Let me tell you a story about a Realtor that kept an extra 3%.

[Yasmin Goetz]

How hard is it going to be to get back 3% commission that my Realtor/acquaintance kept?

How did she do that? , you may ask. Well, let me tell you what happened.

My partner & I signed a listing agreement with this realtor but before it was signed, property was being sold by owner offering realtors a co-broker 3%. Well same Realtor took clients to see the property before contract was signed, and I just realized that only the 3% co-broker fee should had been paid. I am half Spanish & German so please excuse my English.

I have proof of her wrong doing with emails & texts and the Realtor does not seem to be concerned that she did anything wrong! How can I get my money back? It seems that an Ethical Complaint in FREC is not helping get my money back. Positive and realistic advises are very appreciated. I'll send you 2 dozen baked chocolate chip cookies, to say Thanks! :)

[Levi T.]

So let me get this right.. The property was for sell by owner, with a 3% commission. An agent offered a listing contract, and you signed it at a higher commission, then they submitted a contract from a client that they showed the property to before you all signed a contract with the listing agent?

If I'm understanding you right. They likely have not done anything wrong as they can freely show anyone the property, and they don't earn that 3% commission until a contract is submitted, approved by the sellers, and closed. This is because it's the terms of the advertised property, and they are not under contract. This would even apply after, while, or during the process. Once you signed a contract, all new terms come into play.

The move is likely legal, but I would frown on it and never do business with a real estate agent like that again. Word of mouth will go a long ways, nothing tarnishes a real estate agent quicker than being called a crook.

In the end, if you did not like paying a higher commission, you should have not signed a contract.