Simon
I just re-read my post and I understand what you are saying. Indeed my suggested course of action seems fairly unethical too eh ?
What I mean is -
1. By all means try to get an offer
2. Dont set out to offend the agent, but their request is just that, not a directive to be followed on pain of death...
3. Remind him, if it comes to it, that he has no agreement with the vendor, and the vendor is in no way obligated to do anything.
Point 3 may require talking to the agency or some other body, to remind the agent that he cannot just demand payment.
I do believe the agents actions are somewhat unethical. It may not be illegal but there are other factors which render it unethical in my opinion.
Agents often use high pressure tactics to get the result they are after. This is not directly stated here, but neither is it said that the agent was gentle and simply 'suggested' something. From the tone of the first post it would seem the agent was indeed 'pressing' not just 'asking' for a fee.
If you havent noticed, a lot of people simply back down or give in when confronted by someone acting in an 'official' capacity - lawyer, doctor, even sales people, because they assume the other person knows more.
I think some token of appreciation may be in order if the agents buyer does take the property. Perhaps the agent spends 4 hours on this sale. 4 hours x $50/hr = $200. Perhaps a case of wine instead of just one bottle might be good?
However, this is if the vendor wants to, as a token of appreciation. Not because he/she 'should' pay a commission that the agent is 'entitled' to.
I think its a grey area, perhaps we sit on opposite sides of this fence, Simon?
Cheers
TheBacon
I just re-read my post and I understand what you are saying. Indeed my suggested course of action seems fairly unethical too eh ?
What I mean is -
1. By all means try to get an offer
2. Dont set out to offend the agent, but their request is just that, not a directive to be followed on pain of death...
3. Remind him, if it comes to it, that he has no agreement with the vendor, and the vendor is in no way obligated to do anything.
Point 3 may require talking to the agency or some other body, to remind the agent that he cannot just demand payment.
I do believe the agents actions are somewhat unethical. It may not be illegal but there are other factors which render it unethical in my opinion.
Agents often use high pressure tactics to get the result they are after. This is not directly stated here, but neither is it said that the agent was gentle and simply 'suggested' something. From the tone of the first post it would seem the agent was indeed 'pressing' not just 'asking' for a fee.
If you havent noticed, a lot of people simply back down or give in when confronted by someone acting in an 'official' capacity - lawyer, doctor, even sales people, because they assume the other person knows more.
I think some token of appreciation may be in order if the agents buyer does take the property. Perhaps the agent spends 4 hours on this sale. 4 hours x $50/hr = $200. Perhaps a case of wine instead of just one bottle might be good?
However, this is if the vendor wants to, as a token of appreciation. Not because he/she 'should' pay a commission that the agent is 'entitled' to.
I think its a grey area, perhaps we sit on opposite sides of this fence, Simon?
Cheers
TheBacon