Going Over Listing Agent's Head

[Derek Luttrell]

Hi All, 

What is the courtesy when you have found a property you're interested in, and the listing agent is impossible to reach? I don't like involving a buyer's agent until my own preliminary research is complete and I'm approaching certainty that I want to make an offer. Do I need to get one involved in hopes of them having a better chance at reaching the listing agent? 

I looked up the property on the county tax assessor site, and found the contact info of the owner. Is it kosher for me to contact the seller directly and ask him what I'd like to know? It's a SFR that has tenants in it currently. The listing says that the seller is prioritizing offers specifically from investors who are willing to keep the existing tenants. I like the location, price and looks of the property, so I'd like to go see it and eventually meet the tenants....none of which can be done without the listing agent getting back to me.