Excerpted from the San Jose Mercury News, SJMN

Market Wise Column Saturday, 6/21/08

Q: Recently, during the showing of our home, a buyer’s real estate agent broker the key off in the deadbolt. This agent has repeatedly refused to pay the locksmith’s bill. The lock had worked fine for years. Who should pay for the locksmith’s bill?

A: Do you think the buyer’s agent purposely broke the key while he or she was trying to show your home? I don’t. Sellers and their representatives commonly expect buyers agents to work with keys and locks that are older than their client.

Access is absolutely critical in showing and selling property. Yet, many sellers/listing agents go out of their way to hinder the showing process. Often, a listing is marked as by appointment, restricted hours or do not disturb occupants. If, after all that, the buyer’s agent is met with a note attached to the keys stating, Press in and jiggle to the right, the seller has just lost a customer.

by Pat Kapowich, Broker/Owner

Do you have a question for the new real estate Q&A Market Wise column in the SJMN?

If so, please email them to: pat@SiliconValleyBroker.com

Pat Kapowich,
“Negotiating Smooth Transactions Throughout The South Bay”
SiliconValleyBroker.com