The more the merrier?
D. Asked:
We need to find a house in an area close to the school my son will be attending in August. We have been pre-approved for a mortgage and the same company has offered an agent they can work with in the area at no charge. The new area is 3 1/2 hours from where we currently live. We had begun the process of looking on-line previous to the pre-approval and had spoken to another agent on the phone and via email. Is there a problem with have them both look for us. We have no commitment by word or paper with either?
This is a question that comes up frequently. Should you work with one agent, or is it “the more the merrier?”
First, do you know your relationship with the agent? If you are working with two agents, have you signed two Massachusetts Mandatory Licensee Consumer Relationship Disclosures? That is not a contract, but it does explain whether you are expected to become their client or their customer. If you are house-hunting without seeing this form first, you are working with someone who does not follow licensing law.
Second, does that agent know that you are working with someone else?
If you tell both agents, do you expect them to compete for your attention? Most self-respecting, experienced agents will not work that way. So, if you tell the agents that you have no loyalty to them, they may quit on you. If both agents agree to share you, what does that say about their services? What quality of loyalty will you expect from them?
If you don’t tell them, you may be caught “cheating.” How are you going to tell one agent that you don’t want to see a house because you’ve already seen it? If you get caught, a self-respecting agent will quit on you.
I find it hard to believe that consumers can have an ongoing relationship with any agent with “no commitment by word or paper.” You expect someone to give you their time, ongoing, on spec, nights and weekends, but that implies no commitment...
I share clients with my office mates. But, I haven’t otherwise shared a customer or a client since the end of my first year in business. It is not worth my time. I don’t get the impression that other agents do it either.
Agents? Did you ever share someone? Do you still do it?
Consumers, what are the tricks to using two agents without getting caught cheating? If you did use two agents, did you get double service?
