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Wayne Zuhl, The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate (Remax First Realty II)

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Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

One time I got to a house and for whatever reason, my E-key did not work. I called the listing agent and she came right over.  She then offered to let me and my client in on 2 other properties in the neighborhood.  I was shocked at how nice she was.

I ended up taking her to lunch and when I had a listing referral to give, I gave it to her and did NOT ask for a referral fee.

Sometimes, it pays to be nice.

Eve

May 30, 2016 08:35 AM
Ambassador
1,452,669
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Lots to consider here and #1 is the state of your market.  If it is healthy and there is a shortage of inventory, I wouldn't rearrange my life to accommodate a foolish agent on a holiday.  There'll be another agent coming along who has a key. 

If the market is not healthy, I would first contact the Seller and see if they will be home and provide access. 

Second, who do I know that is close by that could provide access? 

Third, will my 90 minutes away from my own holiday plans negatively impact my family schedule? 

I do not believe there are Real Estate emergencies so I would have to think long and hard on this one.

May 30, 2016 06:37 AM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

$500 fine at my Board.   Did she loan her smartphone?  Because that's where our eKeys are located - they are a Supra App on the smartphone.

 

Would I have dropped everything?  I started to say "yes", but if that showing Agent is dumb enough to loan her key out, is she capable of writing up an offer?

May 30, 2016 05:39 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,868
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

You did exactly what I would have done.  Good job!  It's not your job to fix other agent's screw ups.

May 30, 2016 08:41 AM
Ambassador
6,392,909
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I may have jumped up and shown it, but first I would have asked a lot of questions about the qualifications of their buyer and made sure they were serious about this home.

May 30, 2016 06:53 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Wayne and Jean Marie,

From my vantage point, when you have a listing your job is to do everything that is required to sell it, and in my opinion it would be to meet that nincompoop of an agent and show the property.  We all make mistakes in lives and if no one forgave us or showed kindness in a moment of stupidity where would we be.  A

May 30, 2016 05:51 AM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

I wouldn't - it's against our board rules to share a key

May 30, 2016 09:08 PM
Rainmaker
911,228
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Since you know nothing at all about the buyer or whether some agent that thinks it's ok to lend out her key so she can't do her job has even bothered to pre-approve the potential buyer, I would not go out of my way to accomodate her. She can just as easily show it when she gets her key back, then she'll think twice about lending out her key next time. ( if she even has a key) It is not doing any disservice to the sellers. It's just a delayed showing and I wouldn't even begin to feel guilty about it.. I always ask sellers if they want a back up combo box on the back door for scenarios like this.

May 30, 2016 08:09 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,801
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

About 25% entries are not the same agent who possess the Supra. Part is cost of subscription. Many do not have affiliation of MLS membership.

Many agents lend the Supra to buyers-do not want to show homes. Those who submit an offer I often know they never saw the house until into contract.

I would not let that agent get in so she learns her wrong doing.  The new one is a Fab linked with your smart phone.  Want to borrow my phone your next life.

May 30, 2016 07:27 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,171
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

No, it's a holiday & it's not your problem that she lent out her key illegally.  In fact, it's not the smartest to even admit that to you. She could have said it was broken or on the fritz.

What other profession would say you owe it to the client to be there for all circumstances?

May 30, 2016 06:14 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

I know you're not going to like this answer, but YES..... and those for whom I market would have done the same .... we are all like-minded..... we also all understand that we represent the seller....and punishing the agent is not going to help the seller find the right buyer for his/her property.... 

we have done the entire deal and paid the other agent a co-broke fee....and we were also the listing agent when that buyer (then seller) wanted to sell.... what goes around comes around....

 

May 30, 2016 06:10 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,056
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Our Association has several loaner keys for agents w/ lost or broken keys. Yours might as well. I would have referred that agent to the association to deal with their key issue.

May 30, 2016 05:30 AM
Rainmaker
4,571,917
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

It would depend on timing.  Given the situation you describe, if I am available to show my listing to a potential buyer with or without his/her agent --- I will.    It's my job to sell that property.  

 

May 30, 2016 11:26 PM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

I think you handled it well, she should not have lent out her supra key!

May 30, 2016 01:37 PM
Rainmaker
533,993
Robert Havana
Park and Protect- Alberta Real Estate License Parking - Calgary, AB
Alberta Real Estate License Parking

you do have an obligation to try to enable every showing, dpending on the circumstances there might be occassion that opening it for her would have been the right decision.

May 30, 2016 01:37 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Hmmm.  Lending out a Supra key  would show up on the Utah students' list of 50 ways to lose your license. 

 

May 30, 2016 01:09 PM
Rainmaker
519,324
Dan Tabit
Keller Williams Bellevue - Sammamish, WA

If it was convenient for me to do so, I would. If it was 45 minutes away as you indicated, I would suggest she get another agent to open the door for her that was closer or better yet, get her key back. 

May 30, 2016 11:32 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Not a chance. Sounds like this agent needs to grow up a bit.

May 30, 2016 09:20 AM
Rainmaker
2,310,576
Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

Tough call.  You are working for your seller and want to give the home maximum exposure.  Just because the agent is a knuckle head doesn't mean her buyer won't love the property.  Can't you generate a one day code for her?

May 30, 2016 05:29 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Your call.  If it's close enough I would consider opening it up for her.

Jun 12, 2017 05:36 AM
Ambassador
3,164,119
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

how do you think your seller would feel about a missed opportunity for it to be shown.  If I didn't have another appointment I would have let them into my listing.

May 31, 2016 02:14 PM
Ambassador
3,344,906
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

It really just depends on the timing of the call, what I am doing, am I available, etc.  In my hot market I would not have to drop everything to show property. 

