Since moving to NY 2.5 years ago, I have learned that many things are done differently here than in VA. Apparently, real estate transactions is one of them. I bought and sold 4 homes in VA and never had the issues that I have had trying to purchase a home here. Which leads me to the point of this letter... Donna Gallo of Century 21.
This agent listed a home in an area that I had been targeting at a very very good price. I watch the MLS daily and having already missed opportunities on 2 other homes, I immediately made a full price offer on the property Ms. Gallo listed. I had not yet acquired my own agent so I called the number on the listing requesting a call back from Ms. Gallo with a message I wanted to write an offer asap.
I received a call back from another agent in her firm who agreed to meet me at the property and would try to arrange a showing that day for me. I met the other agent, we wrote a full price offer and included a pre-approval letter from Wells Fargo with 20% down. All good... Right? Wrong.
I was told that I could not get in to see the property until the open house which Ms. Gallo set up for 2 weeks later!!! Even with a solid full price offer on the table, she refused to let me see the house.
A day or two later, I get another call that now she will not accept my offer unless I get pre-qualified with a guy named "Sal" at some bank I had never heard of. I already had a pre-qual letter from Wells Fargo and another verbal from Continental Mortgage.
It gets better... Days later I get another call stating there was no CO on an addition and they want me to pay $100 to pull the paperwork! Keep in mind, at this point i still did not even know if my full price offer had even been submitted!
I called her broker at Century 21, Mary, who defended these tactics - even when I stated collusion! After realizing I was serious and very pissed, she said she would call Donna and tell her to drop the other lender pre-qual request. After, more discussions with broker as I tried to find out more information on this short sale property. Broker states Donna handles all properties like this in order to stir up excitement and get multiple offers on the table at the open house.
I went to the so called open house and saw not one other person in the house but got to meet Ms. Gallo. She seemed nice enough even if un-informed about the property. I withdrew my full price offer. I can't help but believe this BS does NOT help the seller.
So now, i am interested in another property and I just found out it is also Donna Gallos. My realtor has been trying to get not only me in the house but other clients as well. He's been trying for over a month and she has not once returned his call. He and 3 other realtors I have spoken with are all aware of her tactics. Many realtors refuse to work with her because she is so unethical and difficult. She plays games and does not like to share her commissions which likely has something to do with her not returning other agents calls who want to show her properties. I just learned this morning that the other listing of hers I'm interested in was just reduced by 20k and STILL she is not returning my agents calls! This woman is unbelievable and needs her licensed revoked asap for unethical practices! What a nightmare. Buyer and seller BEWARE! She is a hot mess and a disastrously unprofessional agent! The person who posted in her defense must have been her or a family member!
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