I was working with these buyers for months & now they bought a house privately

did you have a buyer's agency agreement? they might owe you a commission regardless... it happens to everyone...i had it happen to me while my clients boldfaced lied to me about wanting to wait after their deal fell through because they made it contingent on the settlement of their property (which I advised against also!!) - then bought one the next week with another agent in my office!! I had the buyers agency agreement, so at least I got a referral out of it, but it wasn't the $10,000 check i would have had if they didn't screw me over!! (since it was an agent from our office, our agreement specificed broker get paid, which they did - apparently which agent does not matter!) This is a very good lesson to learn as an agent - I am assuming you haven't been doing it for very long...always get that buyers agency agreement - and be selective with your buyers as well... Don't get too upset - if it really bothers you, you can do what I do (which actually saves me more time and pays more consistently) - my license is in referral status - and i work as a freelance assistant to the top porducers in the area. i get referrals, can do everything I would if I were active (sit open houses etc.) - but a heck of a lot less grief - and I can truly schedule it around my time - not the whim of a indecisive or demanding client! good luck!

My partner and I have focused on Buyer Agency - we've found that not only has it saved us the heartache of what you described, but the word of mouth referrals are working to our advantage. Most consumers/buyers have misconceptions as to how buyer agency works. If you explain it properly when you first meet them and sign them up - you'll end up saving yourself alot of headache/heartache down the road!

I know this is an old discussion, but I just saw it. That's got to be horrible!! I remember when we were selling 2 houses and buying one (all at the same time with the same person). She spent HOURS with us, probably days if you add it all up. I would feel horrible doing something like that to her. I know the market is not very good for real estate right now and they don't expect it to get any better, so that's got to be doubly hard. I hope for your sake (and some friends I know in real estate/mortgages) this picks up soon!!

3 months old and not one person responded and gave you their condolenses at the time. thank you the users above they brought this up again. i'm so sorry this happened to you and I hope everything is looking up for you. People don't realise all the work you have to do and it's not fair.

i was working with a real estate also and now working for bpo but no earnings still i m trying my evel best to earn something will u plz help me alll !!!!!!!!

I have learned since receiving my real estate license in 1997 to get an exclusive buyer's agreement. It not only protects you, but the buyers as well. My heart breaks for you that that happened. I had the same thing happen to me a few years ago. I trusted these folks and had no idea they had looked at an open house, they said they indicated working with a realtor, but the realtor sitting at the open house said she could give them a deal if they bought through her..........to make a long story short, they bought the house. Not only was it not in their search criteria that I had been showing them, one year later, almost in tears, saying they didn't blame me if I did not want to talk with them, however, they were so dissatasified, they called me to list the home and help them find one that they liked! Go figure! I think they are clients for life now!