Seller showed. Is my agent out?

Question

Newbie, trying to get my first house.

Saw an interesting REO property recently, and in an attempt to be low maintenance for the buyers agent I had been talking with about REI in general (no brokerage agreement tho) I called the selling agent and just asked to see the house. Figured I’d bring my buyers agent on board if the house looked promising. After the showing, the sellers agent said she would become my agent and her broker would become the sellers agent—since she “showed me the house”. Is that hard and fast true? Did I mess up? I don’t like the conflict of interest scenario she’s presenting.

Advice/admonishments welcome please.

David Nacco · Answer

@Wouter Ceyssens

What @Tommy Cangelosi said.

I’m sure you meant well but being your buying agent I’d be annoyed about this because at this point what most agents are thinking anytime you ask for anything is “okay am I even getting a deal with this person or do they just want free work done”. Like I said I know (well I assume) this was not your intentions and you meant well, but if you are already working with an agent just ask them to help you with things. Look at it like this, it’s what you hired them to do. At the end of the day you (or the seller) are paying them to provide you service so don’t do their job for them and little mistakes like this can be avoided in the future. Like I said, talk to your agent and explain what happened. I’m sure they will understand.

Tommy Cangelosi · Answer

@Wouter Ceyssens

Always consult your agent before going to look at a property. Do you have a “buyer brokerage agreement” with your agent? If you go see a house with another agent and then go back to your agent about it then you’re wasting someone’s time. As a broker myself, there is nothing more annoying then someone valuing their time over mine. It’s disrespectful. I know you didn’t know what you were doing, but I would go back to your agent, tell them the scenario, and ask what you should do from this point forward. Hope this helps!

Russell Brazil · Answer

Your agent under these circumstances stances would likely not be due a commission if a cooperating commission is offered. The agent who showed you the property is the agent who has the procuring cause of the sale if you do end up buying it. Unfortunately here, you may have screwed your own agent. You can still use whoever you wish to hire, but you would need to pay them as opposed to them receiving a commission from the listing brokerage.

Wouter Ceyssens · Answer

@Tommy Cangelosi @David Nacco.

Thank you for the feedback. Lesson learned. Will be reaching out to my buyers agent and working this out. Really appreciate the candid replies.

Bevla Reeves · Answer

@Wouter Ceyssens

Remember the Golden Rule.

Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you.

Real estate is a small world.

Protect your reputation.

Be a good person, always.

Good luck! ;)

David Nacco · Answer

@Wouter Ceyssens

Also the sellers agent can not make you use them. They probably are being shady and just want more commission. You can still use your agent. They can not make you enter a dual agency agreement. Tell them you are not comfortable with that

Seller showed. Is my agent out?

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