"I’ve been searching for five years and finally found a house I love in one of the top sections of Philadelphia where I live. I’ve made what I consider to be a reasonable bid, but the seller’s listing agent is blocking every offer I make. My lawyer says the agent is in another world and cannot see reality. Should I contact the seller and try to deal with her directly? I don’t think she’s aware of what a problem broker she has."
Sellers are always in the dark when the broker they’ve picked to represent them is obnoxious, inattentive, or even harmful to the sale of their home. But they’ve been hand picked to represent the homeowner and are the filter that other brokers and buyers have to work through. Here’s what you should do to make an end-run direct to the seller without alienating the listing broker. Put your bid in writing along with a handwritten note telling the seller how much you love the house and how much you respect their representative. Sing the praises of the house and throw in a phony compliment about how attentive the listing broker has been. Either you or your broker can deliver it to the listing agent, and by law they must pass it on to the house owner. That should open up the gate of communication and give you a good shot at getting the house.
