Asking the listing agent

Profile picture for tj44
I am in South California and want to get more information on a few properties. I want to know if I am under any obilgation to make an offer to purchase through the listing agent if i have contacted him/her to get a few preliminary questions answered. How do I best handle this? I feel that asking the listing agent directly gives me the most accurate information but for an offer I would want to have my own agent to represent my interests.
  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 10 2011 - Empire
  • Be a Good Neighbor. Be respectful and on-topic. No spam or self-promotion! See our Good Neighbor Policy.

Answers (6)

Profile picture for westcoastrealtor

Asking questions of the listing realtor does not obligate you to anything, as I believe you already know.  However, doing so often undermines the position of your Realtor during negotiations. While you are busy asking questions of the listing realtor to sum up whether the seller is motivated for some particular reason or if there is any wiggle room in the price, the listing realtor is summing up your interest in the property using the questions you ask to determine if you can be persuaded to pay more. I highly recommend you reap the rewards of working with a good real estate broker as your buying agent and leave the info gathering to him/her.

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 12 2011
Actually, I should apologize. The listing agent should know about the home and most will. 

However, don't assume just because they can get a listing agreement that they are experts on the homes they list.  Obviously if you want to know if the barbecue is included with the home the lister would know.  If you want to know if the planned new highway is going to be coming through your subdivision you might want to do your own research.
  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 10 2011
Joseph,
I would hope that if I was a seller and hired an agent to sell my home, that the agent would actually know all pertinent information about my house.

That being said I agree that a good buyer's agent should be able to find out anything a buyer would want to know about a property but your implication that a listing agent may not know about their own listing kind of bothered me. 

Sorry, just felt the need to say that.
  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 10 2011
Why do you assume the Listing Agent knows anything?

No you will not be obligated to make an offer though the listing agent, but you may keep your Buyers Agent from receiving compensation if you bring them in after the fact.  A good Buyers Agent can find out most of the information about a property through a little research.

If you do call, let the Lister know you will be using your own agent.
  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 10 2011
Profile picture for MikeEmery
Just asking questions of the listing agent won't obligate you to work with them.

You are legally obligated once you sign some type of buyers agreement with that agent.

If the listing agent takes you out and shows you other properties or finds you other properties, there might be an argument for 'procuring cause' if you ended up buying one of those homes without their help.

A good agent will ask you if you are represented by an agent or using an agent as part of the business of attracting new clients. However you're not obligated to use them if you are or will be working with another agent.

And frankly, if you are going to buy a home it's best not to use the listing agent for that home to help you with your side of the sale.
  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 10 2011
You are certainly under no obligation to make an offer to purchase through the listing agent just because you asked some questions about a particular property.

A listing agent should ask if you are working with an agent when you talk to them but that often doesn't happen.

Simply be honest:  you are planning on working with your own agent when the time is right for you.
  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 10 2011
 

Have a question? Ask it here.

What's this?
Close

By starting a discussion, you can expect more of an interactive, back-and-forth experience where the conversation can go in many different directions.

Or start a discussion

E-mail successfully sent!Submission failed!

Related Questions
Profile picture for Belinda Singh
QuestionAsking the listing agent
  • Latest answer by Belinda Singh
  • February 12 2011
Profile picture for qbraid
QuestionImproving on a home...
  • Latest answer by qbraid
  • February 25 2010
Compare Mortgage Rates
Be A Good Neighbor

Zillow® Advice depends on each member to keep it a safe, fun, and positive place. If you see abuse, flag it. More on our Good Neighbor Policy