Hi Kris, I like the first response from Diane - go right to the office and wait for the manger/broker to meet with you - don't permit them to put you off any longer. As John states, the broker can deny the release, but it sounds to me as though you have good cause to ask, and they have agreed to provide it.

Think about what you've learned from this experience and probe during your agent interviews so that you are well served next go around. Increasingly I am finding that agent effort makes a great deal of difference - at the face, seems so obvious, but it is not assured. This market is tough - very gritty - you need the support of a strong and focused agent.

Good luck to you!

Best,
Jeannie Feenick
"Unwavering Commitment to Service"
Search the MLS at http://www.feenick.com

If you are unhappy with the agent and/or brokers response to your questions you should contact the Board of Realtors where the broker has primary membership. Please keep records of all communication with both your agent and broker. To find out this information you can go to the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance and find the NJ Real Estate Commission. That should give you the info needed to contact your local board of REALTORs.

While you've had a bad experience and as others have stated, all REALTORs are NOT equal. Did you negotiate your listing contract for a lower commission based on doing your own marketing? If not, you'll know next time the questions to ask a REALTOR to make sure they've got all angles covered.

Laura Giannotta
Keller Williams Realty - Atlantic Shore

Kris,
You've already got some great answers here so I don't really have anything to add but I wanted to express my disbelief at the way you were treated. I am utterly shocked. Selling a house, especially in these times, is stressful enough. A good agent is paid to relieve you of as much of that stress as possible.
You are absolutely not being unreasonable. I wish you the best of luck. Let us know how things go.

Dear Kris,

So sorry to hear about your experience. It is true that we are all NOT the same. My partner and I wored with numerous sellers that were in your situation in the past. The idea of selling your home should not be remembered as a trauma. I am not sure who was the broker you used but I think you are absolutely correct in firing your agent and the brokerage they are working for.

Make sure you get a copy of all release documents. If you are planning to get a new agent to represent you make sure you are interviewing them carefuly and get all the answers in advance with the option to opt out in case they are not holding their part of the deal.

If you need further assistance or a recommendation of a great realtor in your area don't hesitate to contact me to my cell phone 917 294-0356.
At the end of the day, YOU ARE THE BOSS! lots of luck to you in your next adventure.

Sincerely,
Karen Abramson
50 e. Mt. Pleasant Ave.
Livingston, NJ 07039
SharonandKaren@PrudentialNewJersey.com

Hi Kris,

Sounds like an awful situation. Please note that all Real Estate companies are not the same.

I would do exactly like Diane says, go directly to the ofice and tell them you want the promised unconditional release. The broker has the right to keep your contract until the date, but if they agreed to the release it should have been give to you when you asked.

Go knock on the door and get it.

I would send a certified letter to the Broker in charge and give them a deadline for the uncondtional release and if they do not comply tell them you have no choice but to take advantage of any legal remedies available to you. You don't actually "have to resort to litigation but the threat may get them motivated. You can also put a complaint in with the Board of Realtors. This agent is supposed to be working for you, sounds like you were working for the agent, it is not your responsibility to be paying for advertising and for food for the brokers open. They are being paid for a service, I see no service at all! Good luck with everything I hope it all works out!

Why don't you go into the office yourself and sign the form? Just make sure the manager will leave the form for you.