Suddenly I'm feeling old. I see "Gopher" and think Caddyshack and Love Boat. My role as a listing agent is to market the property, negotiate offers, and help guide the escrow to closing. Beyond that I'm happy to be the "source of the source." If a request might expose me to liability, I'll politely explain that "I can't gopher that. No can do."

Some sellers are more needy than others. I am careful about what I am willing to take on though

 Depending on what it is I make them the gopher...unless elderly and not able to go

Tony,

It has not happened to us.  We believe that professionals refer other professionals and are not subscribed to the DIY form of business.  If there is an issue of liability we would suggest that the seller consult the right professional.  For instance, we were capable of writing contract clauses on leases, and since we are not attorneys, we had the attorney review them, either ours or the owners.  In our heads the fee guaranteed peace of mind, and as far as we are concerned that was $$$well spent.  A

I don't do that type of work.

we do what a listing agent is expected and required to do....there's no gopher involved unless it's necessary to close....we will make sure it gets done...

Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers It's okay to help out once in a while, if necessary. Otherwise Gopher is not in my Job Description.

Tony and Suzanne - I may help out a seller who is out of the area, but those kinds of things would be on my schedule, and I would work with the vendor to arrange the appointments.

The listing agent needs to have the ability to control the situation and limit the actions to those that are necessary.

It would depend on the circumstnces and if there was any cash layout.  I would not work for a broker where one would need permission for something like this.

"Gopher" is not in my tool box! My drawers are full of other tools!

Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers - depends on what their expectations are!

And I think I know more about selling than them.....isn't it?

Once in a while I have to work a little harder if the seller is out of the area.  I've done some listings that have been sold to settle an estate, and these sometimes take hand holding and arranging for the gofers if nothing else.

I have not been asked to do anything out of the ordinary. 

Rarely, but as I mentioned on your blog I have been known to clean some floors or windows at an open house (or just before) because it was embarrasing (to me) and on a vacant house for my main client.  Sometimes, going a little above and beyond helps... plus they were my parents. 

I am very clear with my sellers from day one that selling their home is a joint effort. My expertise is marketing, negotiating, resources, and "magician", but when it comes to tasks, that they have to take that on. Like someone else said, I can be the source for the source, but that is all.

My team is as helpful as possible for our clients and any issue that requires the sellers involvement we provide the necessary information they need for the task.  I have never had any seller request Go-fer items that were out-of-line. 

In thirty years I have never had this issue with any of my listings.

Now, at home, Dave refers to me as the 'Go-for' but I am happy to assist him within reason.

Sometimes they do but I take it situation by situation. I will do more for an absentee Seller.  If it gets even a little out of hand I put a stop to it. 

Yes, they do.

The seller, now in Idaho, is no longer in a good position to do their own gophering. My choice is have the seller become involved in activity that will prove ten times more complicated doing it remotely than for me to just make it go away.

I am certain there is more exposure to liability. And that little 'Hold Harmless' form with the seller signature tends to discourage going rogue.

Does my broker permit this activity? I'll give him the opportunity to gopher instead of me. 

I run my own business. PERIOD. 

"Let me see if my broker/manager/boss approves this" sounds a lot like what I overhear at the Ford dealer.

I never really open the door for this type of scenario.  Occasionally someone may ask and if possible I will help- but not if I will be taking on liability.  I just had a seller ask me to GC the house remodel then sell it.  I don't want that liability.

I think its very common in the second home market to be dealing with absentee sellers, so yes our services do seem to encompass more than we like at times. I guess it does open up some liability, but the additional efforts are usually based on the level or relationship with that seller. We have never had a problem, but thats some food for thought regarding liability.

Oh boy. We've had sellers who mistook 'Listing Agent' for 'Free Property Manager'. To a certain degree, we'll help, depending on the client, relationship and our availability to do so. But the users and abusers can bite me. And to answer your Q: Yes, it can be added liability and I have been known to tell an agent 'That is not your job, do not do it'.

Sometimes, we have different divisions, and this type of thing gets billed by the hour to them.

Not sure what you mean by this and that....