LISTING BROKER PROBLEMS

Here's an interesting problem when inquiring through other brokers' listings.

You have a client looking for a property. You post an ad online detailing the requirements. Two brokers reach out: Broker A and Broker B.

Broker A sends you a listing that your client would like to see. You schedule a showing with Broker A. However, due to exceptional circumstances, Broker A takes time to reply, does not ask you to register your client, and has yet to confirm the showing.

Broker B sends you another listing, which is 54% above your client's budget. Before Broker B provides the details of the overbudget property, Broker B asks you to register your client. Thinking Broker B is from a reputable organization, you trustingly register your client.

A few days later, Broker A finally replies to confirm the showing for the property your client would like to see. But when Broker A submits your client's name to the seller, the seller says the client has been registered by Broker B–despite not offering you the property.

So, who should you deal with?

Option 1 - Broker A

Option 2 - Broker B

Option 3 - None of them

***

The Survey Says...Broker A.

60% of respondents believe Broker A, the broker who first offered the property, is the one to choose. Interestingly, 30% think it should be Broker B, the broker who first registered your client's name with the owner, despite not offering the property to you.

I also voted for Broker A because I believe mass registration is wrong.

Admittedly, mass registration is a common practice among brokers. They submit a person's name (even if the person has no contact with that broker) to sellers and claim that person as their client.

For example, I could submit Elon Musk's name to sellers of all high-valued properties the moment I hear he's looking to buy, despite not knowing him personally (just knowing that my friend is his godchild).

The same goes for properties. Some brokers mass broadcast the address or unit number of a property to other brokers. When that broadcaster hears another broker is closing the sale of that property, they call foul and use their broadcast as proof they offered the property first. This is why some brokers do not acknowledge these messages—so they can claim they never received the broadcast.

What Do Developers Do in These Circumstances?

Developers typically give a 30-day window for the broker to show the property to the client. If the broker fails to do so, the registration is canceled, and other brokers can register the same client again.

Final Thoughts...

As I've said before, clients (buyers/sellers) have the ultimate decision on which broker should represent them. Brokers earn their vote by providing truly value-adding services (e.g., finding the right property, ensuring a headache-free transaction).