Using property's selling agent to increase odds of offer approval

[Sean Salandy]

Just wondering. Would it increase your odds of having your offer accepted in a "lightly" competitive negotiation if you decide to contact and have the selling agent  represent you directly? This wouldn't work in all situations obviously, but in some cases would having the property's selling agent incentivized by gaining both commissions, sort of sway their decision to "push" your offer? I know they have an obligation to put their seller's interests first. I am speaking specifically to bank owned properties.

Thanks.

[Fred Heller]

What you're suggesting would be an ethical violation. The listing agent is ethically and legally bound to work in the best interests of the seller. If he tried to influence the seller to accept an inferior offer for his own personal gain, that would be a big No No.

And I'm not going to get into the issues of dual agency, which is illegal in a lot of states, or intermediary agency. That's a completely different class.