Society & Culture Am I A Bad Guy?

[TheStinger]

GD, let me tell you a story.

I am currently selling my house. During the process of selecting a real estate agent, I interviewed about 6 of them before settling on the one I thought was best for me.

One of his main selling points was a guarantee that if at any time I was unhappy or disatisfied with anything, I could terminate the contract and pay nothing. All of the costs associated with advertising, the sign and any other costs are his responsibility if he doesn't sell the house or I leave. I pay nothing.

So after two months of the place being on the market I have had exactly ZERO people come through to have a look (it was inspection by appointment, not open house). He has also told me that ONE person was interested enough to make an offer but after two days decided to back out.

I am beginning to think I have made a mistake with this guy. Every time he calls me or I speak with him, he is getting me to drop my price. I have dropped my price $35k from the initial asking price, which is $15k below his "price range" he thought I could realistically get.

So after two months of virtually nothing happening, I spoke to a friend of my parents who is a real estate agent. I have known him for half my life and he has always been straight with me. He said I was getting swindled. I asked him (he never asked me) that if I got out of my current contract, would he be able to sell my house. He said yes.

So I ring my agent and say I need to speak to him about our arrangement. He asks what's wrong. I said I want to go another way and would like to terminate our contract. Then the hostility started.

Haven't I done everything you asked? Haven't I worked hard? Haven't I spent money on internet advertising? Are you saying I have done all this hard work and now just as it's getting close to paying off, you're going to another agent who will sell it and make the money off my hard work?

Another ten minutes of excuses and questioning ensues. I know what he was doing. Two things. One, thinking with his pocket and realising he will not be getting his money back. And two, trying to work me to a point that I will rethink my decision and stay with him, also earning him his paycheck.

Now let's be clear. It was HIS contract I signed that said I could leave any time and not pay anything. It wasn't me that suggested that. And now he is claiming I'm putting him out of pocket by leaving him. I believe he has not done what I would consider a stellar job. Has he done all he can do? Maybe. But apparently his best isn't very good then.

So, my question is this. Am I the bad guy here? Have I not given him a fair go? Or am I right to say enough is enough and take him up on his offer to walk away free and clear? Am I doing a bad thing by going with another agent who is a friend of the family?

tl;dr - I left a real estate agent and he is now crying. Is it my fault?

 

[gimp!]

Nothing to be concerned about, you both entered an agreement, that's that.

 

[Messenger]

He hasn't lived up to his end of the deal and you are taking up his termination arrangement. You've done nothing wrong.

Never feel sorry for a land rat.

 

[TheStinger]

He hasn't lived up to his end of the deal and you are taking up his termination arrangement. You've done nothing wrong.

Never feel sorry for a land rat.

Yeah, he went the major guilt trip to try and make me feel sorry for him. I'm not changing my mind, that's for sure. But just so I don't get bullied by him, my dad is coming over when he comes to sign the termination papers. Just to make sure he doesn't try some shifty trick to make me pay or something.

It's funny how someone can go from personable to vitriolic in no time flat.

 

[krusden]

He sounds as histrionic as an ex girlfriend of mine. Trying the guilt trip is a strange business manner to adopt

 

[Kahuna]

You are not a bad guy at all, you have to be ruthless in life.

This guy sounds like he has no idea, you have to think of yourself once in a while, this is one of those times.

You could be stuck with this guy for a year and have a continually lower price of your house, which is a big deal.

 

[Dan Moody]

Mate where's the property?
This scumbag is having a lend of you, unless it's a $400k property that you've got an $800k tag on, this lazy bum isn't doing his job. Is it one of the bigger agencies? Properties we write up are on the market for a max' 3 weeks before an offer is made and open house should be bringing in dozens every time.

 

[Leper]

The guy is trying to emotionally blackmail you - don't be fooled. I'd have no hesitation in telling him to shove it. Oldest trick in the book for agents is to get your listing by promising you a high sale price, and then convince teh vendor that "the market has changed" and cut the asking price / accept much lower offers.

Bear in mind also the advertising is primarlily to promote his brand - not just your house - an astute vendor should never pay for that.

Tell him you sought advice from a reputable source.... and that the advice is to tell him to shove it (which from what you're saying is not breaching the contract you have with him).

Best of luck.

 

[Leper]

PS - Not a soul came through and he tells you somebody was about to make an offer? Sounds like bullshit to me.

