Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with agent

The Amazing Disappearing Bedroom

qxntpqbbbqxl — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:12:50 -0800

I'm starting the process of selling my house. It turns out that one bedroom is not actually large enough to be a legal bedroom in this state --- it is 60 sq ft and the minimum in NY is 70. So apparently mine is a two bedroom house instead of a three bedroom. When I bought the house, it was officially represented as three bedrooms. Do I have any recourse? I learned this today from a seller's estate agent. She insists it must be listed as two bedrooms when I sell, and to do otherwise would be a breach of ethics.

Six years ago, when I bought the house, it was listed as having three bedrooms, and also recorded as three bedrooms with the county assessor's office. Before I bought the house, I directly asked my buyer's agent if this bedroom was legal, and she told me not to worry about it. (The minimum square footage code has not changed in the meantime.)

This may have a significant impact on resale value; exactly how much is unclear. No one doing a walk-through of the house would think this is much of a bedroom, so it is mostly a question of how the house is listed on paper and how it is compared with similar listings to assess value.

My question is: Is it possible that there was professional negligence involved at the time I purchased the house, on the part of the seller's agent (for listing a house incorrectly), the buyer's agent (for dismissing my apparently correct concern), or the assessor I hired to evaluate the house (whose written evaluation counts three bedrooms and also contains other mistakes). Is this worth approaching a lawyer for?

How important is AM Best ratings to insurance, specifically homeowners?

lasamana — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 08:08:31 -0800

Our current homeowners policy is being changed because the company no longer does business in our state. Our agent has come up with another company that is not a national company. It only underwrites in several states on the east coast. I looked up their financials and they seem to be good but I’m no expert. It also is rated with Demotech which I understand to a paid rating company. On the other hand, we also called GEICO and they gave a us quote that’s higher but with a company with an A+ rating. However their coverage is lower i.e; GEICO’s company is offering a dwelling replacement amount of $370,000 as opposed to our agent’s unrated company offering a dwelling replacement amount of $500,000. That’s huge difference. We currently have replacement amount of $350,000. Also we would have higher liability coverage with unrated company while rated company would be around $300,000. Our agent explained with all our teen drivers, we should have a the higher liability amounts. I’m very confused. I’d like to be insured with a great company and have asked our agent to find a Best rated company for us. She feels we should have higher coverage (our current policy has been in effect for at least 5 years or more) as our needs are changing.

How does one become an FBI (or similar) agent?

ancient star — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:28:57 -0800

I'm a late-twenties adult finishing my BA a little late. I'm still a little unsure as to what I'd like to do, but I've always had an interest in solving crimes. What are my options for doing this as a career, preferably NOT for a local police department, at least in the long term? So... crazy thing. I'm interested in being a detective or agent, like for the FBI or a similar agency, as a potential career. I wouldn't want to become a police officer unless it was necessary step toward that goal (i.e. if the route to becoming an FBI agent is through law enforcement). Same with joining the military.

As I said, I'm currently getting my BA. I'm attending a very good university, majoring in psychology. It would be difficult, but not impossible, to change majors because I'm attending part-time and only take six courses per year, thus any extra courses just add to the years I have left. I could not speed up my degree or go full-time. Currently my GPA is a little over 3.5 but could certainly be higher depending on how important it was to my career goals. I am also learning a second language, with an end-goal of fluency, but it's not Spanish. My current job is in research.

What would I need to do to achieve this career goal? I'm looking for any and all answers. Should I change majors? Do I need to learn more languages? What advanced degree(s) should I look into? If it matters, I could definitely submatriculate into a Masters in Criminology at my university, but again, I have no idea if that would help. Is it possible I'm already too old, or that it's too late for other reasons? I have no criminal record, not even a traffic ticket on my record.

If it matters, working for the FBI would be more interesting than the DEA, and solving murders would be more interesting than catching terrorists. I'll be around to answer any relevant questions. Thanks!

How does this whole literary agent thing work?

caoimhe — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:45:24 -0800

I've been contacted by a couple of agents to see if I have a book project after I wrote an article in a magazine. I do. Yay! But how do I know what to look for? Anyone out there with advice about finding the best literary agent? Do I want someone young and enthused, who might want to build their career with me? Someone older, with a long roster? Pick the best known agency? I'm not concerned about unscrupulousness -- these people are definitely legit, I just need to know how to gauge the one who would be best for my career.

Any suggestions at all or ideas for places to look? Many thanks!

