Joan had sold us this house 7 years ago so I used her again. I trusted her. Big mistake. She badgered me into listing too low, claiming the market was terrible because of the economy. I told her how much I would have to list it to just break even and she insisted on listing it at $30,000 below that.
What I didn't know, was that she already had a buyer and got me to list it in his price range. The day after I signed the contract with her, she had a bid from this guy. I was about to board a ship and was on my cell phone and she got me to agree to a low price and I said "okay, but that's AS IS. I don't want to hear about loose gutters or sticky doors". She agreed, and by the time I got back in town 5 days later she had a contract signed by the buyer. I was kicking myself as I signed the contract the next day.
When the inspection report came back with what she claimed was $6200 in repairs I again told her the deal was AS IS. She would hear none of it and kept calling me, asking me what was I going to do about the repairs. We went round like that for a week.in the end I pitched in $2000. Her commission was $20,000!!! For a house that really never even made it on the market.
I guess I was especially vulnerable because my husband died suddenly in January and I needed badly to sell this house and she knew it. I am embarrassed that I got so taken advantage of. I can't figure out who or what organization to call to complain, but I think what she did could be illegal. I know it was unethical. Even the other realtors were complaining that they never got to show the house.
I've got three kids to raise and I don't have the strength to file a lawsuit, and they are expensive anyway.
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