Ask the REALTOR: If I have a question and my agent is busy, can I call the listing agent?

Ask the REALTOR® is a regular video series in which I answer your most commonly-asked real estate questions, with a new Q&A posting every week. If YOU have a real estate question for me, drop me a note here.

This week’s question: If I have a question and my agent is busy, can I call the listing agent? Here’s the answer in this brief video, and don’t miss the transcript below.

Transcript:

Hi, this is Cari McGee with Keller Williams Realty in the Tri-Cities. Welcome to this week’s episode of “Ask The Realtor.” Every week, I answer questions from buyers and sellers — and pretty much everyone in between — regarding real estate.

This week’s question is, “If I have a quick question about a house that I like and my agent is busy, can I go ahead and just call the listing agent directly?”

Well yes, you can, but it’s not recommended. It’s somewhat akin to being on trial and you have a quick question about your case, so you call opposing counsel to ask it. Don’t do that and don’t do it in this instance, either.

When you are purchasing a house that is listed with a real estate company, the agent who is the named agent in the listing is representing the seller and his or her best interests and when you are purchasing a home, your agent is representing you and your best interests. And sometimes peoples’ best interests don’t always coincide. And if you go ahead and call the listing agent, you might spill some information that the seller should not know. And so, it’s just best if you wait for your agent to be finished with whatever task that they are accomplishing, and then ask them your question. Because you really don’t want to give information to the other parties in the transaction if they don’t need to know it. I hope that answers your question and I hope you have a fantastic week. See you next week. Bye.