Difficulty with agent in same building as unit ...

We’re selling a unit and there is an agent in the same building which is an arm of the developer .

For various reasons ( eg they were slow to return calls , seemed more interested in getting a “ correct “ price rather than actually selling the unit “ , they decided to give us financial advice on what a great unit it is and why we shouldn’t sell ) we decided to go with another agent , but the in-house agent is going out of their way to make things difficult .

There is another unit for sale in the block and they’ve also decided to go with an outside agent and they’re having similar problems . Coincidentally we’ve both gone with the same agent so we’re aware of what’s happening with the other unit

Both sets of tenants have been difficult and quite obstructionist in their dealings with our agent . They seem to be over officiously aware of their rights well past the point of being PITA’s . He says he hasn’t had any similar problems before . Obviously we don’t know if any thing has been said to the tenants by the in-house agent , but ...

Last weekend open house The in-house agent removed signage indicating open house . For me this crossed an unacceptable line . Our agent is seeking legal advice and also putting in a complaint to the state realestate institute .

I’ve drafted a letter to the CEO of the company involved ( who we have met and we’re impressed by ) . We’re contemplating talking to our lawyers but was wondering if anyone has seen a similar situation before .

Cliff

 

Sounds like on-site manager in Qld.

 

As a result of their business models, On-Site Managers tend to take it very personally when they miss out on business, and don't often correlate their level of service with the reason they missed out...!

Making complaints to the authorities about this agent is warranted and certainly worth pursuing, but my concern is that the damage is done and any results are going to take too long to have any effect on your sales progress.

I've seen some particularly charming agents have a lot of luck bringing the tenants on side with the right script and gifts (chocolate, wine, whatever, it's all cheap in the long run!). The agent might feel comfortable sitting down with the tenants and working through what their concerns are and why they're being difficult- are they insecure about having to move, or is the on-site manager just whispering poison in their ears? There's nothing wrong with explaining that although they might be operating within their specific set of rights, it's uncommon for tenants to make things difficult in the way that they have and your agent is concerned that he/she might have done something to upset them, etc.

 

The tenants are coming to the end of their lease ( hence our timing of the sale ) and our agents appeared to be doing all the right things re vouchers etc .

I ended up sending a letter to the CEO of the organisation ( He is a relatively high profile and well regarded member of the Brisbane scene ) . We haven’t received a direct response from him yet , but after I sent the letter our agent received a phone call from the in-house agent trying to smooth things over ... and our agent says that the “ realestate agent grape vine “ has reported a major falling out at the agency and the PM has left ....

Hopefully things will settle down . Our option is to take it off the market , style it and relaunch it after they have left but it’s getting closer to Christmas , though early nov isn’t too far away now .

Cliff

 

Timing is very tight to clear memories of the current marketing and get a pre-politically correct holiday period sale. Probably best to push on if the agent believes it to be the best course of action.

 

we're pushing on . There is a bit of a hiatus in supply with some recent projects sold and new ones yet to hit the market .

Our is actually a very nice unit and if it wasn't for the APHRA changes we're happy to keep it

Cliff.