So, yesterday I was showing some clients properties they had narrowed down from extensive searches I had done. I called Thursday and set up all the showing appointments. About an hour after I set up the appointments with the respective brokers offices, I got a call from one of the listing agents of one of the homes saying she was going to be doing an open house during the time we had scheduled, and it wasn't any issue to her for me to show it during that time, but just wanted me to know. I told her it wasn't a problem, we'd let her know who we were when we got there and wouldn't interfere with anything she was doing at the time.

We got there, I introduced us, and thanked her for letting us look while she was having the open house. I escorted my clients around and then prepared to leave. I thanked her again and she started asking my clients whether they have a home to sell and just when are they looking to actually get into a new home. I was appalled!

I again thanked her and ushered everyone out. I was fuming. I explained to my clients in the car that we wanted to be careful about information shared with the listing agent so as to not give away any bargaining power we might have.

So, was this just unprofessional or just downright unethical? Should I do anything about it or just be aware of this agent in future dealings?

She's a top producer in the area, but has a reputation for being "difficult" at best.

I appreciate any comments.

She was just agressively "pumping" them for information. Nothing unethical about that (I don't think it's interference). My suggestion is, to coach your future buyers before showing them homes, about agents that will try to get the upper hand for their sellers and be very careful about what they say.

I tend to agree with Pikes Peak. I don't think the agent's comments were unethical, it sounds to me like she is a savvy salesperson. I also agree that some coaching could prevent giving the selling agent any voluntary information (bargaining power). I think you did the right thing by ushering your clients out.

The agent holding the open house would have not been doing her job if she didn't try to ask questions on behalf of her sellers. After all, she has a fiduciary responsibility to them.

I agree with Pikes. If your buyers were showing signs of interest she was qualifying them. There is nothing wrong with that. You defiantly want to coach them not to give away any important information.

I don't like it either but the fact of the matter is, the tactic works more often than its a problem.