This is so trivial. I'm overthinking it. WWBOTBD?

NavyClan

We've found a few houses we liked, at least from what we can see online, and ended up finding a realty company that advertises great discounts for military members, both for the seller and they buyer. Awesome! So we inquire about some properties. Got a response and 1)the prices the homes are actually listed for are 10 and 40k more than what they're listed for on the site. 2)she went on and on about how unique the house looks! With that nice attached barn! ....um. it's a garage. An attached garage. It said so on both the listing AND the sheet you sent me. She also has just ignored some questions I've asked in the emails. We've been in correspondance for less than a week but already I'm thinking that they just sound not observant/shady and I don't really want to email her back or follow up or have anything to do with their company. I feel like it would be rude to just ignore emails, but so does "you sound dumb, and honestly, a little unprofessional, go away." Do I owe this internet stranger an explanation? HALP!

Told you I was overthinking it. I'm rolling my eyes at myself. But seriously, wwyd? lol.

joanithegreat

Sounds very shady.  I can not understand why they would say that the listings are 10 -40k more than what is listed on the site.

If you get a bad feeling from her just walk away and find a new realtor.  You don't owe her any explanation.

greenclown

I'd just say you've decided to work with someone else. If you just ignore her, she won't leave you alone.

NavyClan

greenclown:

I'd just say you've decided to work with someone else. If you just ignore her, she won't leave you alone.

even if we don't have someone yet? (yes, I am seriously questioning if it's ok to lie to someone who will never ever know I"m lying about something that has zero bearing on practically anything). Should I wait until we DO find someone else, in case everyone sucks too and she's the best there is and we'd need to be on friendly terms? Is it dumb that I'm even worrying about this? I feel bad, for possibly maybe not even offending her. Also I maybe need to lay off the caffeine. 

greenclown

LOL, okay, now you're overthinking it. It's not a lie to say you're going to work with someone else, and it doesn't mean you'll be on bad terms.

NavyClan

oooh. It all seems so simple when you say it like that. heh. Gracias!

Excitedtostart

I wouldn't work with them. 

Got to NAEBA.org - it's the National Association of Exclusive Buyers Agents.

They're real estate agents who don't list properties to sell, they only work with buyers. A traditional real estate agent sells houses, plus takes on buyers. They have an incentive to get you to buy a house from within their office, or houses they have for sale. An EBA, exclusive buyers agent, has no such incentive.

Did you go through USAA? I PPH USAA, but their buyers club, or whatever it's called, is sort of crap. Basically, they fax several real estate companies and tell them to contact you. The person who has the least amount of experience in the office is going to get that referral, because they'll do the work for the sale but basically have to pay for it. The money you get back comes out of their commission, so the more experienced agents won't want to do it.

Bottom line - the person you've been in contact with clearly doesn't have their head in the game, so send them an email saying Thanks but we're working with someone else. If you haven't signed a contract with them it's NBD. 

KikiCohen

joanithegreat:

Sounds very shady.  I can not understand why they would say that the listings are 10 -40k more than what is listed on the site.

If you get a bad feeling from her just walk away and find a new realtor.  You don't owe her any explanation.

This!!

danlexi04

I'd just tell her that you've decided to work with another agency. You really don't owe this woman anything. When we were selling our townhouse we had an agent working for us that had been working for my family for a pretty long time. He was an older guy and just wasn't putting in the effort he should have been and wasnt up to date on all the new sites and adds he could have been using, so we told him we weren't seeing things eye to eye and that we had found someone that better fit our needs.

NavyClan

ok, you all make me feel better. There was no contract, nothing about working together, we had just exchanged a few emails about properties and I was worried it was poor form to find someone else just based on a feeling. Now I don't feel so bad. 

Excitedtostart

Think of it this way: If you were buying a pair of $1,000 shoes, and the sales clerk was ditzy and kept bringing you wrong colors, sizes, would you go somewhere else? If you were buying a $40,000 car and the salesman was diicking you around, would you switch dealers? It's a huge purchase, you should have a ton of confidence in your agent, if not love them.

And if they ask why you're not working with them, tell them exactly what you said in your OP - discrepancies in price, they didn't know the listing, they ignored your questions, and they weren't invested in you as a client. Don't go back to them, but maybe they'll learn. GL!