Is my RE agent unethical ?

Question

Hi I was under to contract to buy a home in Southeastern PA.


I have been unhappy with my agent but felt forced to use thm.
I was under an exclusive buyer's agent contract with them that I signed under duress.
I say under duress because I had travelled 100 miles early one more to see house listed by the Real Estate agent.
She had me sign a bunch of forms and put pressure on me do it quickly.
I didnt understand at the time that I signed a form in small print that said that I was singing with her for 180 days and would have to give 30 days wrtten notice in order to dissolve the buyer's agent relationship. So I felt forced to use her....I foung one place and the deal fell thru because I found out their was extensive termite damage at last minute.
Next I found another home but wasnt happy with repairs needed (15k) Plus the sellers lied about age of heater/central air
My RE agent was so pushy for me to buy house anyway, she actually took pages from the new signed contract

and combined it with pages from an old signed contract on the first property.

Understand ? She took the partially signed new contract and instead of waiting for me to sign missing pages on th enew one simply pulled a different contract I had signed !
I really dont want to use her now after her pushy behavior want her to dissolve the buyer's agent contract I signed under pressure.
What should I do ?
Threaten to file an ehtics violation with State Board of Realtors ?

Answer 1

I'd let her know that by fraudulently compiling a "signed" contract, she has both broken the law and breached your contract. She has violated any agreement you may have had and so, your agreement is null and void.

Answer 2

MOST Realtors ARE ethical. There are always bad people in EVERY bunch. She sounds desperate. Realtors spend TONS of time and gas to never see a dime of it from some people. Alot of people treat us like tour guides without even a Thank You, and having a signed buyer/broker agreement is a fair way to DECLARE that you are working together and you will not stray just by looking at another sign one day.
If you are just completely dissatisfied with her, contact her Broker and ask for an immediate termination of the Buyer/Broker agreement. They may try to ask you to deal with another agent within the Brokerage, and perhaps you could. If that will just not due and the Broker isn't easy to let you go, THEN suggest that she is violating the Realtor Code of Ethics and you again respectfully request your relationship be terminated....
THEN GET UGLY...You can still maintain YOUR professional demeanor even though she may not have.
Good Luck with your next Realtor and know, WE AREN'T ALL THAT WAY!!!
Best Wishes!!!

Answer 3

The 180 day contract is standard. Your agent should have explained that to you as you went through the paperwork. Further, the agent should not and CANNOT put pressure on you to buy a home you don't want. That is considered unethical. It is their job to represent YOU, not themselves or the seller.

Is your agent a member of the Board of Realtors? If not, you may have little recourse to complain. It is wise to research realtors before you pick them. The Board is a good place to go and you can also lodge complaints with them. To pursue a complaint, you can go to the licensing authority for realtors in your state.

You may wish to simply provide that 30 days notice and get out of the contract.

Answer 4

Send her a letter certified that states you want to void the contract as of immediately. Put a line at the bottom that reads "accepted: ______________ date__________". Put in two copies of the letter and a self addressed stamped envelope. It should contain a statement that if you do not receive her signed acceptance of the cancellation within three days that you will be speaking to the Real Estate Licensing Board and/or an attorney to learn your rights. Put it just like that, "to learn your rights". That is not a threat, just a statement of intention.

If you don't hear back promptly, follow through with the licensing board and an attorney.

Never sign another contract for anything without at least reading it.

Answer 5

I agree with everyone else.

Report what she did to her boss (if she works for an agency) and the state board.

Give her the written notice and get a different agent as soon as the 30 days have passed.

Be sure to tell other people of your experience with her. Realtors survive on referrals.

Answer 6

Send her the letter wait for 30 days and then don't sign with anyone else. A good Re waits until you've found the perfect home before signing papers. You can also use several different ones and let them know you are. Puts pressure on them to find you what YOU want. I would go with my gut instinct and not deal with her again.

Answer 7

Give her 30 days notice and terminate the contract. Realtors love those things usually because they're lazy. Don't purchase a house during the 30 day notice period or she will most likely come after you for "her" share of the commission.

Answer 8

I would give the agent written notice that you are terminating the contract, and that you are giving them 30 days notice....don't look at another house for those 30 days......hopefully you are not pressed for time on buying. When you do terminate the agent contract, be sure that you do not lock yourself into anthing like that again, it vastly limits the homes that you can look at.

Answer 9

Wow. I'd drop her like a bad habit. There must be some kind of State board or agent that oversees realtors. I'd get her license number and report all of that. Wow. what slime. Worse than a used car salesman. If she was on fire, I wouldn't cross the street to piss on her.

Answer 10

Contact her Broker and if that doesn't work contact the local Board of Realtors.