WOW! I've never heard of such blatant, outrageous, real estate agent behavior in real life.

Why WOULDN'T you show something that you could sell???

I don't understand this attitude. Sometimes local agents get upset when sellers list with out-of-town companies, but I don't know if that's the case here. You should know that showings in rural markets are really down. Very few people looking for vacation properties or second homes right now. You're pretty much looking for a local buyer. Ask your agent if your price is great. If not, it needs to be to get the activity you expect. An unreasonably high price is something some agents find irritating right now. Good Luck!!

Just to add to what everyone else has said, that comment that she would never show your house was unprofessional at best, and possibly worse. See Elvis' comment and suggestion.

From your question, I take it that you are listed with a competing company. As Keith says, that really doesn't much affect the commission structure. So, it's puzzling what's going on.

Unless...are you listed with a discount or flat-fee broker? That's not supposed to make a difference, but sometimes it can. About 18 years ago, my wife and I listed our home with a discount broker. It didn't sell. We found out later that some agents hadn't been showing our home for that reason. Or...did you negotiate a reduced commission, resulting in the buyer's agent receiving a reduced commission? Don't misunderstand: Commissions are negotiable, and that's absolutely within your right. And agents working with buyers have an obligation to show buyers properties that meet their needs, regardless of who has listed the property. Still, in the real world some agents "get their noses out of joint" over such matters.

Or, in small towns and rural areas, sometimes battlelines are drawn over local issues. A group of parents wants to get rid of the local school principal, and another group doesn't. Or a local builder wants to build some houses on acreage he owns, and others oppose it. Or the people along a street want a sidewalk put in, and others don't. Or some residents want to slow down traffic by putting in a stop sign or speed bumps. (All these are actual occurrences from a small town a mile from where I live.) Anyhow, battle lines get drawn, and if you're on the "wrong" side, you can get frozen out of a lot of things.

Have you spoken to your own agent about your conversation? He/she may be able to shed some light on the situation.

That's a strange one! I would never want to work with a Realtor who would only show her own company's listings! Seems she's doing her customers an injustice. These customers could be missing out on better priced homes and could be passing up their pefect dream home that their Realtor never showed them! Maybe this woman is a part time Realtor and her income is not so important to her? (She sure is limiting her income working that way). Maybe she tells customers ahead of time that she will be showing only her company's listings because that's her broker's policy? If that's the case I wouldn't worry as those customers will find someone else to show them the rest of the homes in your area. Maybe she feels safer showing her own company's listings? I can't figure this one out! No, it's not normal procedure! As for the other "rather large companies with 4 or 5 Realtors" that have not shown your house, maybe they will eventually but just haven't had a customer that would be a good match for your house. Today's market is tough and it may take more time than usual to get showings. Did she confirm that she only shows her company's listings? I just want to make sure it wasn't because she feels your house is over priced? If that's the case I would understand. Otherwise I still can't figure out why! If a customer called that Realtor and asked for her to show your house to them, is this Realtor really going to say NO? Is she going to say "I can't show it but call any other Realtor in town and they will"! Seems silly. I wouldn't worry about it too much! Good luck!

UNBELIEVABLE! What a rude, nasty person. I have heard that there is a company who "discourages" showing other companies listings but have never seen it. This is illegal! I guess you know what company NOT to do business with in your area! I apologize on behalf of all other Real Estate agents

I can't believe that an agent will actually tell you this! This is not normal procedure for any honest agent. It's unfortunate that an agent is not representing their buyer to the fullest capacity. It is an agent's DUTY to show their buyer any and all homes on the market that fit their criteria and if your home fits the criteria of the buyer it should be shown. There are several reasons why a buyer's agent will not show your property:

1. The agent will show only their listings. Why? Well, it's simple...bigger commission. If the listing agent shows a buyer the listings they have on the market they will get the listing and buyer's side of the commission.

2. It could also be the commission payout. If you are paying 6% commission to an agent to sell your home ask your listing agent what he/she is paying out to the buyer's agent. Many times a listing agent will get greedy and only offer a 2% commission. Unfortunately, many agents will not show a home with a low commission payout.

It's unfortunate that there are agents like this out there. They give all agents a bad name.

or

3. It could be a simple case of a bad economy. Take the advice of some of the other agents and get your agent to supply you will economic information for your area. How many homes in rural areas have sold recently and why? What do these homes have that your home doesn't have? How is your home priced per square foot compared to homes sold or homes currently on the market? Ask your agent to hold an agent luncheon and have the agents fill out comment cards. Your agent can share this information with you and this information can be vital to selling your home.

That's an odd thing for someone you know to have told you, even if it were true. I would guess that 99% of agents don't act that way. It's unethical. My listings are shown by every company.

Sorry to hear about your experience...Most companies have the understanding that they are capable of , and wish to, and are obliged to , handle any buyer's interest in any property listed with the MLS (Multiple lising service) (and even with some FSBO's!) , as, if sucessful, would result in a happy buyer and good will for the company- why a company would not want to have that outcome is unclear to me - as a matter of fact, I would suggest you talking with your listing agent regarding this person's comments, as they may be grounds for disicplinary actions under WA State Agency Law, and the National Assoc. of Realtor's Code of Ethics...good luck in the sale of your house!

