I had an appointment on Saturday to show a buyer client a rehab property; I felt this house had some investment potential for him. We planned to meet at 3pm. As I pulled up for the appointment, I spot the buyer out in the street. He is leaning on the driver's side of a car chatting with someone. As I approached the car, I recognized the person in the car. It's another Realtor, who I know quite well. At this point in time, She and I, actually have a pending sale together on another property right now. Her meeting my client was just a case of, small town, small world; they apparently grew up nearby each other. Both were simply surprised to cross each other's paths.
Now that would be great if this was the end of this tale. It's not. Because, she actually solicited my client just before I arrived. Is it just the temptation is too great for some Realtors to leave other agents client alone? Naturally she asked what he was doing in town, since he lives about 90 miles away. He had told her he was waiting for a Realtor, and named me by name. He was just telling her, when I arrived, we were looking at the property right there at this address. He was pointing at the building when I walked up. We all continued to stand in the street, as I said hello. Then right out of the gate, in front of me, this other Realtor proceeds to explain how many times she has shown this very house. She advises him, that the condition is awful, that it has 2 feet of standing water in the basement, on and on with uninvited information. Like all Realtors, who have been through this "2 Realtors are too many thing", I am now biting my tongue. I ask my appointment; where his wife is... hint, hint. He explains, his she was in their parked car across the street. She was keeping warm until we were ready to go into the vacant house. I guess she finally got the hint!
Later, After we had toured the home and were finishing up the appointment, and the earlier encounter was all but forgotten by me. The buyer brought it up again and reveals that she actually asked him, "Why didn't you call me?" The buyer let me know that he was really taken back by her comment.
Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County call Mary Strang at therteam.com 
RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599
Small town or no small town. Old friends or not. This other agent has crossed the line and needs to be straightened out. Seeing as how you know each other, I would go directly to her and in no uncertain terms tell her how you feel. If she brushes it off I would conclude with this final statement. "Obviously you do not get it. You are leaving me know choice other than an official complaint " I had hoped you would have understood.
The reason you need to take this step is two-fold.
Hi Mary;
I have had that experience a couple of times last year, I am really surprised at some Realtors actions.
I just had one where I listed a property and a couple of days later the seller calls me and asks to be released from the listing....that they had thought about it and wanted to go with a different company.....while there hadn't been anything negative that had transpired, I went ahead and released her.
I was curious who the other "company" was and it turned out to be the agent that had sold them the house. Now, I might be wrong, but what do you want to bet that agent called them and asked them the same question that your client was asked, "Why didn't you call ME?" So, far the listing is just sitting there...so much for that other company....I'm a big believer in Karma and hope that it rights things in this case.
Bob Mitchell
ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc.
Mary
You are lighting the World on fire. Keep up the good work!
Sincerely
Tom Braatz
Kathryn and Vicki: I appreciate your comments on the ethics issue here and mostly I just wanted to get her to shut up and leave. I think any agent should respect that the buyer has an appointment with someone else, so get a life.
Mary,
It takes the next step by that Client after your Client is taken back by the other Agent's comment....unfortunately it never moves from there......I agree that I would let the Agent know what the Client's feelings were.
You know....I'm not sure if I can continue reading a post like this without getting my blood pressure at stroke level. There appears to be a difference between "ethics" and "people". And Agents in too large a degree are people first, and as such, toss the ethics book out the window when they see dollar signs. I've had so many horror stories of things that "Realtors" have done or attempted to do to me that it makes my blood boil just sitting there being nice.
I had a 2-3 month relationship building with a woman at a child activity group we attend twice a week and we were about a week away from seriously looking at homes to pick one to buy. This "other woman agent" that is litterally discusting and repulsive that stopped coming to our group because everyone gave her the cold shoulder talking real estate constantly, showed up this week and in the middle of me talking to my "client/friend" and just interupted us and said "Well... you should be doing business with me....I've got JUST THE HOUSE YOU'D LOVE...I JUST LISTED IT TODAY". Then goes on and on about it and I got so pissed off I told my friend "DON'T LISTEN TO THIS WOMAN....SHE'S GOT 2 FELONY ARREST THAT THE REAL ESTATE COMMISSION DOESN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT YET AND WHEN THEY FIND OUT HER LICESNED WILL BE REVOLKED BEFORE YOU EVEN BUY THAT HOUSE"....in a halfway joking manner. BUT...it shut her up.
What else could I have done to get this woman to Shut Up !!?
Monika: Yes I agree with the golden rule in real estate, I use to trust this agent, I now have may guard up.
Dan: I think since they have a childhood relationship and that my client let me know that is enough information and annoyance, I choose to just move forward. I found out that the other agent is needy, so I will just be careful when I have to deal with that party.
David: Boy how do you really feel! Sounds like you have had some issues to deal with how they work out.
"What else could I have done to get this woman to Shut Up !!?"
You could have just said..."wonderful, we'll get over there to see asap.. I know you aren't soliciting my client because that is an ethics violation. thank you for pointing out a good home". "half joking" about the criminal background of a fellow Realtor®, whether you like them or not, is not really ethical either, is it?
Well, as you said yourself, it was a little over the top...you were tired and it was late. While what she did was rude to say the least, it wouldn't be an ethics violation unless she knew you had a buyer's brokers agreement in place. I was just answering your question of what else you could have said.
Hi Mary...The way you handled it was exactly how you should have. By keeping your composure you retained your client.
I believe I would mention to the other agent that you were surprised that she would comment like this in front of your client even though he is/was a friend of hers. He did not ask for her opinion on the house you were going to look at and even if he did she should have not offered so much information.
Hope you find the right spot for him and his wife.
Kathleen
She knows better. How would she feel if I was the one talking a hole in her client's head? That is so unprofessional and unethical. Even though you have a sale pending with her,I would let her know that she should not have been talking to your client about a property that you are about to show him. If your client doesn't like the property,let them make that decision. Great post.
Hi Lanre: I have to say I now know more about this agent now then I did prior to this incident. I don't think I could convince her to understand a thing except maybe that she is great and right, which is not the case here. I will just rant on-line and let it go.