What are the dos and don'ts of talking to a literary agent?

scaryblackdeath — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:25:31 -0800

An agent from a very large, well-established literary agency contacted me to say he liked my self-pubbed sci-fi, that he'd seen all the glowing reader reviews, and to ask about my future plans and if I had taken on representation. I answered those questions directly (plans for new books and no, I don't have representation). Presuming he writes back... what do I need to know? I'm quite sure this is legit. I've gotten scam emails before. This passed the smell test with flying colors, if I might mix metaphors.

My book has only been out on Amazon & other e-book sites for about a month, and it has kicked nine kinds of ass. (I've posted/asked stuff in relation to my books here several times before.) I have not, as yet, worried about agents and publishers and all that. I'd LOVE to get published, but so far I have only worried about writing books and getting better at my craft. Given that I have a day job -- one that I'd love to quit in favor of writing full time, but I have no illusions about how dangerous that could be -- I figure the writing is all I have time for.

But now I've had someone knock on my door. It was just yesterday, and I have no idea if/when he'll get back to me, but even if he doesn't there's always the chance that someone else will. Plus, again, if he doesn't this certainly bodes well for my chances of finding someone if I start pro-actively looking.

So what do I need to know when talking to an agent? How do I make sure I don't say anything to torpedo my chances? (I told him my plans for future books, but I also noted that I haven't made any commitments.) Is it likely that I won't hear from him for a while, or should I write this off if he doesn't get back to me again by the end of the week? I know that paying fees to an agent is a big red flag, but what are the other warning signs?

Please suggest a great buyer's agent in Tampa

toodleydoodley — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 17:51:42 -0800

Can you suggest a great buyer's agent in Tampa? Mr. Doodley and I are looking to move to the Central/North Tampa area (roughly from South Seminole Heights up to North Lowry Park/Manor Hills neighborhoods). We're mainly looking for stuff in the west-central part of the city, roughly bounded by Hillsborough (would go down to MLK or even Columbus in good blocks*) up to Busch, and from about Florida Avenue to about Armenia Ave.

We're looking for rough-to-good houses in decent* neighborhoods, and we're not afraid to fix stuff - so a shopping range of about $30,000-$90,000. I specify all this because I figure an agent would want to know that we don't want a 3,500 sf McMansion, but also the financing might be interesting because we're not opposed to a moderate amount of fixer-uppering.

*Good/decent blocks to me doesn't necessarily mean the heat pump and water heater have never been stolen - it just means that there aren't gangs of copper thieves rampaging around and beating up homeowners.

Picture Book Publishing 101

booksherpa — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 06:39:51 -0800

I want to write a children's picture book, submit it to a publisher, and get it published. Now what? I love picture books. I love the art, the clever writing, the ability to tell a story in 32 (or fewer!) pages. I love how authors slip bits in for the grownups reading them. I love the repetition some authors add so that kids can participate. I love reading picture books aloud to the kids I work with.

For about a year, I've been telling my own stories to the kids I work with. I make them up on the fly from the kids' suggestions, and have great fun doing it. Occasionally it has occurred to me that one of my stories would make a good picture book. Beyond that, I'm not sure how to proceed.

Please school me on Picture Book 101, everything from story to writing to submission to publishing. What resources should I be consulting? Bonus points if you've actually had a picture book published and can share your experience. Please note: I'm not looking for a vanity press to print my book and send me copies.

Some questions:

I have read this question and this one, so SCBWI membership and getting a copy of the current Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market are on my list. I'm looking for current information. Is the market still flooded? Does the greater use of Kindles and tablets affect things in the picture book market?

Please point me at the magazines, websites, blogs and books I should become familiar with. For instance, I'm guessing that there's annual directories of publishers with contact information and what they're looking for.

I will need an agent, I'm assuming. How do I get one?

For a regular book, I imagine I'd submit a manuscript in a particular format, but that would involve hundreds of pages. How do I format a picture book manuscript?

I have heard that publishers do NOT want picture book authors to submit illustrations along with the story; that the publishing company will find an illustrator should they decide to publish it. What other things should I avoid that will mark me as an amateur/noob?

Are there rough categories of picture books (i.e. alphabet, stories with morals, stories about school, etc.) that publishers use, and are there categories that are really hard to get a publisher to accept a book from?

Am I completely crazy for thinking I can do this? I like kids, I like books, I like telling stories. I like telling stories to kids. Do I stand a chance?

I have a relative who works for a large corporation that includes a large publisher as part of it. Though the relative is not on the publishing side, they have friends/colleagues who are. How do I best leverage that connection? The relative is willing and eager to help.