Possie, what you're describing could be considered "blackballing" which is patently illegal behavior for a Realtor to be participating in, let alone for her to "tell you out loud".

I would contact her managing broker immediately and complain (calmly, and logically), and if you get nowhere with her managing broker, contact the local real estate board and file an official complaint.

If that gets you nowhere, you may want to file an official complaint with your state's governing board.

Randle - I'm not in your market area but NO... this is NOT the way PROFESSIONAL Realtors work!

I had my place listed fsbo and showed it frequently(usually 2-3times a week)....listed with Realtor later & thought I was just not savy...it QUIT showing!! found out (they) realtor was 'trying to starve me out'...you know - new widow, no job, out in country, dumb blond, not long in that area(few friends), etc...(my attorney clued me in on this tidbit of info - ya know, buy low, sell high...)...you have to see what's going on and do your homework!!!! even in market analysis they (3 different realtors) give me 'poor dumb woman' underrated analysis....they even tried to undermine me on some equipment I had & would be selling....Know what...this ol gal was savy and said NO and did sell the place for MY asking price & DID sell equipment for twice or three times what they offered (I got market price)...just because they are real estate or broker makes them no better or honorable than the used car salesman down the road....beware!!!!!!!

Possie
I grew up in Pullman and my wife is from the Shoreline area of Seattle, so I had to do a litte research for your zip code.

If you go in Trulia to your area (Randle, Washington), and click on Stats and Trends...there is not much data. Maybe that is a data issue. My hometown of Pullman doesn't have much either.

When a Realtor works in a brokerage, their 'boss' is their broker, who has a broker's license. The broker is legally responsible for the Realtor's actions. In most cases there is a division of the income when a Realtor helps a client buy or sell. In many offices the broker's portion ranges from 50% to 30% of the fee. When brokers can arrange for a sale "in-house", normally the Realtors do not make any extra money, the broker does however. So in most cases it makes no financial difference if other brokers listings are being sold or purchased.

The other issue is "dual agency". If one Realtor represents both buyer and seller, they are a dual agent. However, if two different Realtors represent two DIFFERENT clients but work for the same Broker , they are still considered to be DUAL agents. Dual agency can cause legal issues if clients think that they are not receiving fair representation ( sort of like one attorney representing both plaintiff and defendant).

My point is that in most cases it really doesn't matter who's listing you sell, as a Realtor your compensation in most cases is the same.

So, let's get back to selling your property. The fact the your property is not being shown probably has a lot more to do the the value being projected than anything else. In 90% of the cases the buyer first sees the home they buy with a REALTOR. Realtors know value, and so do not choose to show their buyers homes that are over-priced when there are other homes that are reasonably priced.

I would suggest that you ask your Realtor for a list of homes that have:
1. been listed.
2. lowered their price
3. gone into escrow
4. sold
from the date YOUR home hit the market. That is a far more accurate indicator of market activity than a conversation with ONE Realtor in a store.

Best of luck to you!

Heck I would show your home does not matter less time spent with a buyer to deliver a home they may want... HOWEVER who is your home listed with? If the realtor is ?able I would recommend searching for another listing agent, IF IT IS A FSBO, it does cause problems with realtors showing, contracts and etc. sorry hearing what has taken place. http://www.lynn911.com

That agent is not representing her clients fairly. When I was selling homes in Washington I heard from an agent who told me that because the developer was only offering a 3/1.5% commission he would not show my listings. The reality of the market is that most buyers are shopping on line and if they find a home that their agent hasn't shown them, they should question if the agent is acting in the best interest of the client or the agent.

I'm sorry you experienced that response from that agent. It's agents like that which give other agents a bad name.

As a listing agent she should be viewing all the inventory that her sellers are up against. How can an agent know the market is they don't see the all the listings. It's simply bad busines on her part. Be assured there are lots of diligent professional agents out here, just not that one.

Possie,

I would have been shocked as well. Realtors should be showing houses based on their clients needs and criteria. The commission, estranged friendship, or any other reason should not matter.

Scott.

Hi Possie, Wow, I would have been taken aback just as you were by the reaction of this agent. I show homes that meet my clients needs, regardless of listing firm - not simply based on my office inventory. Talk with your agent about your concerns. My hope is that the low rate of showings is based more on the overall activity level in your local market rather than agent/office/firm behaviour. It sure would be disappointing for it to be the later.

In answer to the question, is partial commission better than none - YES of course. Unless the listing agent is acting in a dual agent capacity as listing and buyers agent, the buyer's agent earns their split of the commission only, regardless of listing firm. Gone are the days -at least in our office- in which additional bonuses accrue for selling the firm's/office's own inventory.

I'm sorry that you received this reaction - I hope it is just a lone rogue voice and not indicative of an attitude in your market.

Good luck to you!

Best,
Jeannie Feenick
Weichert Realtors
Search and connect at http://www.feenick.com

the person who made that statement has NO CLASS

Possie,
I am not sure why she would make a comment like that. I guess I would of asked her why she would not show my home? Any good agent shows all listings that fit there clients needs. It really does not matter who it is listed with. And was this agent a Realtor or just an agent. There is a difference. Realtors are held to a different standard and they have to go by a code of ethics. If you home fits her clients needs then she should be showing the house.
All agents are different and the worst thing for an agent is a bad name. And for a small town a bad name is not good. Good luck on selling your home.