Extremely Disappointed with Professionalism and Conduct…read more
I recently completed a real estate transaction where Bethanne acted as the seller's agent, and I feel compelled to share my experience to help future buyers proceed with caution.
At first glance, the property listing appeared comprehensive and professionally prepared, including a PDF and Word document outlining features such as appliances, televisions, and unique fixtures. I submitted an offer, and after some standard negotiations, we arrived at an agreed price.
Following the inspection, I raised a few critical issues that needed to be addressed for the deal to move forward. These included foundation repairs, attic ridge repair and insulation, termite bonding, and AC servicing due to the age of both units nearing end-of-life, all items based on unfavorable inspection report. I accepted the rest of the property as-is, despite several other major concerns such as deteriorating siding, a rotting deck and fence, and old AC systems. All of this was formally agreed upon and signed in the contract.
However, the situation took a dramatic turn after the appraisal. I noticed a square footage discrepancy and, as a buyer, exercised my right to challenge the appraisal. When the report came back below the contract price, Bethanne's reaction was not only unprofessional, it was shocking. She called my loan officer on a recorded line, berated her, and questioned her competence despite my loan officer's 25+ years of experience in the field. She had to explain, repeatedly, that appraisers are third-party professionals who operate independently from the bank, buyer, and seller, something any experienced realtor should fully understand.
Instead of de-escalating the situation, Bethanne made baseless accusations against my loan officer, including claiming she had written negative reviews about her (with no evidence), and even escalated the matter to her leadership at the bank. She then took it a step further by contacting the CEO of my lending institution, causing further unnecessary disruption and tension.
Towards the end of the transaction, Bethanne began to walk back on several agreed-upon repairs, including the attic repair, insulation, and termite bond, which had been signed off in the contract. This forced my own realtor to step in and cover these costs, sacrificing over $5,000 of her commission just to keep the deal moving forward and preserve professionalism. That kind of integrity stood in stark contrast to what I experienced from the seller's side.
Unfortunately, the problems didn't stop at closing. Upon receiving the keys, several items that had been clearly listed as part of the home's features were missing. These included: (1) The backyard fountain, referenced multiple times in the listing, (2) A professionally installed Sony TV (interior), (3) Sony TV mounted on the back deck ceiling, (4) An antique whale weathervane, described in the listing as professionally installed, (5) An antique oak medicine cabinet, (6) A reproduction Chippendale mirror in the half bath.
My realtor attempted to contact Bethanne to recover these items, but we received no response.
In summary, my experience with Bethanne was extremely disappointing. Her behavior throughout the process was unprofessional, combative, and unnecessarily disruptive. Rather than facilitate a smooth and respectful transaction, she actively made it more difficult, ultimately costing others both time and money.
I would strongly advise anyone considering working with her, whether you're buying or selling, to proceed with caution. I write this review not out of spite, but in hopes of saving someone else from the stress, confusion, and financial setbacks I experienced over the course of six exhausting weeks.
