Slyvia Dolenz
Pasadena Branch Manager
FastSell Propertie Realtors
SUBJECT: License Realtor Complaint
Dear Ms. Schmitz:
I recently
received a FastSell Propertie after sell boiler-plate letter. This
letter had your typical public relations spiel, and I quote,
"FastSell Propertie Realtors is a company known for their integrity,
professionalism and service." If Jimmy Lasso, my FastSell Propertie
realtor, is a representative example of these qualities then FastSell
Propertie*s ship is sinking fast. Why else would I get this ridiculous
letter rather than an apology after the complaints I made personally
to you, Ms. Schmitz? Did you not get the impression when I was ranting
and raving 25 decibels above the norm I may not
believe Mr. Lasso possess those traits? Color me confused.
I am sure you
were sincere when you signed this letter and likewise in complete
blissful ignorance there was narry a thought connecting my name and
those from an angst-ridden, emotionally stressful, woman complaining
about her horrible realtor. Further, the letter tells me to "
feel free to refer my friends and family to us." Perhaps
as a form of punishment I might steer them to FastSell Propertie, but
if I want to keep my friends & family that would be a Bad Move.
I am being generous here because what I am going to tell you is my story
dealing with the Realtor From Hell, one name Jimmy Lasso of FastSell
Propertie Realtors.
I signed on
to Mr. Lasso falling for his self-promoted, Rockwellish newsletter which
occasionally found its way into my mailbox. He seemed like a charming
fellow. Call me a sucker for good marketing and faux charm, but I bit
and he became my listing agent. You and I know once he is my "agent"
he has an ethical duty to represent
my interests and not those of
his own. His interest might differed from my interests and
based on the course of events I imagined he operated under a motto
"will doing [whatever] get me my commission sooner*? Of
course, due to work constraints and other real life demands, I just
haven*t perfected the ability to climb into people*s head and read their
thoughts, however based on circumstantial evidence I think I*ve got
my realtor*s thinking process down and here*s why:
1) His flyer
of my house misrepresented the condition of the kitchen as "updated."
This is lingo for most perspective buyers that it is recently remodeled.
Recently as in 10 years ago not in the 1940s!
Jimmy Lasso: "Well it is not the same kitchen that was built with the house in 1928 so it is updated."
I requested
it be modified. It never was [think
moto *].
2) I requested
that agents not show my house after 3:30 pm on the weekdays because
my daughter was home alone. People came trudging in and out of my house
requiring my daughter to leave and walk down the street and wait until
they left. Calls to my realtor did not alter that schedule. Having
the house accessible at all hours is filed under his -
will this get my commission really fast?
3) He felt
compelled to add water to my pool. One wonders why he felt that necessary.
(Going to take a dip? The level made the house not sellable?) He disappeared
and forgot about it overfilling my pool. Needless to say a mini
flood sheeted over the back yard and soaked the boxes in the garage.
Many of the boxes were there because he
suggested the house looks better not cluttered. Ironic, isn*t
it? On the good side the plants were watered to infinity.
4) We were
unsure if the porch addition had a permit, so I suggested to pre-empt
any questions by city officials by looking for it himself. Mr. Lasso
said, "this is not my responsibility." However,
when the building inspector days before escrow was to closed now questioned
whether the porch had a building permit his motto kicked in pronto
[will this get my commission really fast?],
necessitated him appeasing the bureaucrats at the city.
5) I told Mr.
Lasso if the house does not close on time I would not let the buyers
live in the house and rent from me. Odd after this statement I
still received an email from Mr. Lasso asking me if I would
let the buyers rent before
escrow closes? Any ethical realtor representing my interest would
never recommend this.
6) In the interest
Mr. Lasso*s motto* all sorts of inspectors, popped in my
once peaceful domain unannounced. Good thing I am not an exhibitionist
who walks around nude... Charming as Mr. Lasso was, respecting my
privacy when it conflicted with his
moto* was not.
7) There were
a few items left by my movers and the house was fairly messy. Mr. Lasso
said he would hire a maid to clean the place up and another guy to move
the stuff to the next door neighbor before escrow closed.. Needless
to say, the mess was not cleaned and the stuff not moved. Which underscores
his gleeful rendition of the buyers angry letter (rightfully so) the
house was a mess. Maybe saying he would hire a person to clean it
up and move the stuff doesn*t mean what I thought it meant.
Why was I not
told that this particular city would require repairs and such? I did
say the house was sold "as is." The contract could have contained
a clause to ensure the buyers pay for repairs. These events, along with
other pleas aimed at appeasing the buyers at the disadvantage of the
seller (that would be me) might make one paranoid. Was he working
for the other side? I slapped myself silly. This is nutty thinking,
right? And yet....so many.... of theses... examples makes me wonder...a
conspiracy? Maybe I was too demanding. Maybe I ask too much of my Realtor.
Should I see my therapist? Should Mr. Lasso see my therapist? Is
there a DSM-IV label for realtor syndrome?
I leave you with this now with my hope whatever ails Jimmy Lasso*s as a Realtor can be rehabilitated with some remedial outreach program. If you haven*t figure this out, I will NEVER do business with, or recommend my friends to, FastSell Propertie Realtors. I would be daft. Does that make it clear to you Ms. Billie Rae Dolenz?
Respectfully
Submitted in the Utmost of Sincerity,
Besty Ballentine
attachment: Silly FastSell Propertie letter about how good they are.
cc:
State Board of Realtors
Los Angeles District Office
320 West 4th
StreetSuite 350Los Angeles CA 90013-1105
Bobby Short
FastSell Propertie
Realtors9200 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 200Los Angeles, California 90069
