I thought I would give Rhonda Callahan a shot at selling my house because she seemed inexperienced but enthusiastic. HUGE mistake. I've bought and sold 6 properties, so am not a rookie. I wish I would have just sold my house myself; it would have saved me ALOT of money.
She was not honest from the start. First, a bait and switch regarding her commission rate. Promised me 4%, but switched it to 5% on the contract (she said it was her broker's [Summer Hollis]) fault. Also changed dual agency rate to 4%.
When correcting mistakes on the contract, she cracked, "you sure are making me work for my money.' Passive-aggressive comments incoming.
Told me she was hiring a professional photographer when she didn't. I caught her and her broker taking photos and video when I looked at my in-house dog camera. When I received the photos/videos via email, they looked like a child had taken them; some were even taken with a cell phone. I insisted that a professional be used; she tried to tell me I had to pay for it until I reminded her that it was her responsibility. Ridiculous that I even had to argue this point.
She also lazily used a description I wrote myself (I'm a writer), which, based on her ineptitude, was a good thing.
My daughter and I had to help her put her sign up in front. She was constantly distracted and forgetting things, including the code for the front door lock.
When the Coming Soon listing was live for realtors, a showing appointment was made immediately based on these photos and description. These people made a cash offer immediately and indicated they would come up in price. This was before any weekend open houses occurred.
Rhonda did not tell me about this offer, which she should have. Instead she held worthless open houses, causing me to go out of town for 4 days with my dogs. Not one offer was made - not surprising given that she posted a large sign by the door 'warning' people that they would be recorded in the house. I asked her why she had the sign up, and she claimed she was 'legally' required to do so. She is NOT a lawyer, and this is NOT true. She did it in spite because I caught her lying with use of my dog cam. I told her to take it down.
When I returned at 2:20 pm after open houses ended and entered my house, she looked at me and said 'Oh you're early!' and I pointed out that no I was not, and that she needed to get herself the old man nosy neighbor out of my house.
She finally told me the details of the cash offer. I countered, they accepted, done deal.
This is when she basically started representing the buyer. She contacted me (BTW, she used three different phone numbers until I insisted on everything via email) and told me that the inspection was happening at 10 am on a Wednesday. Did not ask me (her employer), but told me. I reminded her that I work during the day and that was why I asked for showings (or anything else) to occur after 2 pm during the week or all-day on weekends. She disrespected me and my time and was incredibly rude, refusing to compromise with buyers on my behalf.
I contacted her broker (Summer Hollis), explained what was going on, and she took over. Inspection took place, contingencies removed, Rhonda's snotty passive-aggressive comments ceased. Okay all is well.
Until the buyer wanted to change the name on the contract to his son's name. At this point, I contacted an attorney because I knew I wasn't being properly represented by my realtor and needed proper legal advice (Rhonda was trying to tell me that oh, everything is fine, I see this all the time - AGAIN, she is not a lawyer). I refused any changes. A few weeks went by with NO communication other than me being very concerned that this wealthy buyer would back out because the escrow amount was nothing to them. I received no reassurances from Rhonda. So I warned my attorney and he was ready to take action not only against the buyer but also the realtor as needed if things fell through.
There was another within 5 days of closing request by the buyer to change the name on the contract to a trust in their son's name. Rhonda, AGAIN, said it was perfectly normal. She did not know that I knew that the buyer had already wet-signed the grant deed and any change in the contract would nullify the sale. Careless, negligent, misrepresentation. Of course, I refused.
Thank God the sale went through. This was THE most stressful house sales I've had in my long life.
PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS BROKERAGE. I calculated out her time and expenses spent on the sale and this brokerage earned approximately $350 an hour FROM ME. I received no Thank Your for your Business communication after closing.
Do this - write your own description, hire a photographer, pay for and post the listing on the MLS yourself with 2% to buyer's realtor, set up your own showings and appointments, pay a flat-fee to a real estate attorney to review contracts, use a reputable title company, and save yourself money and aggravation. Realtors are worthless. read more
