What are responsibilities of listing agent?

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

We listed with a very successful agent who is very busy. She has additional 3 people on her team. All are professional, but I'm not sure are able to appropriately serve my needs. Is this common: the listing agent herself has never shown my house, I did.

I am currently out of town trying to find an apartment at our new location. One of my agent's team was there yesterday for roof inspection. Yesterday she told me she would be there today for radon and mold, no need to drive back, today she can't. I've asked if they can re-schedule for tomorrow or even later today. (We agreed to seller's request to extend due diligence period from Monday to Wed.) it's a five hour drive.

I'm driving back and will be late. I am frustrated, this agent/seems to need a bigger team? Or am I wrong to be away? Agent says it's common for seller to be absent for inspections. Is it OK no one from "my side" is at inspections? Please advise,

Featured Answer

BarbSun Tondo

10 years ago

In my experience selling my home, most times the buyer's inspector came by himself and I was home. (FYI I had quite a few buyers/inspectors while selling my house). I was surprised that most buyers for my house did not attend the inspection. I think that was a mistake on their part. Then when the buyers receive the inspection report, they panic over every little thing since they were not there to see the situation and allow the inspector to explain it to them. For example: If your buyers were there when your roof was inspected, they would have seen that there was no leak and just a few loose nails.

AbbyJoy: If you can't attend the inspection on the house you're selling, then your realtor should let the buyers/inspectors into your house and be there until the inspection is over. That's their job. On the other hand, it is your house and you have the right to be there if you want. I know that most buyers are uncomfortable when a seller is there for the inspection, but too bad. Unfortunately, most inspectors I've dealt with were not the most honest people. They need to justify their fee, and put items in their report that don't exist. One of the inspectors that came to my house asked me for money to make all the "problems" go away. Needless to say, I didn't give him money. He wrote a report that wasn't true, telling the buyers that he could fix all these items for X amount of money.

You would think that a mold inspection is not subjective, but I've heard horror stories about inspectors "crying" mold over every piece of dirt they see. There's lots of money to be made in mold remediation. Open your windows up right before your radon inspection and you'll be fine.

Good luck!

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Comments (9)

sushipup1
10 years ago
If it's something like a roof inspection, you'll get a written report.
bry911
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I can't imagine a seller being at any inspection, but maybe this is just an area custom. In my opinion, the seller can only hurt the inspection. An inspector is going to report his findings rather than trust your explanation of them, and your comments and explanations could reveal other things for him to report.

Mold and Radon inspections are not subjective, either they find mold or they don't and your Radon level is X. I don't see how you being there will have any effect at all, unless you are worried about them stealing your stuff.

Edit: To answer your other question - While we all want great service, the realtor-client relationship is largely results oriented. If your house sells in the time you expected and at a price that meets or exceeds your desires, then it is hard to complain about what the realtor didn't do. I think it is acceptable and expected that things happen and unless it is part of a larger pattern I wouldn't think it too worrisome.
AbbyJoy thanked bry911
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AbbyJoy
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks bry, I'm glad you're back on the forum. I think I'm finding it hard to let go of the house.
midcenturymodernlove
10 years ago
I hate that whole "team" thing. Ugh. I interviewed one of those agents once, and out of the 20 minutes she deigned to spend looking at my amazingly desirable house, she was on her phone about 16 of those minutes. I politely showed her out and hired someone else who didn't really know a lot, but that doesn't matter. I do. All I needed was to be listed on the MLS. That's what he did.

The house was sold at ask shortly.

Today, I use a Flat Fee agent who does everything I need, and nothing that I don't need. It works perfectly.

Tell them to get it done. You are 5 hours away and they need to make sure these appointments are covered, however that is done in the location of the house. You can't be bothered with that.

Typically, for those inspections, the Buyer agent should appear with the Buyers and whomever is inspecting, and let themselves in with the lock box. Why didn't they do that?
AbbyJoy thanked midcenturymodernlove
Lys
10 years ago
I don't know of a case here where the seller or the seller's agent was present at the inspection. The buyer's agent handles everything, it's no different than if he was showing the house. Even if the seller is present when somebody walks in, they leave for the duration. If the buyer finds something the seller disagrees with, the seller hires its own inspection and then the realtors hash it out.
AbbyJoy thanked Lys
pkpk23
10 years ago
In my area, it is not usual for the seller or seller's agent to be at the inspection- it is the buyer and buyer's agent with the inspector. Can't imagine the buyer not being at the inspection.
AbbyJoy thanked pkpk23
homechef59
10 years ago
There is nothing wrong with wanting to be in control of every aspect of the sale. Squeaky wheel gets the grease. When it comes to inspections the seller should arrange for access to the home by the buyer's agent, the inspector and the buyer. No one else.

It's a matter of liability. You only want to know about the items the inspection reveals that the buyer wants addressed, nothing more. Who knows, it is possible that this sale may fall through, and you could be sued by a later buyer if you know about an issue revealed by a previous buyer or inspector.

I have never understood buyers that didn't want to be present at an inspection. It's a big part of buying real estate. Yes, it can be boring but it's important. You need to know about the care and feeding of the new property. It amazes me when buyer's don't attend.

The bottom line is you don't not want to be there nor do you want you agent at the inspection. You only need to assure yourself that the buyer's agent will be present. Put your valuables away, too. This will protect you from certain liabilities.
AbbyJoy thanked homechef59