Hello Gloria,

If the Homes they wanted to see were my personal listings I would go ahead and show them.

I would make it clear to them that I could only show my personal listings and would not be available to show others, Then make the appointment to meet them at the listings.

In the market today if I feel it would give my clients help I will do just about anything I need to.

I also would be sure to call the agent and let them know I showed there client my listings.

I had a similar conversation with a caller the other day.  She called to ask about a home.  I don't know if she had been a "Prospect" in my drips or not.  Anyway, she wanted information on the property and asked me the same question..could I show it to her since her agent was on vacation for a few days.  I asked if her agent had another agent to cover for her while she was out of town..... No.  She didn't even know the agent had taken a vacation until she tried to contact her. I said that is pretty sad.  I told her that I didn't mind answering her questions about the house over the phone but that she would need to contact her agent's broker to find someone to substitute for that agent and show her the property, etc.  

Unbelievable!

I would only show my personal listings that they might be interested in, verify that they have a solid preapproval letter to qualify for a loan, meet them at the property and thank them for the opportunity to be of help. Puhhhleeeeeassse.

I got suckered because the agent was gone but the buyers husband would not be here when the agent got back, yada yada yada. So I show her the house. THE AGENT calls me and asks ME to write the contract for him and leave a place for him to sign. NOT.

I told him there is no way I will write a contract for him for his client. I called my broker at the time and my broker called him and told him the cow and cabbage story. Come to find out that the buyer already had a contract on another house.

It's shocking but many people believe we get paid a salary or for showing houses. The concept that we get paid at closing is still quite foreign in the public consciousness.

I would instruct the customer to contact the awol agent's BROKER and tell them if they ever find themself needing new representation, come on in and let's formalize it (BBA) and we can go from there. Then, I would courtesy call the broker and give a heads up.

If it's my listing, just like Howard said. Provide customer level service including agency disclosure that indicated I am the agent of the seller, and behave as such.  

I think you made the right choice! I agree with the others who said tell them to call their agents broker.

Let's see...failure points on this...

Buyers agent - not getting coverage and leaving their clients hanging

Buyers agents broker - being a monumental dumbass for allowing buyers to be left hanging.

Clients - questionable loyalty to thier agent

The potential buyers said they have an agent but did they sign the AD?  No Agency Disclosure, no contract, no agency.  Sign them up Gloria.

I'm with you on that "Dee".  

Ask if they signed a "BBA", if not, then by all means it's fair game, isn't it?  None of us work for free, if more agents would be diligent in treating this like a Business, then they would see more customer retention and loyalty.

I would definitely follow up with the other agents broker, to make sure there wasn't an existing agency agreement on file.

Often, the public does not understand what's/what in that areana!  

The other agent may have been very specific about it before they left for a little (hard earned) vacation, but his/her clients didn't think they were doing anything wrong by having someone else show them a few homes.  ("And then, well we just wanted to get the house and so we made an offer that night...aren't you happy for us Mr/Ms Realtor?...Hope you had a nice vacation...)

In Portland, Oregon, under our ethics code, once a Buyer says they are working with another agent, they are off limits unless I'd like to face a possible ethics charge.

LEGALLY, if they have not signed a exclusive agreement I could show them homes, but is that really the ethical thing to do?  How would you feel if you were gone for 2 days and your clients called someone else "just to see a few homes" and ended up making an offer without you?   Anyone that has been in this more than a few years has had this happen.

Well, for a few of you, next time it happens to you, remember that you'd do the same thing.

First of all, we are assuming that the other agent, didn't have a "stand in" for her client to call upon in his/her abscence.  

What if the prospect/customer didn't feel comfortable with the "stand in", OR, just what if they just really didn't want to work with the so called agent that was "MIA".  

I do agree with Gloria's decision, not to show them property.  They were obviously a bit shady in their actions.

My point is this... If you treat your business like a "business" get those Agency agreements signed and keep good communication with your clients, have a way for them to contact you...you will most likely have the loyalty you deserve.

"If it ain't in writing, it never happened"

Well at least they told you up front they had an agent.

They could have easily not said anything and just asked you to show them homes.

I agree with some of the previous posts - many buyers are not familiar with how we get paid etc.

That is SO right-on, Rick!   Thank goodness they were honest about it!

I've agreed to show folks one (1)  home in a bind (not one of my listings), even when I knew they had an agent (vacationing) and that they'd be working with that agent, but only when it was convenient for me.  

But I'd never write an offer for under those circumstances, unless the potential buyer let me know specifically that they really intended never to work with that MIA agent again, that they had no exclusive contract, etc., and I'd still need to document/research it a bit for ethical purposes.

BTW, I've pursued a few claims for procuring cause, and I am batting about 50/50 on receiving at least half of the commission.   And all the claims were made to the agent’s broker in charge, and/or thru my Realtors’ association.

I also agree with Mike Robbins!  I would show them my own properties, but ABSOLUTELY POSTIVELY would NOT show them ANY other properties that they were interested in!  I may even be on the fence with showing them my own, but I suppose would be covered by disclosing using the agency form that I WAS REPRESENTING THE SELLER AND NOT THEM!

Just remember you all, whether you are working with someone else's client or your own, or providing only customer level services, get that straight up front and in writing.

Agency is a slithery snake. And a duck. LOL, as in if it walks like one and talks like one, a court of law may determine it to be one even if the people had another agent who got paid. You are still vulnerable.

What I'm saying is, when you good samaritans are showing properties or talking to someone else's client, you need to zip your lip where giving any advice is concerned. If they rely on something you say or do and it bites their butt, yours will be in a sling. And your broker's.

Customer level service, providing factual information sources is safest in that case.

It's always wise to listen to Candice.

I am in a small town and most of the Agents/Brokers here are very famaliar with each other.

If it were my listing I would give the Agent or Broker a courtesy call and show my listings only. I would let the prospect know that I was only there to open the door and hand them a property disclosure, their Agent/Broker would have to follow up with anything further upon their return.