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Real estate editor Maryann Haggerty and columnist Elizabeth Razzi respond to a question adapted from a recent online chat.
Q Bethesda: Is it normal for a real estate agent to never call back a prospective home buyer? My husband and I found a home we're really interested in on the multiple-listing service, and we have called the agent six times over four weeks. She has yet to call us back. Meanwhile, the price has dropped another $20,000, and it is still listed as for sale and not as contract pending or anything like that. If I were the owners, I would be furious. I'm half-tempted to just knock on the door one day and let the owners know that their agent is awful. She has potentially already cost them $20,000.
A Elizabeth Razzi: No, it is not normal for that to happen, but it is not unheard of, either. That non-responsive (not to mention irresponsible) agent could be just dabbling in the business and earning her real living elsewhere. Or it could be that the agent hasn't bothered to update the status of the listing and it's not really for sale anymore.
Maryann Haggerty: Depending on which Web site you're using, sometimes the agent whose phone number is on the listing isn't the actual listing agent. It's someone looking for buyers to represent. If every listing you look at seems to have the same agent, switch Web sites.
It's probably not a great idea for you to call the listing agent directly, anyway, even if that's the number on the for-sale sign. After all, that agent has the seller's interests at heart, not yours. (Well, at least she should.)
If you're working with a buyer's agent, he or she should contact the listing agent. If you don't have your own agent, consider looking for one. It won't cost you extra.
ER: If you really want that house, there's no reason you can't knock on the door or mail the sellers a letter expressing your interest. But if you don't get a lively response, I'd focus on other listings because those sellers are probably not serious about unloading that house, either. Otherwise, they would have fired that slug $20,000 ago.
The next Real Estate Live chat will be 1 p.m. June 13.
