# Unethical Real Estate Agent **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 22, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605 "2011-03-22T14:28:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/21 "2011-03-22T21:22:02Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Seems like the email has already been sent, but there **is** a way to voice a complaint about what she did while remaining circumspect about the specific item. All he needs to say is that she entered the house without permission (his permission was granted for after he’d cleaned, not before), and then discussed his private, personal belongings with third parties who had no connection to the house sale or any reason to know. > > There’s no reason filing a complaint needs to make the story spread wider. She can jabber all she wants, but she kind of sinks herself when she does, given that the complaint is about exactly that. If she’s unprofessionally gossiping in response to being called out as an unprofessional gossip, I know my first instinct would be to assume she’s embellishing the truth in some way to justify herself, and even if not, I won’t think much of her for gossiping **more** after being called on it. If she’s got two brain cells to rub together, she’d realize that doing so would probably not go over well with her boss. I am a commercial real estate agent. Even if you have pics scheduled for a specific future date entering an unoccupied property to get the lay of the land, set a keybox, and do other prep grunt work is not typically a scenario where an agent would reasonably think they need to get “permission” to enter of the premises if the property is listed and they are working with seller. Once the listing is signed on an unoccupied party most agents assume (with good reason) they can come or go as required. If it’s an occupied property that’s a different kettle of fish. Unless she was told very explicitly she could not enter for any reason until the house was clean, the default assumption is that (once the listing is signed and they are given they key to the house) that they have access. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/22 "2011-03-22T21:50:12Z")
I, for one, wish to see a picture of this massive dildo-bong. Or a Bilbo-bong, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/23 "2011-03-22T22:00:00Z")
Yeah, I’m kind of curious why an unoccupied house would be where you’d store your giant bong and or meth lab. ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/24 "2011-03-23T00:42:32Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Unless she was told very explicitly she could not enter for any reason until the house was clean, the default assumption is that (once the listing is signed and they are given they key to the house) that they have access. I agree with you, but I think that the issue here isn’t so much about the agent entering the house but that she spread word of the bongdo…hmmm…dillong? No I think I like bongdo better. P.S. Picturing someone taking a hit from a giant black bong made out of a dildo was not exactly on my agenda for the day. But thanks. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dano83860](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a4c791/32.png) [@Dano83860](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dano83860)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/25 "2011-03-23T02:18:40Z")
I’m not sure I understand why you feel this was unethical. This isn’t like an attorney or doctor.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/26 "2011-03-23T03:57:01Z")
> [@Hedda\_Rosa](#): > > I agree with you, but I think that the issue here isn’t so much about the agent entering the house but that she spread word of the bongdo…hmmm…dillong? No I think I like bongdo better. I agree. Please look at my prior posts in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/27 "2011-03-23T04:13:31Z")
If a REA or any other business is going to openly request your support in the way or word of mouth advertising they should fully expect to hear from unsatisfied customers as well. Had they not solicited your positive feedback I’d have just let the issue drop. Considering that they did I’d be pretty quick to send a response about my displeasure with the REA and CC her boss. My response would be short and non-specific. I’d simply explain that I was glad that the sale was complete but that you felt the agent had violated your privacy and gossiped about the property in an unprofessional manner. No detail included and to recompense requested. I don’t think I’d spend much energy complaining about her entering the house prior to an agreed upon point. If she had keys you pretty much lose that debate. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/28 "2011-03-23T13:00:05Z")
My main point was the gossiping, yes, in case that wasn’t clear from the second paragraph. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/29 "2011-03-23T13:13:32Z")
Well, last night I sat around with my lawyer/friend/drinking buddy (he is a bit of all 3). I picked up the tab, and we talked. He called another attorney he works with and between them they tell me that I have no current worries regarding any previous horticultural proclivities. This morning I see the REA’s Boss has emailed me, requesting I let him buy me lunch/dinner today as he would like to apologize in person. I have dinner plans, but figure, hey. . .a free lunch. So, that’s where it stands. BTW, even if the gossip thing never surfaced, the REA was a true nightmare to deal with. She was very late every time we arranged to meet. She constantly lost my primary contact information, leaving me long phone messages on my business phone machine. Anytime we spoke by phone she was unintelligible, using her cell’s speaker phone and screaming when I told her I couldn’t make out what she was saying. C’est la vie. ---
**Author:** ![Incref](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@Incref](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incref)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/30 "2011-03-23T13:33:39Z")
Everyone talks shop out of school. My issue would be with how you were identified. If she was disclosing privileged information I’d have an issue, if your friend just filled in the dots then not so much. The former lodge a complaint with the regulatory body and cc it to the boss, the latter and I’d just move on and be a little more discrete with my pass times when inviting business people into my property. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/31 "2011-03-23T13:51:03Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > She was very late every time we arranged to meet. She constantly lost my primary contact information, leaving me long phone messages on my business phone machine. Anytime we spoke by phone she was unintelligible, using her cell’s speaker phone and screaming when I told her I couldn’t make out what she was saying. That’s every REA or related person I’ve ever worked with. They do as little of whatever they feel they need to do (regardless of if it’s what YOU want them to do) as possible b/c so few people hold them accountable.Once you sign that contract they do as they like, b/c what are YOU going to do about it? You’re busy and/or ignorant of the process, that’s why you hired them and they take full advantage. If there are exceptions to the above, I’d like to meet them. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/32 "2011-03-23T14:27:22Z")
**kayaker** , suck it up. And pass it 'round… **Oakminster** , I think it’s a ‘Bilbo- **d** ong’… Yay, **kayaker!** You sold your house, stuck it up the REA and proved there IS such a thing as a free lunch! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/33 "2011-03-23T14:30:53Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > **Oakminster** , I think it’s a ‘Bilbo- **d** ong’.. The OP is accused of being a pervy hobbit fancier? :eek:😃 ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/34 "2011-03-23T15:22:16Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > That’s every REA or related person I’ve ever worked with. They do as little of whatever they feel they need to do (regardless of if it’s what YOU want them to do) as possible b/c so few people hold them accountable.Once you sign that contract they do as they like, b/c what are YOU going to do about it? You’re busy and/or ignorant of the process, that’s why you hired them and they take full advantage. > If there are exceptions to the above, I’d like to meet them. That isn’t even close to the experiences I’ve had with agents, and I’ve dealt with a whole bunch of them. Not even close. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/35 "2011-03-23T15:30:12Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > That’s every REA or related person I’ve ever worked with. They do as little of whatever they feel they need to do (regardless of if it’s what YOU want them to do) as possible b/c so few people hold them accountable.Once you sign that contract they do as they like, b/c what are YOU going to do about it? You’re busy and/or ignorant of the process, that’s why you hired them and they take full advantage. > If there are exceptions to the above, I’d like to meet them. Is it really that hard to write out the word “because”? ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605/36 "2011-03-23T15:44:00Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > Is it really that hard to write out the word “because”? Nope, just easier to use the same shorthand I used all day, every work day for several years. Can I assume you never use a contraction? **Labrador Deceiver** , I’m glad you had good experiences; I have not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unethical-real-estate-agent/575605.md?page=1)