Is It Ethical

Expert, localized Los Angeles answers provided by Heather Roy

Is It Ethical
	Dear Edith, My wife and I will be putting our home up for sale within the next four to six weeks after doing the prep work for showing it. Since we are not in any rush to sell, we are contemplating trying to sell on our own before listing with an agent. However, we would like to get a market analysis done by a few agents but don't want to take advantage of them. Is it ethical to request this if we are up front with our intentions? Will most agents be responsive to such a request?

	If you are frank about your plans, it's perfectly acceptable to request advice from real estate brokers. Some agents won’t want to offer free service (I bet I hear from them) but many are happy to. It gives them a chance to make friends and demonstrate their abilities. Agents know that most FSBOs (For-Sale-By-Owners) do eventually end up using brokers. Even if that doesn't happen, the agent can learn a bit more about the housing stock in the neighborhood. And if the broker is later working with a buyer who particularly wants a house like yours, there’s always the possibility some sort of one-shot commission can be arranged.
	Edith Originally published on November 6, 2006

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