Thanks for getting back to me. Just to reiterate, if I don't get the contract Monday as expected, I wish to terminate my non-professional non-relationship with Mr. C, and have you recommend another more competent attorney for this very simple job.
S, as I said, he is too lazy and lackadaisical to even meet with me in person. He's also pretending that he needs time to "review the papers" before he sends them to me. Excuse me? This is not some exotic contract, is it? He could recite it in his sleep!
So my patience has worn thin. I'll give it til Monday, and then I'm out.
PS — Since he was too lazy to send me a written retainer agreement to sign, I don't owe him a penny, do I? He should be paying me for the aggravation.
Sorry — just had to vent and make my feelings very clear on the matter.
I don’t know if B actually bought his own bullshit, but I don’t really care. I called S back later that day and said I didn't want to wait till Monday after all — I wanted another lawyer now.
I met with my new lawyer in S’s office that Tuesday since Monday was a Federal holiday, went over the contracts with him, had my questions and concerns addressed with courtesy and dispatch, and signed the papers, which were promptly sent back to the seller's attorney.
When I returned to my boyfriend BG’s place that evening, there was a Fedex package waiting for me. It was the contracts from B — a day late and a dollar short.
S believes in working with others who can get the job done efficiently, but any endeavor can only be done as efficiently only if other the key players cooperate and do their share as part of the team. One of my most fervent wishes — aside from a speedy board approval — is that S will think twice before offering B’s “services” to any more hapless buyers down the line.
Article comments
1 - Julia H, Louisville, KY
Do you give any advice to first time home buyers like my husband and I? We have a similar story, except we are being told about a bid we made on a house, and being told a line of crap. Please let me know. I'm at my wits end with this, and have no clue who to ask for advice. I found your article while searching the words "real estate lawyers." Thank you for your time, and if you can't lend any advice, thanks for at least getting the word out on slimeballs like the one you wrote about! There are LOTS!!!!
2 - Elvira Black
Hi Julia:
So sorry to hear about your trouble, but of course you're not alone. There's a site called Active Rain run by real estate professionals that you might like to check out, as they have real estate agents and other RE professionals from all over the country who participate, and most seem very committed to providing professional service. There are likely some agents from your area represented there, and you can visit their websites or e-mail them. The site is also a treasure trove of info about good and bad real estate practices, as some agents are also very dismayed at the dirty tricks some of their colleages engage in. I learned a lot about the ins and outs of the business just by perusing that site.
There are some good agents out there, but like every other profession there are always those bad apples who ruin the rep of the good ones and make clients' lives miserable in the process. The best advice I can give is to get connected with an agent who has had considerable time in the business and the rep to prove it. Many of them will work in tandem with lawyers and mortgage brokers they trust, which can make the process considerably smoother all the way around.
Best of luck--as I've learned, when you hook up with the good guys, the process can be relatively headache free! And do let me know how you make out!