Recently, a colleague told me that she was trying to set up an appointment to show a property to her buyer. The MLS sheet said "Call office for directions." So, my agent friend called the listing office.
Basically, this agent was given the run-around - there was nobody in the office able to give her directions to the property.
When the agent informed the buyer of this strange happening, he decided to call the office himself. He said to the person who answered the phone: "Hello, this is Jim Buyer, and I saw this property on your website. I would like to drive by and see it - could I have directions?"
Without hesitation, he was given directions....they probably assumed he would come back to their office if he wanted to make an offer or see the inside.
I'm sure my colleague's client does not have a favorable impression of that particular office...and I doubt that he will keep his experience to himself.
Another agent I know had similar problems with another office - she contacted the listing office to set up an appointment to show a property to her client. After leaving several voice messages that went unreturned, she finally got in touch with someone who was very reluctant to give her an appointment. He finally said "The sellers are too busy."
We all know *why* these offices are doing stuff this. They do not want other brokerages to show their properties because they do not want to co-broke the commission if that other office sells the property.
The question is: do the sellers know this, and do the sellers approve? Would a seller be happy to know that potential buyers are being hindered from seeing their property simply because of the greed and ego of their listing office?
When I list a home for sale, my first loyalty is to my seller and it is my fiduciary duty to make sure that every opportunity for sale is encouraged. If a competing office wants to show "my" listing, I'm thrilled! I put as much info on the MLS as I can and do everything in my power to make it easy for another agent to show the property to a potential buyer.
There are many ways in which an uncooperative agency can hinder the sale of your property. Be sure that the agent you choose to list your home with is willing to fully cooperate with agents from other brokerages...otherwise, your home may sit on the market longer because other agents can't show it to their clients.
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