Contacting the Seller

[John Allingham]

Originally Posted by jjonas

That wasn't really my point, but my fault for not being more specific.

Why do you even bother wasting the time, and what gives you the ethical right to contact the seller?

Do you have such a big problem with this? I can't remember ever having this issue. Ever! I freely communicate with my clients, and on some occassions, my clients agent. Very rarely do I contact the sellers agent except in rare cases of needing the lockbox code. I have never needed to call the seller directly. I leave that up to the other 'professionals' involved.

This was the only time in recent memory that I had any communication with a seller... http://www.nachi.org/forum/f16/worn-...uestion-49623/

Nothing to do with ethics. Our COE does not prevent us from contacting the seller. Your choice.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Wow, you really feel the InterNachi COE is the center of the universe? It is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes down to Professional and Personal Ethics. Wow!

[John Allingham]

This has turned into an interesting discussion.
I'm sure we've all been contacted the day before an appointment by our doctor's office or dentist's office to confirm the appointment. Now I realize the public doesn't view us as the academic or social equivalent of a doctor or dentist but so what. If your office chooses to confirm the appointment with the seller then I see no problem, ethical or otherwise.
I'm not saying everyone should or will choose to make the confirmation call. It's a business decision.

[Paul Grattan, Jr.]

Originally Posted by jjonas

And they are correct. There is a reason for confidentiality. The buyer (almost) never knows the identity of the seller. Sometimes they find out at closing.

Today there's rarely a buyer who doesn't know who the seller is. While looking for houses you should find the seller's info via the tax records, which are usually available online now, and which any buyer should be confirming (because the taxes stated on the MLS listing are often wrong). Also, you always find out at contract anyway, not closing - you can't go into contract with an anonymous person. Sellers just don't want buyers contacting the directly and prefer to work through realtors.

[Paul Grattan, Jr.]

But Jeffrey's right of course, it really doesn't matter who the seller is because access to the property should be arranged beforehand through your client and their realtor - its rare that I've had an issue. Never had to leave and return again. Can almost always be worked out if it happens.

[Jeff Merritt]

Originally Posted by jallingham

No, does not apply since I'm not trying to sell him anything.
My dentist's secretary calls me the day before every appointment.

The difference is you made the appointment, not the other party, in almost 20 years I have never called the seller before the inspection,. do it the right way, confirm everything the day before, I will call the listing agent if I got his/her name and number

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Three or Four times a year in KC, I get to an appointment 20-30 minutes early (if possible) and there is a car in drive, kids in yard, momma in bikini in back yard, etc. I knock on door to tell them I'm here, running early and will go ahead and start outside AND politely ask if they could muzzle the 2 pit bulls playing tug-of-war with a bowling ball.

The owner then acts shell-shocked AND says their agent told them the inspection was the next day and they've got the carpet cleaner, etc enroute OR the boy-sprout troop (all 14 of them) coming in 30 minutes. OR they might tell me the seller NEVER told them there was an inspection scheduled. I politely tell them 3-5 more people will be showing up in about 15 minutes AND suggest they get on the phone with their agent while I go ahead and start inspecting outside.

Most of the time it works out BUT in those rare instances it does NOT, I simply apologise and tell everyone I'll be happy to come back WHENEVER.

When I do come back I tactfully add $125-$150 trip charge AND suggest they have the SELLERS AGENT reimburse them for this (Its NOT their fault BUT my time is VERY valuable to me and somebody has to pay). PLUS if you DON'T penalize the Listing Agent they NEVER learn their lesson AND will do it again.

[Gary Farnsworth]

I run into the same thing, Dan. Must be a local issue, or virus that agents have. Anything to get us out of the way of the transaction. I run into people sleeping in bedrooms more often than it should be.