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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19458 total posts
Name: L
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Old realtor causing problems need advice
Three years ago I put my home up for sale with what has turned out to be an insane person. When he listed it he had no showings, and only did one more than two months in when I demanded it. He did not bring anyone to see our home until the night before the six month contract expired. I told him he was an awful realtor and should have been ashamed with his behavior. He never called. He never advertised the house.
Fast forward to this weekend. We just listed. We did some renovations, new kitchen, new downstairs bathroom. We listed it for more than we had it up for three years ago as the market has completely changed and homes are going for a lot more.
He came to the open house and proceeded to talk to people who were interested in the house to convince them not to buy it. My realtor saw him and apparently had it out with him.
What do I do? Restraining order? Is there some licensing board to complain to?
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Posted 9/22/14 6:22 PM |
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justbeachy
So close....
Member since 7/07 2900 total posts
Name:
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Re: Old realtor causing problems need advice
What?!?! Wowwwwww No advice, but that's insane.
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Posted 9/22/14 8:04 PM |
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schmora15
LIF Adult
Member since 9/08 2476 total posts
Name:
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Old realtor causing problems need advice
Wow that's nuts! I would consult an attorney.
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Posted 9/22/14 8:23 PM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name: Allison
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Old realtor causing problems need advice
Report his to the licensing board.
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Posted 9/22/14 8:46 PM |
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Re: Old realtor causing problems need advice
Posted by alli3131
Report his to the licensing board.
This. Also I'd let his office know if he works for a particular company.
I also have seen it turn into a war for a lot less, but I admit I would consider blasting him on a site like Yelp or even LIF so it comes up in a search of him.
He sounds unstable though so you don't know what he is capable of if you go that route.....
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Posted 9/23/14 5:11 AM |
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JDubs
different, not less
Member since 7/09 13160 total posts
Name:
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Re: Old realtor causing problems need advice
Maybe there is a way for your realtor to reach out to the office that he works for, and fill them in on what is going on? This guy sounds like a psycho.
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Posted 9/23/14 9:04 AM |
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Mrs&MrsK
i need sleep ;-)
Member since 2/14 2008 total posts
Name: L
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Old realtor causing problems need advice
This sounds like million dollar listing on tv. what drama. i'd freak!
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Posted 9/23/14 9:08 AM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19458 total posts
Name: L
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Re: Old realtor causing problems need advice
Unfortunately he owns his own company so there is no one beyond the state to complain to. I think I am going to call my realtor for her opinion and then call the state board.
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Posted 9/23/14 9:26 AM |
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Re: Old realtor causing problems need advice
I would let your realtor handle it agent to agent (or broker to broker, if your agent needs to elevate it) for now.
You currently don't have a client relationship with the agent, so I think it would be better for your real estate agent to handle it.
Honestly, if all the agent did so far is attend a public open house and criticize the house to those present, his behavior isn't illegal and doesn't warrant a restraining order or call to the police. Of course, if he became violent or threatening, or refused to leave when asked, it may rise to another level.
It certainly is unprofessional and unethical. Real estate agents are licensed by NY state, but we also have an ethics board to handle claims of ethical violations and disputes among agents. So if your former agents' behavior turns out to be a one-time thing, then problem solved. But if he keeps trying to interfere with the sale of your home, I think your current agent could pursue it through the ethics channels.
If you want to handle it yourself, I would first go to the agent's broker (every licensed agent works under a broker, unless the agent himself is the licensed broker running the office) to try to put a stop to his behavior.
While the former agent sounds like a jerk and is completely out of line, I find it interesting that people are calling him a "nuts" and "insane" just because he attended an open house and badmouthed it! Wrong, yes, but he didn't boil a bunny on the stove or something! Perhaps I've been working in the real estate business for too long, and now have a higher "psycho-threshold"! LOL.
Message edited 9/23/2014 9:33:39 AM.
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Posted 9/23/14 9:30 AM |
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Re: Old realtor causing problems need advice
Posted by LSP2005
Unfortunately he owns his own company so there is no one beyond the state to complain to. I think I am going to call my realtor for her opinion and then call the state board.
I posted my reply before I saw he was the broker/owner. I would ask your real estate agent to address his behavior with him (or have her broker do it, broker to broker).
I also think it's good to document things in writing before taking it to another level, so if you decide to take matters in your own hands, I'd first send a strongly worded letter detailing the inappropriate behavior and demanding that he stop. Then, if you need to take things to the next level, at least you'll have a paper trail of attempts to resolve the issue.
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Posted 9/23/14 9:32 AM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19458 total posts
Name: L
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Re: Old realtor causing problems need advice
He is the broker, owner, agent in charge so no dice on that front. Please note he did not come to my house with the people he spoke negatively about my home. This was not a broker open either. It was an open house. He came alone.
Just an aside he also refused to present my written offer on another home we tried to purchase. I was told by the people who did buy it that they were told no other competing offers were on the house when we made an offer for the same amount it sold for.
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Posted 9/23/14 9:35 AM |
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Re: Old realtor causing problems need advice
Posted by LSP2005
He is the broker, owner, agent in charge so no dice on that front. Please note he did not come to my house with the people he spoke negatively about my home. This was not a broker open either. It was an open house. He came alone.