Let's say that everything goes my way and a publisher says yes to publishing my picture book. What happens next? How long is the process from acceptance to holding my book in my hand?

Thank you!

How do I become an artist's agent?

tangyraspberry — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:15:25 -0800

A friend of mine is a serious artist/painter who's asked me to be his agent so I was wondering how to structure the money side of the equation? Is there a standard agent's commission based upon a percentage of the price of each painting sold through the gallery or galleries? Are there standard "artist/agent" agreements or contracts available on-line?

Thanks in advance.

How should I select a real estate agent in Toronto?

musicgold — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:46:44 -0800

I need to hire an agent to buy a house. I know a couple of agents through my friends but I don’t’ want to rush and hire a person just because someone has referred them to me. 1. What are the basic criteria one should use to select an agent?

2. Are all agents suitable for all areas of Toronto? For example, let’s say I want to look for a house in Oakville. In that case should I hire an agent whose main market is Oakville or that doesn’t matter?

3. I don’t want to be pushed to make a deal. How should I clarify this with the agent?

4. Should I hire more than one agent?

5. How can I figure if an agent is working sincerely for me?

Thanks.

Online resources for selling a restaurant in London

zhwj — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:29:30 -0800

Are there any useful online listings services for selling a restaurant in London? Tons of business sales agency websites come up in a websearch -- are any of them trustworthy, or even useful at all? Are there certain conditions that would make online listings more useful than working with an agent directly? It's a small restaurant off the Piccadilly line in west London.

Help us make the best buyer's agent interview list

Maarika — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 06:01:11 -0800

Looking for a buyer's agent - should we interview people from multiple agencies? My husband and I are looking to buy our first home in 3-4 months, and we've spent the last couple months talking to real estate agents at various open houses. Based on these discussions and friends' recommendations, we now have a list of the top three buyer's agent contenders to interview, but it turns out they all work in the same branch of the same agency. In our area there are two main agencies and a couple smaller agencies. Should we find a buyer's agent from the other main agency to interview as well, for the sake of seeing the big picture? Is there anything that we would miss out on by only interviewing different agents within the same branch of the same agency?

Bonus question: since none of these agents work solely as buyer's agents, how do we mitigate the risk of having them end up as a seller's agent for a house we may be interested in? They all specialize in the part of town we want to buy in, and I don't want to enter a dual agent situation.

How to pitch a Twitter profile as a sitcom?

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:09:12 -0800

How do I pitch my comedy Twitter feed as a TV show? I run an anonymous Twitter feed for entertainment purposes. I won't name the feed, both to preserve my anonymity and to prevent this question from looking like a Pepsi Blue.

The account gains followers every day. Unlike, say, @FakeAPStyleBook, which is just a series of gags, my feed is similar to @MayorEmanuel, which evolved into an actual plot and, eventually, and ending. My account now has characters and storylines, and several (non-industry) people have told me that the situation would make a good sitcom.

Screenplays and teleplays are easy things to pitch; you send it to an agent, or manager, or producer, and if they like it, you move forward. I know that, while first-time screenwriters get hired, first-time TV writers almost never are given their own series; the path to TV is to write a spec of an existing show, get hired on that (or another) show, and then work your way up.

But what happens where there IS no script? There's just the Twitter feed?

I was hoping that any Hollywood Mefites out there might have an idea of how to get the right person's attention. The model, I assume, is @ShitMyDadSays, which became a sensation in only a few weeks, got writer Justin Halpen interest from publishers, which got him an agent, who eventually got him a series on CBS.

Any ideas? Would the feed do better as a book first? Or would I have to write the whole idea up as a standard pilot, and then just mention in my cover letters "By the way, this idea is on Twitter and has thousands of followers"?

Thanks for your help. If anyone is in the entertainment industry and would like to learn more, throwaway email is margaylynx@gmail.com

Sketchy business practice, or insurance S.O.P.?

jferg — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:45:16 -0800

Sketchy-business-practice-filter: Recently got a letter from our insurance agent (car and home) saying, effectively, "We've reviewed your coverage, and according to some system we have (360 Value), the replacement cost of your house is roughly 30% more than what the current policy covers. If we don't hear from you in 30 days, we're raising your coverage to that $BIGNUM." Now, the "we're doing this if we don't hear from you" piece is pretty sketchy to me by itself, but the more annoying piece is that $BIGNUM is a somewhat larger value than I've ever seen given to this house, on any appraisal. Almost twice what we paid for it, in fact. (This is dwelling value only, not contents.) Now, I understand this is replacement cost, to rebuild a similar house in the same spot if it were completely destroyed, but it still seems excessive.
So, how should I handle this? Is this a normal practice? Should I start looking for a new insurance agent? (Difficulty is that we've been with $AGENT for a long time, and she is sort of a family friend (though not a close one).) If it is a normal practice, should I accept it and move on, or request that they keep the coverage where it is (about 150% of purchase price)? (We might not be able to exactly rebuild for the current coverage, but could certainly buy something similar.)