 

[Saint KFC]

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is, etc etc. My eyebrows would have raised as soon as he mentioned the 'I'll foot the intermediate fees including all advertising if the house doesn't sell'. Just gives him even more incentive to sell the property, which obviously, will be easier to sell if he purposely undervalues it.

We were with a real estate agent who we were having open houses with for a little while, and despite the 'three or four interested buyers' that turned up most times, were having little success. On an open house one day, I had the brilliant idea to wait down the street, within visible distance of the house.

Returned to the house 45 minutes later after there had been no arrivals to be greeted with 'three or four interested buyers turned up'. Fair to say that agent didn't see out the day.

Real estate agents are shifty *****.

 

[TheStinger]

Mate where's the property?
This scumbag is having a lend of you, unless it's a $400k property that you've got an $800k tag on, this lazy bum isn't doing his job. Is it one of the bigger agencies? Properties we write up are on the market for a max' 3 weeks before an offer is made and open house should be bringing in dozens every time.

It is nowhere near those numbers. It's at best $240k and with his 2.5% commission, every time I drop my price his bottom line is not affected that greatly. But mine is. I can see how he is just trying to get the price down to where it will ultimately sell itself and he still gets a healthy commission. Say I drop $40k, his commission only drops $1k. He still gets a nice score while I'm getting screwed.

And yes, it's one of the bigger groups. The property is in Ottoway, near Port Adelaide.

The guy is trying to emotionally blackmail you - don't be fooled. I'd have no hesitation in telling him to shove it. Oldest trick in the book for agents is to get your listing by promising you a high sale price, and then convince teh vendor that "the market has changed" and cut the asking price / accept much lower offers.

Bear in mind also the advertising is primarlily to promote his brand - not just your house - an astute vendor should never pay for that.

Tell him you sought advice from a reputable source.... and that the advice is to tell him to shove it (which from what you're saying is not breaching the contract you have with him).

Best of luck.

I have heard of that idea that the advertising in papers and on the net is not just about your house, it's about their business. So to that end he will at least have got some value out of his money, but just not the end result he wanted. But that's not really my problem is it. I have to look out for my own interests and not his.

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[ash_1050]

He sounds like a little whiny bitch if he is trying to emotionally blackmail you into staying with him. No wonder he isn't doing that well, he doesn't have the selling techniques required to survive in the industry.

 

[HarryTiger]

He sounds like a little whiny bitch if he is trying to emotionally blackmail you into staying with him. No wonder he isn't doing that well, he doesn't have the selling techniques required to survive in the industry.

 

[Poseidon]

Hahaha this is exactly who I thought of when I read the OP.

OP, don't worry you aren't a bad guy. The guy failed to deliver what you wanted, you terminated the contract on his terms, and now he's trying to make you feel bad? He should be the one starting a thread asking if HE is a bad guy. Sleep easy, brudda.

 

[Caesar]

Never feel sorry for a land rat.

Word.filler

 

[NMFCMUFC]

Look after number 1.

The day you don't is the day you're doomed.

 

[The OBSTacle]

Never feel sorry for a land rat.

Bingo!

They fit neatly above pedophiles and just below lawyers.

 

[HolyRioli]

His contract, his problem. All you are doing is abiding by it

 

[King Elvis]

Learn your lesson next time though - if this guy was any good, his charges would reflect it.

How much advertising did he actually do?

 

[HahnPremium]

The property is in Ottoway, near Port Adelaide.

Therein lies your problem. That market has seen a massive downturn recently. Can you imagine how hard it is to sell real estate in Port Adelaide? Cut your over-priced whoring shark some slack. Seek a move North.
Gold Coast detention centre-like apartments will appreciate over time.

 

[WALL-e]

Learn your lesson next time though - if this guy was any good, his charges would reflect it.

How much advertising did he actually do?

This.

You usually get what you pay for. You got nothing and paid nothing. Sweet.

You've done nothing wrong, and certainly nothing he wouldn't do.

 

[showdownhero]

OP should read Freakonomics

 

[nicky]

To the OP, not at all

 

[Brad Goodman]

Whose decision to not have open for inspections? That might have turned a few people away (not sure why, just putting it out there).

That said, you should feel no guilt over the situation.

 

[Hap Hapablap]

feeling sorry for a real estate agent? since when?

honestly mate forget about it. you are entitled to do whatever you wish to sell your house.