood to see other houses on the market. Just because he showed us the house are we obligated to use him?
 
[quote author="eggtarte" date=1242796256]Hi I am new to the forum and this is my first post so I appreciate any feedback. Last week, I met an agent while attending a recent open house. He overheard me comment on how I thought the house was too expensive to my wife. This agent then overheard and stated he knew of another listing aroung the corner. He offered to show it to us and we went. We saw the house an are interested in making an offer but rather not use him as we felt he was not profesional enough. To be fair, he did show us around the neighborhood to see other houses on the market. Just because he showed us the house are we obligated to use him?</blockquote>
Not at all. As stated before, you are not obligated to use that agent to represent until you have signed a representation agreement. Most agents try to get you to sign this ASAP but I personally don't require it until we have an accepted offer and are in escrow (at that point I need to provide it to the listing agent and my broker). I think buyers should be able to be free to choose who they work with at any time before going into escrow. Hope that helps.
 
like it has already been said. you are NOT obligated to use this agent. find someone you trust and respect.



is a buyer broker agreement really iron clad? i always thought it was very weak at best.
 
So wait this realtor took the time and showed you something that you REALLY LIKED and basically met your needs... but is not professional enough? Does he have baggy pants?
 
[quote author="LoudRoar" date=1242877153]So wait this realtor took the time and showed you something that you REALLY LIKED and basically met your needs... but is not professional enough? Does he have baggy pants?</blockquote>


what is the problem with that? and i for one will not buy from someone with baggy pants.



i personally will not buy something from someone i dont like. when i purchased my car i went to dealership A. they had the exact car i wanted, i test drove it, love it, and wanted to purchase it, but... i didnt like the salesman. he called me bro, cursed in front of me, and treated me like i was his buddy. i went to dealership B who had a very professional salesman, i told him exactly what i wanted and that dealership A had it. they ordered the car for me and i purchased it.

when i purchase a car or make any large expenditure i am not looking for friends or buddies. i am looking for a professional and knowledgeable salesman or woman and i will NOT buy from someone who doesnt fit this criteria.



sales is all about image. if you are incapable of portraying a professional image (dressing professional) then you need to find another profession.
 
I hear you guys. Technically, you absolutely can walk away. However, there is some good faith involved here. I personally don't care which broker I use as long as he or she can push the paper work diligently. I don't use them to negotiate anyways.
 
[quote author="etheran" date=1242892931]I hear you guys. Technically, you absolutely can walk away. However, there is some good faith involved here. I personally don't care which broker I use as long as he or she can push the paper work diligently. I don't use them to negotiate anyways.</blockquote>
Don't be afraid to ask for some of the commission back from the realtor (buyside) if you are doing some of the leg work.
 
[quote author="eggtarte" date=1242796256]Hi I am new to the forum and this is my first post so I appreciate any feedback. Last week, I met an agent while attending a recent open house. He overheard me comment on how I thought the house was too expensive to my wife. This agent then overheard and stated he knew of another listing aroung the corner. He offered to show it to us and we went. We saw the house an are interested in making an offer but rather not use him as we felt he was not profesional enough. To be fair, he did show us around the neighborhood to see other houses on the market. Just because he showed us the house are we obligated to use him?</blockquote>


Nope happens all the time.
 
[quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1242893065][quote author="etheran" date=1242892931]I hear you guys. Technically, you absolutely can walk away. However, there is some good faith involved here. I personally don't care which broker I use as long as he or she can push the paper work diligently. I don't use them to negotiate anyways.</blockquote>
Don't be afraid to ask for some of the commission back from the realtor (buyside) if you are doing some of the leg work.</blockquote>
isnt it technically illegal to give a kick back to a buyer or seller that is greater than $50?
 
[quote author="sugarspunZ" date=1242896488][quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1242893065][quote author="etheran" date=1242892931]I hear you guys. Technically, you absolutely can walk away. However, there is some good faith involved here. I personally don't care which broker I use as long as he or she can push the paper work diligently. I don't use them to negotiate anyways.</blockquote>
Don't be afraid to ask for some of the commission back from the realtor (buyside) if you are doing some of the leg work.</blockquote>
isnt it technically illegal to give a kick back to a buyer or seller that is greater than $50?</blockquote>
Not if it is a contribution into escrow towards the buyer's closing and lender costs (any exchange of money outside of escrow from agent to buyer is a big no-no). I use an addendum to the offer after acceptance to disclose the contribution of a portion of my commission to escrow on behalf of my buyer).
 
[quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1242898588][quote author="sugarspunZ" date=1242896488][quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1242893065][quote author="etheran" date=1242892931]I hear you guys. Technically, you absolutely can walk away. However, there is some good faith involved here. I personally don't care which broker I use as long as he or she can push the paper work diligently. I don't use them to negotiate anyways.</blockquote>
Don't be afraid to ask for some of the commission back from the realtor (buyside) if you are doing some of the leg work.</blockquote>
isnt it technically illegal to give a kick back to a buyer or seller that is greater than $50?</blockquote>
Not if it is a contribution into escrow towards the buyer's closing and lender costs (any exchange of money outside of escrow from agent to buyer is a big no-no). I use an addendum to the offer after acceptance to disclose the contribution of a portion of my commission to escrow on behalf of my buyer).</blockquote>
i knew a credit through escrow was ok. i misunderstood you. i thought you meant literally giving the person cash.
 
[quote author="sugarspunZ" date=1242905872][quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1242898588][quote author="sugarspunZ" date=1242896488][quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1242893065][quote author="etheran" date=1242892931]I hear you guys. Technically, you absolutely can walk away. However, there is some good faith involved here. I personally don't care which broker I use as long as he or she can push the paper work diligently. I don't use them to negotiate anyways.</blockquote>
Don't be afraid to ask for some of the commission back from the realtor (buyside) if you are doing some of the leg work.</blockquote>
isnt it technically illegal to give a kick back to a buyer or seller that is greater than $50?</blockquote>
Not if it is a contribution into escrow towards the buyer's closing and lender costs (any exchange of money outside of escrow from agent to buyer is a big no-no). I use an addendum to the offer after acceptance to disclose the contribution of a portion of my commission to escrow on behalf of my buyer).</blockquote>
i knew a credit through escrow was ok. i misunderstood you. i thought you meant literally giving the person cash.</blockquote>
Nope, doing that would be a lose-lose for everyone except for Uncle Sam.
 
Well here's the other side of the coin, for argument's sake.



I've heard stories of agents working with buyers for weeks or months. The buyers choose a home this agent showed them, only they decide to sign the purchase agreement using a different agent who agrees to share their commission. Allowing somebody who pays their bills and feeds their family solely off commission to spend their own time, energy, and money to help you, only to kick them to curb with questionable reasoning sounds pretty "unprofessional" to me.



I don't really understand why agents catch as much grief as they do on these forums. Granted there seem to be more bad agents than good ones. But I wouldn't fault a good agent for asking to have an agreement signed before making a personal investment.



Eggtarte, this isn't a jab at you. I just felt like throwing out another point of view. Whatever you decide, just make sure you're making your decision for the right reasons.
 
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