Just an aside he also refused to present my written offer on another home we tried to purchase. I was told by the people who did buy it that they were told no other competing offers were on the house when we made an offer for the same amount it sold for.
Definitely not ethical behavior, and I'm not defending him. I just think in the first instance, your real estate agent should try to handle it for you (as it is impeding the marketing and sale of one of her listings). And whether it's handled by the ethics board, or gets elevated to the licensing board, documentation is always key, so it's not just rumor and second hand hearsay.
It's not unusual for an agent to go to a consumer open house without buyers, though. I will sometimes go to preview a house to see if a buyer I have would like it, or just to stay on top of the local inventory. But he shouldn't have engaged in the negative comments. I do also think that it's on your agent (or whoever was working the open house) to shut him down and keep control of the open house. I would think this is something your agent would want to address, after the fact, without your prompting.
Sorry you are going through this. I know selling a house is stressful without unnecessary complications!
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Posted 9/23/14 9:44 AM |
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Pomegranate5
LIF Adult
Member since 2/11 4798 total posts
Name: Pomegranate5
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Re: Old realtor causing problems need advice
Posted by Century 21 Dallow - Christine Braun
While the former agent sounds like a jerk and is completely out of line, I find it interesting that people are calling him a "nuts" and "insane" just because he attended an open house and badmouthed it! Wrong, yes, but he didn't boil a bunny on the stove or something! Perhaps I've been working in the real estate business for too long, and now have a higher "psycho-threshold"! LOL.
Wow. This is such an odd viewpoint on what makes a real estate agent unstable. It is concerning that an agent trying to sabotage a sale barely warrants a complaint in your book.
OP I would report him IMMEDIATELY to both the licensing board and ethics board - your agent should know! He seems to have a personal vendetta against you and there is no way to know how far he would take it.
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Posted 9/23/14 9:47 AM |
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Re: Old realtor causing problems need advice
Posted by Pomegranate5
Posted by Century 21 Dallow - Christine Braun
While the former agent sounds like a jerk and is completely out of line, I find it interesting that people are calling him a "nuts" and "insane" just because he attended an open house and badmouthed it! Wrong, yes, but he didn't boil a bunny on the stove or something! Perhaps I've been working in the real estate business for too long, and now have a higher "psycho-threshold"! LOL.
Wow. This is such an odd viewpoint on what makes a real estate agent unstable. It is concerning that an agent trying to sabotage a sale barely warrants a complaint in your book.
OP I would report him IMMEDIATELY to both the licensing board and ethics board - your agent should know! He seems to have a personal vendetta against you and there is no way to know how far he would take it.
I was trying to add humor with my "boil a bunny" comment, which obviously didn't translate! It just seemed a bit dramatic to say, based on the initial post, that the person is insane or dangerous, which was what I was picking up from some of the responses.
But let me say for the record: I don't think that a real estate agent has to boil a bunny on someone's stove in order to be unstable. OK?
I am not condoning what the former agent did. I think anyone who has worked with me, or even interacted with me on this site knows that I try my best to be helpful in all things real estate.
I am in no way saying that the real estate agent's behavior is professional or ethical or appropriate. Unfortunately, there are agents in the business who use poor judgment (casting his behavior in the best light) or act unethically (in a way that harms their current or former clients).
I certainly have sympathy for the OP, and I think the bad behavior of the former agent must be addressed. But my best advice was to go to her current agent as the first course of action, to try to document the instances of unethical behavior by the agent, and to try to take it through the appropriate channels first. As a real estate agent (and an attorney), I am aware how complaints are handled and how they can best be presented. Usually, complaints are taken more seriously, and discipline imposed on the offender, when there is a strong case (and documentation always helps).
I can't tell from the original post what exactly happened. It sounds like the listing agent relayed what happened at the open house to the OP, and the OP didn't say what exactly the comments were. I'm just saying that there is nothing illegal or unethical in and of itself of an agent attending another agent's pubic open house. If the agent's behavior there was detrimental to the sale of the house (and it sounds like it was), then I think the current agent should be doing something about it, so I am only suggesting that the OP start there, and then escalate as necessary.
Message edited 9/23/2014 10:06:04 AM.
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Posted 9/23/14 10:04 AM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name: That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: Old realtor causing problems need advice
report him to the NYS licensing board
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Posted 9/23/14 11:11 AM |
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RainaK
LIF Adult
Member since 4/14 904 total posts
Name: R
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Old realtor causing problems need advice
Wow, that is crazy! Sorry that happened. I would see if maybe your realtor scared him off and this was a one time thing. I would be afraid reporting it might make things escalate with this nutcase...although if it does happen more than once, I guess you do have to report it. What other choice will you have then...
Message edited 9/23/2014 1:18:42 PM.
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Posted 9/23/14 1:18 PM |
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sunnyflies
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 1757 total posts
Name:
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Old realtor causing problems need advice
If he failed to extend your offer, that alone is grounds for a complaint. I say this as a former broker myself.
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Posted 9/23/14 6:23 PM |
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