May 31, 2016 02:02 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Wayne and Jean Marie Zuhl Are you punishing the agent in spite of an opportunity to show your seller's property? Could be an offer in their future. I would have opened the door.

May 30, 2016 11:46 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,113
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

A Real Estate product is like a heart that beats. I wouldn't interfere with it

May 30, 2016 11:33 PM
Rainmaker
4,935,567
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

No she mess up, you should not have to do her work for her.

May 30, 2016 11:19 PM
Rainmaker
152,661
Chrissi Chapman Topoleski
Coldwell Banker Realty - Woodbridge, VA
Helping agents live an exceptional life!

I have shown properties in a neighboring county on Supra, although my association is on Sentrilock. The listing agents were always very nice, either meeting me or putting on a combo box in advance of me coming. Your scenario is a little different, but I would never want to turn away a potential buyer!

May 30, 2016 10:43 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I would not have dropped everything. Lending out your key in our MLS is a huge no-no with huge fines.

May 30, 2016 10:32 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

We place a "backup" vendor lockbox on all our listings in addition to the Supra lockbox - to be used in just such an event...

May 30, 2016 10:17 PM
Rainmaker
7,835,303
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

You sometimes need to help agents who have made mistakes.

May 30, 2016 10:11 PM
Rainmaker
1,027,602
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

It would depend on the circumstances.  Yes, it's your listing and you want to get it sold, however, if the market is healthy and you are getting enough showings, then if it were me, I would show it - but at my convenience.  I would not be difficult about it, but I wouldn't drop what I was doing to show it, either, it proved to be a huge inconvenience.  If showings were few and far between, then I would probably be more motivated.  

But what an idiot to not only lend her key to someone else but then to tell you about it!  

May 30, 2016 09:49 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

It depends, if the agent is nice, I'd probably help her out, but some agents do not really know how to say ''please''. 

May 30, 2016 07:12 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Wayne and Jean Marie Zuhl each of us have fiduciary for our clients.

And once we are in business, I do expect myself to spend money on such things. 

You should NOT run - and feel guilty about it, I think.

May 30, 2016 04:37 PM
Ambassador
5,048,738
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

No I would not have dropped everything necessarily, but with our job being to help make the property accessible there might have been a way to make it work, including access via the seller with permission, and verifying her credentials

May 30, 2016 01:56 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

That is a hard one. We have the ability to give one day codes for entry so meeting the agent wouldn't have been necessary. Lending out a key is a violation of our agreement with Sentrilock but I will go above and beyond to get my listings shown.

May 30, 2016 01:30 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

First off being mandated to use a supra lock is wrong in  my book. 

It would depend on who the agent was.

May 30, 2016 01:13 PM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

We do not use Supra any longer, we use Sentri and you can get one day codes. Exactly for this reason.

May 30, 2016 12:42 PM
Rainmaker
679,404
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

I would have generated a 1 Day Code for the agent.  I am working in the best interest of my seller and want to make sure I make the property have easy access.

May 30, 2016 11:30 AM
Rainmaker
5,005,333
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

I'm with Ron and Alexandra Seigel ..great answer!

May 30, 2016 11:19 AM
Rainer
21,291
Grace Hanamoto
Intero Real Estate - Sunnyvale, CA
Quality, Knowledge, Professionalism, Experience

Hey, given that its a holiday weekend and you have plans, I would not have raced out to open the door for the listing agent.  To be frank,  as an agent, you ALWAYS need to be prepared to open homes and show them.  Now there are definitely times when you need to borrow a key--my sales partners and I have done that so I don't get too caustic about sharing plus these new supra keys are finnicky as heck, so stuff happens.  But when it does, you chance that you won't be able to show homes, and then you'll look positively idiotic, but that's on the BUYER's agent and not you! 

So don't feel guilty.  You don't need to help poor agents look good in a job that they obviously don't know how to do.  You're fine! Have a great holiday!

May 30, 2016 10:06 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I get hired to sell the home, and that includes letting buyer agents unprepared to show on their own. I would have let them in and stood by to answer questions and listen in Wayne and Jean Marie Zuhl 

May 30, 2016 10:00 AM
Rainmaker
823,579
Susan Laxson CRS
Palm Properties - La Quinta, CA
Realtor in San Diego, CA & Naples, FL

I would have opened it up for the agent, but that is just the way I choose to do business and because my job is to sell the home.

May 30, 2016 07:32 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

We don't use Supra keys in my board / MLS so that specific type of issue would not arise.

May 30, 2016 06:36 AM
Rainmaker
2,810,149
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Wayne & Jean Marie - I'm so glad our MLS never required a specific type of lockbbox. We all used Supra for a while because it was new. Before that it was another brand. Now combos are coming back strong, simply because it's much less hassle, and we've had very few security issues over the years.

May 30, 2016 05:42 AM
Rainmaker
891,971
Tamra Lee Ulmer
Arizona Resource Realty - Payson, AZ
NRBA ~FORCE~ Over 1000 REO Assets SOLD!

I would have, (I would be irrated though that the Buyers Agent didn't think they were important enough for his or her time!)  although it really is up to their Agent to be available for them, and represent them, and never loan out the key. I would also let the Agent know that your key should not be loaned out, the Supra is the point of that too. Why didn't the other Agent just use the Supra instead of borrowing it? don't get it.

May 30, 2016 05:20 AM
Rainer
216,904
Sharon Altier
Coldwell Banker Realty - Elmhurst, IL
Luxury Property Specialist, CSC, SFR

Yes, if I could do so.  My job is to sell the home.  Here we can sometimes use the computer and set up a one day code for those agents who do not have access to the Sentrilock system.  However, I will tend to meet them at the property, if I can. 

May 30, 2016 05:17 AM