After contacting Carla H. in error and letting her know we were looking for the listing agent we…read morereceived a very unprofessional, scathing email about not using the sellers listing agent to buy a home. Accused us of not knowing what we were doing, warning us that this is not the way to purchase a home and that now the listing agent was going to (gasp!) receive ALL of the commission! and that she pays! to be a contact on Realtor.com and he doesn't so how can he be reliable? Absolutely not what we would expect from a professional. Do not assume what we know or do not know about purchasing a home you arrogant bully. Never, ever will we recommend her to anyone! What an absolute unprofessional bully! Email copy follows below. You decide!
Response to our email from Ms. Hill:
Hello Mike,
I've had a very busy day and just now sat down to my computer to catch up with "all" my email messages from today while I was out.
I did get your message about wanting the listing agent. I just want to make sure you understand a few things regarding this decision. The listing agent is already contracted to work for the seller, that happens when the seller signs a listing agreement with that agent to sell the home. This is also when the commission the seller agrees to pay the listing agent and the buyer's agent is set through that listing agreement contract. Somehow there is some myth out there that working with the listing agent is the best way to purchase a home. I ask you if the listing agent is already working for the seller, then how can you, as a buyer, get exclusive representation using the listing agent when purchasing a home? When you are making the largest most expensive purchase in your lifetime wouldn't you want your own representation? In listing homes myself, I develop a strong relationship with the seller's when I work with them and many times it is more like a friendship through the listing/marketing process. So why do you believe your going to get the best deal/representation or whatever it is you are trying to accomplish by going through the listing agent? They are already obligated to work for the seller by the contract they already signed. Now you, the buyer comes along and wants to buy this house. If the seller agrees, then that listing agent will be allowed to show that home to buyer's. According to the law, you must be informed that this is a listing of that listing agent also. So all parties must agree by signing a form called a dual agency form. This form discloses dual agency between the buyer and seller and their relationship with the listing/selling agent (this must be done at the first showing according to the law). What you are doing is giving both commission's to the listing agent and in the process you are not getting the best representation you can possibly get for all that money. I realize you will likely not call me back to help you with this process of your home purchase, I am hoping to help you by educating you about the process. I am sure the listing agent is going to be delighted when you call to look at their listing because it means they don't have to share either commission and they get both commissions.
On another note, when you go through Realtor.com to inquire about a home...unless that listing agent is dedicated to their own business enough to pay Realtor.com to receive their own leads, then your inquiry about that home is going to go to someone like me. By the way, I do pay Realtor.com to send the buyer's who inquire about my listings to me. Not only that, but I also pay Realtor.com to send the buyer leads to me from listing's where the listing agent does not pay Realtor.com to receive their own leads on their own listings. Obviously the agent on this home does not pay Realtor.com to receive their own buyer leads and that is why your inquiry came to me.
I have been selling Real Estate for over 25 years and I am fully dedicated to my business. It is not my hobby job and I try to do it Top Notch all the way. If you are inclined to call me or respond to this message and allow me to represent you, it would be my pleasure, however I don't expect that to happen.
In the end, I wish you the best of luck and I sincerely hope your home buying experience is nothing but the best. I am concerned that you are going to have a less than hoped for experience though by the way you are going about it. Nonetheless, Good Luck and thank you for allowing me this time.
Respectfully,
Carla S. Hill, GRI, CRS, ABR, SFR,
Broker Consultant
Kettley & Company Realtor's
720 Bridge Street
Yorkville, IL. 60560