Talent agency interview

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:05:42 -0800

Job interview filter: why would someone want to become a talent agent? (Bonus morality question inside!) I don't want to be a talent agent; I want to be a screenwriter.

Multiple people have told me, however, that the ideal job to get to make contacts in the industry, get a feel for how the business works, talk to producers and directors and writers etc., is at the mailroom of a talent agency.

I have an informational interview at a major LA talent agency coming up shortly (yay!).

Multiple people have also told me that the only conceivable way I could get this sort of job is to hide the fact that I want to be a writer and tell them that I want to become an agent. The bonus morality question is this -- is it OK to lie? Is the fact that "everyone does this" an excuse?

[My current answer -- OK, 1) not really and 2) not really, BUT... I currently know very little about the entertainment industry from a practical, first-hand, real-world perspective (just moved here!), so it would be unwise to close off potential avenues. It is *conceivable* that I could fall in love with this side of the industry, and I don't have a desire to NOT become an agent, so I've at this point resigned myself to being okay with lying.]

------

The central question is this: What should I tell them the interviewer they ask, "Why do you want to become a talent agent?"

My current answer is something along the lines of "I want to work with creative people. I want to help develop their ideas, and be the balance between the business and creative side of the industry. One of my favorite parts of movies is watching the credits -- not just the big names, but the hundreds or even thousands of people who are credited in a major production, all of whom have devoted time to becoming a small part in a large creation. Coming from my limited background, the fact that people see even small movies from the page to the screen is a little mind-boggling to me, so the scope and scale of big movies, the countless mass of people -- from production assistants to VFX artists to extras to directors to stars who all play a part in bringing ideas to a mass audience -- is a little bit awe-inspiring. Out of nothing --> something."

That's more or less true, though I'm not sure how convincing it is, or how relevant. I recently saw a movie in a film festival in which the director writes, directs, markets, and *distributes* the whole thing. His movies, honestly, aren't anything special (though they are successful at their level), but actually seeing the ENTIRE process through takes an amount of drive and force of character that is impressive to me. There are so many levels behind even the smallest-budgeted films: the fact that people actually get shit down, and continue to do so, inspires me.

----

So, any other thoughts or general advice about this (just informational, though I'm planning on doing the suit-and-tie thing!) interview. What would YOU say?

Should I use a migration agent to handle my application to migrate to Australia from the U.S.?

milkcrateman — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:09:11 -0800

Should I use a migration agent to handle my application to migrate to Australia from the U.S.? And if so, what's the best way to go about finding a good one? I'd like to apply to move, permanently, to Australia. I'd be doing this under the general skilled migration route. I see mixed advice about using migration agents to help with the process. Some people recommend it, but others say it's a waste of money if your application is straightforward. I don't think my application will be very complicated, but I'm unsure about the skills assessment portion. While I have a degree, it's not in the field I would be applying under (Software Engineer/Developer), though I do have considerable work experience in the area. Also, my grandmother was an Australian war bride who moved to the U.S. and subsequently lost her citizenship (I think). Apparently some of the laws involving war brides changed a few years ago so I'd be curious if that has any impact on my application.

So, is it worth using a migration agent? And if so, does anyone have any recommendations for finding an agent?

The Eternal Dilemna (Somerville/Cambridge housing filter)

sully75 — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 07:57:58 -0800

Should I wait till September 1 to find a 1br apartment of my own in Cambridge or Somerville (Massachusetts), or is Aug 1 just as good? Other questions inside. F/U from this question (you don't need to read it though)

So I'm looking at Somerville/Cambridge studios and 1brs. There are not a ton in my price range (hopefully south of $1400) on CL.

So:
1) Would I be better off to sublet for Aug, and look then, because there is likely to be more stuff popping up for Sep 1 when a lot of apartments flip in Boston? Or is the Inman/Somerville area less student oriented than others, and is the supply/demand ratio likely to be the same? There are some there but not a ton. I'm wondering if there will be a lot more selection for Sep 1, or if they will just get gobbled up by the throng of students coming in.

