Q: We are trying to buy a house in this market with a reputable real estate agent. He came highly recommended and stated that he usually does not represent buyers, but he would be obliged as a courtesy to the referring party. We have made offer after offer without success. Yesterday, our buyer’s agent scheduled a Zoom conference call with the loan officer he had previously recommended. He was trying to get our price range up with a new lender to make an offer deadline on a more expensive home we love. Our buyer’s agent was a backseat driver during the Zoom call while driving his car! It was the most stressful business meeting of our lives. Upon reflection, we put people in harm’s way to secure our dream home. Although the seasoned loan officer and the buyer’s agent are knowledgeable, we, as first-time homebuyers, do not want to put the biggest purchase of our lives into the hands of the reckless. Can we replace this buyer’s agent if he has shown us the property? And does it matter that we were the ones who found the home by spotting the For Sale sign while researching neighborhoods?
A: When a homebuyer wants to replace a buyer’s agent, he or she needs to memorialize the reasons why and communicate them immediately. Rescind the agency relationship by two of these three methods: email, text or voicemail. The self-employed real estate agent should not be thinking about serving clients who have lost faith in their ability to lead. Your feedback, in this case, might help save a life.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 9% of America’s fatal crashes involved distracted drivers in the last several years. The NHTSA also reports that in 2018 distracted drivers caused the deaths of over 2,800 people, while an estimated 400,000 were injured. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nine people are killed and over 1,000 injured every day by a cell phone-distracted driver.
Since COVID-19, there has been a tsunami of videoconferencing across demographics and industries. Since sheltering in place (SIP), I’ve seen four real estate “professionals” participating in large Zoom calls while driving. To make matters worse, they were all in “leadership” roles. Today, I viewed an online five-minute video solicitation of a real estate trainer filmed entirely while driving. Let’s hope the CDC and the California Highway Patrol save us from this form of trending self-absorption weaponized on wheels. In the meantime, fire your dangerously arrogant buyer’s agent; the life you save might be his.
Questions? Realtor Pat Kapowich is a career-long consumer protection advocate and Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager. 408-245-7700 Pat@SiliconValleyBroker.com DRE# 00979413 www.SiliconValleyBroker.com YouTube.com/PatKapowich
