Question:
“We have our home listed and an agent who showed the house called us asking about why we’re selling, when we’d like to move, and if we had other offers. Is that normal?”
Answer:
Absolutely NOT!
That practice is unethical and possibly illegal.
The only communication the buyer’s agent should initiate with you should be nothing more than arranging to see your home, the normal pleasantries, and perhaps simple questions like: Where’s the water heater?
For all other communication, the buyer’s agent must call your agent.
So either that agent is ignorant of the ethics, rules, and laws, and thus shouldn’t be in real estate. Or they don’t care about the rules…and shouldn’t be in real estate either.
Quick story…
In 2012, during an escrow, the buyer’s agent called my seller-client directly when she didn’t get her way on repair negotiations. I made it abundantly clear this was disturbing my client and she was to stop. Nevertheless, this veteran agent called my client yet again. So I let her have it. Believe me, I rarely yell at another agent, but when I do it’s not pleasant for me or anyone else.
Later, at the walk-through inspection, she told me, “I want you to know when I called your client, I knew it was wrong.” I wasn’t sure if that was a pseudo-apology or her way of saying she knew the rules but just didn’t care to follow them. Sadly, there’s no effective process to discipline such behavior.
