Buyers agent question - are you locked in to a buyers agent due to a mere tel call 5 years ago ?

I recently saw an advert in the NY Times RE section for a property. I called the number listed on the property to see it. I was referred to Agent A. Agent A called me back and said that apparently I had spoken with another agent with her same firm, lets call her Agent B, five years ago on the telephone when I inquired about another property 5 years ago. Now I’ve never met Agent B nor seen a house with Agent B or signed a paper with Agent B. However suddenly Agent B is the “buyers” agent and Agent A is the sellers agent….Agent A told me Agent B would call me to make arrangements to see the property. Agent B never called. So I went to see the property on my own during an open house and met Agent A for the first time, who was showing it. Now a few weeks later when I wanted to schedule to see the place a second time I called Agent A  to make arrangements, I was told that I need to call Agent B as she is my agent..Again Ive never met Agent B, never seen this house or any other with Agent B , never signed a paper with agent B. Perhaps we had a tel conversation 5  years ago — that I cannot recall.   So must this person now serve as my buyers agent on this property ? Again both buyers agent and sellers agent work for the same firm. Is this correct practise ?

anonCH

in Agents and Brokers 13 years and 8 months ago

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joules | 13 years ago

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does anyone ever have the *opposite* experience, where a seller’s agent doesn’t *want* to work with a buyers’ agent b/c he/she doesn’t want to split the commission?  Is that what co-brokerage is?  We seem to be experiencing something similar, and we’re not sure if we really *need* a buyer’s broker…we have an inspector and a lawyer and bank for the loan…I’m wondering what other value a buyer’s broker can provide if they’re not sending us listings?

slopegirl | 13 years and 8 months ago

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You have absolutely no obligation to agent B, but this situation would make me leery of Agent A. Or the firm. Maybe both. There is no legal requirement to have a buyer’s agent in NYC and doing a “direct” deal with seller’s agent can mean a lower price if seller’s agent is willing to pass along some of the savings of not splitting commission. I’d consider getting a buyer’s agent that you know and trust from another firm if agent A won’t drop it.

chinch | 13 years and 8 months ago

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I’m with rh.

slopemope | 13 years and 8 months ago

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amateur bullshit by the brokers.  getting in the way of their own listing.   make a few calls of your own to the owner of the firm.  If they don’t want your business, you’ll know rather than playing laurel and hardy.   please list name of said firm so none of us hard working honest people ever list with them.

Crownlfc | 13 years and 8 months ago

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You have no obligation to work with agent B. It was 5 years ago plus, you never have any substantive contact with agent B and I thinking there was never any signed exclusive buyer agency then or now. I assume it is a company exclusive but you did not say if it was a REBNY firm. However, since you have already seen the house on your own, you should be treated as an independent buyer anyway. You should put in an offer as you see fit, if agent A insists you go through a non – responsive agent B, ask to speak to a manager.

Augustiner | 13 years and 8 months ago

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Incredible. Ask her if she/he is interested in selling the property, and if they want your money. Then tell them that this Agent talk makes you feel uncomfortable, and that you will not proceed if they continue to waste your time. You had no business relationship of any sort with B, and if they have internal politics with their database it´s their job to deal that out internally. While it might be good to have a buyers agent, I don´t think it´s an advantage if they are in the same company and are best friends. In my opinion it´s more important to have a good lawyer to negotiate your offer than an agent. If they get weird, stay away and buy another place. It´s too much money at risk for games like that.

bkmatthew | 13 years and 8 months ago

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You are in no way obligated to Agent B, and if s/he won’t call you, then call the most senior person at the agency concerned, even if its Babs herself, and put a fire under him/her.

rh | 13 years and 8 months ago

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Ordinarily, I’d say “screw that” but since they work for the same firm, there are 2 things going on here. 1\. Agent A is respecting Agent B’s leads. It’s over the top because it was 5 years ago, but it’s the right thing to do. They don’t want to get too competitive with one another and steal clients. 2\. It’s in your best interest to have an agent on your side. Agent A works for the seller. You should have someone negotiating for you. The fact that Agent B hasn’t returned your calls is bad news. I’d voice my concerns to Agent A. Possibly, the broker can step in to represent you. Not like the broker doesn’t get paid either way.