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Evelyn Johnston, The People You Know, Like and Trust! (Friends & Neighbors Real Estate)

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Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

It may be better to knock on the brokers door and ask why the agent is not returning any calls.

Dec 14, 2015 12:28 PM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Have your buyer do a sign call to agent. When agent calls buyer back, they should say they would like to schedule a time that my agent can show me this house. Or you can stand out front by the sign writing down a phone #, and if owners are home, maybe they will initiate conversation. Or, have buyer do the knocking, and say something like ( if they answer door) " I was passing by, and like this house... can I schedule a time that I can have my agent bring me back to show it to me?

Dec 14, 2015 09:01 AM
Rainmaker
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Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

I like Jeff Pearl 's answer. Makes sense.

Dec 14, 2015 11:30 AM
Rainmaker
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Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I would not do that though it would probably not be unethical. It would terribly damage relationships in my Realtos community and the word would travel fast.

Dec 14, 2015 10:20 AM
Rainmaker
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Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I would call the broker first. I don't think you should knock on there door.

Dec 14, 2015 09:34 AM
Rainmaker
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Evelyn,

OMG, this happened to us, when an agent claimed to my mother in law that we were not returning her call, we would have if she called.  Just so happened we were there going over an offer with her, and she asked the agent which number she called.. The agent sputtered and could not even come up with the number on the sign...Then she invited us to ask her when she called...

Anyways, I would not do it.  I would just move on to the next property...I  would decide that the agent and the owner are birds of a feather, and trouble looms ahead.  A  

PS Jeff Pearl has a great answer.  A

Dec 14, 2015 11:54 AM
Rainmaker
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Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Yes, I would call the managing broker. I think that you are now allowed to contact the seller.

Dec 14, 2015 11:13 AM
Rainmaker
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Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Yes it is an ethics violation. I would call the broker or the office and inform them that I am trying to show the home.

Dec 14, 2015 08:52 PM
Rainmaker
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TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good morning Evelyn. I have to agree with Bob. Contact the broker.

Dec 14, 2015 06:20 PM
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Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Evelyn. If I could not reach the listing agent, I would contact the office or the broker, hopefully someone could get me in, but I wouldn't know on the owner's door.

Dec 14, 2015 05:28 PM
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Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Ethics aside, it would sure be tempting! 

Dec 14, 2015 12:22 PM
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Richard L. McKinney P.A.
Atlantic Shores Realty Expertise - Port St Lucie, FL
For Results that MOVE you on the Treasure Coast!

Yes, you can contact the seller in this circumstance but you should only do it as a last resort. I recommend going throug the broker first.

 

 

 

Dec 14, 2015 10:49 AM
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Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

I would agree with Joe Pryor and Debbie Laity .  You kill two birds with one stone there... getting your issue resolved and letting the broker know the agent is not properly managing the listing.  

Dec 14, 2015 09:39 AM
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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Interesting question.  I'd ask if it is an ethics violation for an agent not to respond. The answer is in the question.  When that happens to me I just move on. That's not the kind of agent my clients and I want to work with.  My clients agree with me on that.  And, if I were to go over the agent's non-responsive head, that would likely only make the agent upset, PO'd, angry, you get my drift ... and that does not make for a beginning of a working relationship.  A real Catch-22.

Dec 14, 2015 09:30 AM
Rainmaker
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Pete Xavier
Investments to Luxury - Pacific Palisades, CA
Outstanding Agent Referrals-Nationwide

In agreement with Jeff Pearl on this one after exhausting the most logical steps.

Dec 14, 2015 09:13 AM
Rainmaker
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Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I would call that agent's broker first. You don't want to violate any sign crossing rules. 

Dec 14, 2015 08:36 AM
Rainmaker
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Stefan Winter
Real Estate in IL & NV | Owner of Real Estate Web Tech | Daily Vlogger - Las Vegas, NV
Owner - Winter Group & Real Estate Web Tech

That is a tricky question, I know a lot of agents that have a serious problem returning phone calls for some reason and it makes business complicated. I have yet to knock on the door of a home owner. I suppose if it is a house my clients really wanted to see as their agent it be my job. Preferably I'd avoid it at all costs.

Dec 14, 2015 08:18 AM
Rainmaker
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Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Evelyn - I would try and contact the broker first, and if they will answer their phone, that usually will take care of the lack of communication/non response by the agent.

Dec 16, 2015 03:24 PM
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Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Is the listing appointment with agent only?  If not, go ahead and show it.  If it is, I see no issue with going to the seller directly to schedule the showing or getting the agent to stop slacking off.  No ethics violation here.

Dec 15, 2015 04:55 AM
Rainmaker
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David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

Evelyn,
I think that would be an ethics violation. Go to the agents’ broker if there isn’t a showing service setting appointments.

Dec 15, 2015 12:51 AM
Rainer
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Michael Thacker - Re/Max Real Estate Center - Louisville
Re/Max Real Estate Center - The Thacker Group - Louisville, KY
Your best friend who just happens to be a Realtor

I don't believe that I would knock on the door, asking for lots of bad feelings, and I would not want to cause that. I would just call his/her office to see how to reach the agent, or if not available, perhaps speak to their broker.

Dec 14, 2015 10:30 PM
Rainmaker
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Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

I think that would be crossing the line.

Dec 14, 2015 10:07 PM
Rainmaker
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Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

I call the sponsoring broker and inquire what the problem is! Usually resolves the problem very quickly!

Dec 14, 2015 10:04 PM
Rainmaker
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Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

There are listing agents in my area you can never reach, they dont seem to return messages or emails so often their homes do not get shown. though i would love to knock on the door and tell the seller the problem, only once did i have a buyer do it as the home was next to his parents and he wanted to buy it for location. The seller had no clue there were problems trying to see it but then understood why there was no showings 

Dec 14, 2015 09:39 PM
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Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

It depends what the showing instructions state.

Dec 14, 2015 09:37 PM
Rainmaker
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Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

I would call the listing agent's Broker and never knock until it expires.

Dec 14, 2015 09:35 PM
Rainmaker
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I don't think I'd go down that path... I'd call the agent's broker in charge first for some help.

Dec 14, 2015 08:55 PM
Rainmaker
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Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

I'd call the broker of that agent. If that agent is the broker, I'd potentially knock or maybe write a note. I'd want to make sure that agent wasn't on vacation or in the hospital before i went too far, so I'd approach it more from concern than complaint until I knew the whole story. I do not believe it's a violation; you put a home on the market, it's kind of a place of business now; people may knock when they see a sign or an ad anyhow. I despise agents that put us in that position to begin with.

Dec 14, 2015 03:22 PM
Rainmaker
443,220
Cindy Davis
SD Home Source Realty - San Diego, CA

It might piss someone off, but I would not consider it an ethics violation. 

Dec 14, 2015 10:23 AM
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Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Most agents leave a msg or VM with agent telling them they are knocking unless it is explicit no knocking..... If seller open the door ask permission first.

I will call the broker as his for advice. He manages the agent.

Dec 14, 2015 10:12 AM
Rainmaker
655,940
Jeffrey Jones
AZ Home Seekers - San Tan Valley, AZ
AZ Home Seekers, azhomeseekers.com

go to the broker first. at that point with no repsonse in 24 hours you can legally go to the seller.

Dec 14, 2015 09:48 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Since rules vary by jurisdiction, I would recommend that you contact your real estate regulator, your real estate board(s), your MLS and any other authorities that govern you in order to determine if it is an ethic violation.

Dec 14, 2015 09:22 AM