2) Any suggestions on finding a reasonable sized 1br or large studio for less than $1400? I thought it would be doable but there doesn't seem to be a ton out there. Inman is my ideal but would consider any parts of Cambridge or Somerville that are close to the T.

3) Would I be wise to go through an agent? Any suggestions for one? I'm really loath to pay a finders fee, I will be stretched on the 1st/last/security thing. However I'm wondering if there is a lot of stuff out there that's not listed on Craigslist? And if maybe the premo stuff doesn't end up there?

I'll be down later this week and moving down for good on July 23rd, most likely crashing with friends while I look.

Thanks!

Retired spy, looking for some movies to watch

carsonb — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:55:17 -0800

I really like spy movies where the main character is trying to retire/extricate themselves from The Company. I've seen a bunch from the library, but which ones have I missed? All-time favorites:

→ Hopscotch
→ Spy Game
→ Bourne Identity/Supremacy/Ultimatum

Just-watched and enjoyed:

→ RED

Not a lot of parameters here, just looking for spies who don't want to play the game anymore, but must one last time. Oh, ok, it doesn't have to be a spy, and other agencies (MI6, KGB, etc.) are welcome as well—any other professionals who have similar trouble would work just fine. Thank you for your suggestions!

Book suggestions welcome also.

Travel from Canada to the US with a passport expiring in < 6 months

Pruitt-Igoe — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:37:16 -0800

Will I be able to enter the US with a Canadian passport that expires in 4 1/2 months? Much of the information online about passport requirements is outdated, but I did manage to find some documents on the US State Department website:

From 9 FAM 41 NONIMMIGRANT VISAS:
The document "9 FAM 41.104 PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS" says that the passport must be more than 6 months away from expiry (requirement INA 212(a)(7)(B)(i)(I)). However, the document "9 FAM 41.104 NOTES" mentions that there are countries (listed in "9 FAM 41.104 EXHIBIT I") for which there is an agreement to extend the validity of the passport by 6 months for the purposes of section INA 212(a)(7)(B)(i)(I). Canada is one of these countries.

According to the law, as I understand it, I should be OK. What I'm worried about is, will the customs agent give me a hard time or not let me in at all? Basically, has anyone tried this recently and been admitted to the US?

Are There Talent Agents For Video Clips?

Quarter Pincher — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 23:01:44 -0800

I'm a John Q. American with a video clip that I have complete copyright authority to (including the music on it) and several UK companies have approached me about licensing the footage for television programs. Is there an agent for this kind of thing, and how would I know if they're credible? I know only minimal bits about contract negotiation..

What are the top talent agencies for journalists?

SarahWriter — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:02:26 -0800

What are the top talent agencies for a journalist seeking to get into television work? I am a print journalist looking to get into broadcast journalism and I need to find good representation, but I don't know which agencies are specifically good for journalists. So far specialist agencies I have found are N.S. Bienstock and Headliners Media. What others are out there and really good?

Or to ask it another way, what agencies represent the top broadcast journalists?

How can I get started editing this manuscript?

staggering termagant — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 07:26:46 -0800

What are some ways to approach editing a large manuscript? I've finished a memoir about the time I spent in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union. I have had 2 agents request to see sample chapters after I submitted a proposal to them. After they read the sample chapters they both asked to see the full manuscript. Both said that they liked but did not love it. That it was too wordy and that the story got bogged down. But both of them said that if I edited it, they would have another look.

My question: How do I do this? I've never done this before. It's not that I think that every word I've written is so precious, it's just that I have no idea how to get my head around pruning and shaping this 350 page glut of words. Are there any books I could read or resources I could tap that could help with this? And writers, when you have to reshape your first draft, where do you start? What are the practical techniques you use for approaching the task? Thanks so much.

How can I be a business manager/agent to the creative people around me?

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 18:25:25 -0800

How can I be a business manager/agent to the creative people around me? I've been living in Brooklyn for 4 years, NYC for 8, and I have met/know so many brilliant, creative freelance artists. I myself have some creative flair, but am mostly strategic, resourceful, rational and business-minded. I currently work in financial services and am burning out on the endless late nights, unappreciative superiors and clients, and high stress of handling all the requests and transactions that flood my inbox each day.

Meanwhile, many of my freelance artist friends are struggling because they have no idea how to manage themselves. I feel like I would be great at handling the practical stuff that can be overwhelming to a working artist - communicating with clients, negotiating payment, helping find work/jobs and helping to make decisions about what jobs to take and what to turn down, etc. - basically just help people advance their careers and capitalize on their amazing talents.

