A Sacramento home seller called me yesterday to complain that when he came home from picking up his children, he discovered strangers had entered his home without permission. The fact that the intruders were a buyer's agent and buyers wasn't readily clear, and my client was understandably freaked out.
I promised him I would put the agent on notice that he is not permitted to enter a home simply because he can spot a lockbox on the gas pipe. He is required to check MLS showing instructions. On this particular listing, the showing instructions say to call the seller's cell before using the lockbox.
I notified the agent that he made a mistake, violated the terms of MLS and frightened my sellers.
The agent responded that he was fully aware that he should not have entered unannounced but offered the excuse that his clients were looking at a home across the street, spotted my listing and asked to see it. Since he didn't have MLS showing instructions with him, he felt it was OK to use his display key and enter.
Furthermore, he added: "I have had listings in the past that agents have shown unannounced... It is going to happen unfortunately... So tell your sellers good luck with their sale, we are sorry for coming in unannounced but buyers don't always think about others while searching for a home..."
No, they don't; that's why they hire a real estate agent.
This agent could have used his PDA to check MLS. He could have called the office number on the sign to ask about showing instructions. He could have called my cell phone, which was conveniently hanging from the sign rider to ask about showing instructions.
What he should not have done was throw out protocol, violate my sellers' privacy and barge into the home.
Well, MetroList is going to have a field day with this agent. I really dislike having to report fellow agents, but I also realize that it is every REALTOR's duty to protect the integrity of our profession and promote the safety of our clients. I'm still shaking my head in disbelief over this one.
The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, coming soon to a bookstore near you.
Photo: Big Stock Photo
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Certified HAFA Specialist
My Sacramento Real Estate Listings
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout the four-county Sacramento area. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate. DRE License # 00697006.
The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, available at Amazon.com.
Lyon Real Estate is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender. Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.
The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of Lyon Real Estate.
Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice. It could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.