Does this exist as a job/career? How can I get into it? Ideally, I'd love to work for myself, with people/artists I love and believe in. Does anyone do this and have any advice on how I can too?

By the way - by artists I mean ALL types...performers, filmmakers, painters, sculptors, designers, etc.

Thanks so much, mefi! Anonymous because I don't want anyone at my current job to know I'm thinking about this.

Getting representation as a screenwriter/director: How to do it?

drjimmy11 — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:50:34 -0800

Getting representation as a screenwriter/director: How to do it? I need an agent and/or a manager. I have several sample screenplays, a director's reel, and have made a few films independently, some of which have been accepted to film festivals. For the sake of argument let's assume my work is good enough and focus on the "how to" of contacting potential representatives.

In the past I have sought representation as a writer. I followed the typical instructions from a book and sent query letters. That doesn't work. At best I got polite rejections, at worst returned with a note from the legal department saying they hadn't touched it.

So, what are other strategies? I would take an agent or a manager, whatever I can get. I have tried networking with people I know and haven't gotten anywhere yet. I detest cold-calling but will do it if I must. I have heard "network with assistants" but I don't know where to find the assistants or what to say to them. Are there modern internet-based approaches that might work (ie, LinkedIn)?

Also, I am even more clueless about how directors get agents then I was when I was approaching it as just a writer. Any insight there is greatly appreciated too. Thanks!

I saw this question but am hoping for new and/or director-specific insight. Thanks!

Getting rental deposit back

Marzipan — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:26:07 -0800

UK: rental deposit problem. What is our best option for recovering the deposit - we are not covered by any of the tenancy deposit schemes? (Sorry for the detail)
We ended a two-year tenancy in early July. From start to finish we dealt with a letting agent.The rent was above the threshold to be covered by the tenancy deposit schemes.

The agent says the landlord wants to take a thousand pounds off our deposit as a set of expensive knives landlord says he left in the flat are no longer there (the inventory just said five knives, we left five knives) and because we painted the kitchen cabinets without permission when we moved in (this is not true, the agent said it was fine, and the agent's contractor painted the kitchen cabinets as well as the bedrooms, which we paid for, by the way).

1. The contract is signed by the estate agent on behalf of the landlord
2. We deposited rent and deposit into the estate agent's bank account
3. We never had any direct communication with the landlord, only through the estate agent
4. We have raised the points in the paragraph above (knives and painting) in writing to the agent and have reached a stalemate

None of the deposit money has been returned. Estate agent now says if we want to take legal action we should take it against the landlord and they have tried their best.

What is our best option for fair resolution? We are fairly sure the landlord does not live in the UK, and we suspect our best option is to go after the agent. Does anyone know if technically the agent can cede responsibility?

Fun With Real Estate Agents

Quisp Lover — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:58:04 -0800

I just learned that in NY State, real estate brokers are allowed to represent both buyer and seller. As a buyer, I don't want the seller's broker for my agent! But it may be too late.... I found a really great house for sale just over the CT border in NY state. I emailed the seller's broker and made an appointment to come look. I liked it. And, being from CT (where brokers are not allowed to represent both buyer and seller), I told the guy I'd get a broker and make an offer. And figured that would be ok.

No. He freaked out. He was my broker! He is fully able to represent both buyer and seller. No conflict of interest at all. And he let it be known that he wouldn't take kindly to my depriving him of his his commission by bringing in another broker. He made a big deal about it.

For me, it is obviously a flagrant conflict of interest to represent both sides of the equation. I'd like a broker exclusively looking out for my interests. But I have to deal with realities here. And I see these options going forward:

1. Proceed with him as my broker, and just try to be as smart as possible (not great; I'm not all that savvy)

2. Proceed with him as my broker, and quietly pay another broker a few hundred bucks just to consult and advise - look over the paperwork, give opinions about negotiations, etc, just to have someone to sanity check the proceedings on my side.

3. Tell the guy tough noodles, I'm bringing in my own broker (but I'd fear retribution; he's got a lot of powerful friends)

4. Tell him: look, I can't see myself doing a real estate deal without someone looking out for exclusively my own interests. And now I've learned that NY law is different than CT law, so I went about this the wrong way. I don't want to cross him, so I'll just decline to offer on this property and go look elsewhere, having learned my lesson.....at which point he'll probably ok me bringing in my own broker, because I know he really wants to close this house. I won't risk retribution, though I might lose the house if he doesn't capitulate.

Or....?