Noah,

By law, you are supposed let everyone know who is in the room when you are on a conference call.  I think that Gabe Sanders makes a valid point.  It also lessens your trust in the other agent.  

you are a lot nicer than i am ... I blast them.

My other thought Noah, is that as a buyer, I would not trust my agent to get the right answers, and I would not be surprised if they call you directly.  That agent undermined their authority and it makes them look stupid  A

Very unethical if you ask me.  I would be calling the Broker on this for sure.

I agree, Noah.  This is very bad practice.  Though, when I get these types of questions I always say that I have no idea what the seller will do.  If you're interested, put it in writing. (And typically, I just keep repeating this until they give up asking)

The courteous thing to do would be to announce that from the beginning although I can't think of a time when it might place me in an awkward position. I have had to repeatedly tell other associates to PUT IT IN WRITING as you've stated. 

I think it is more than rude, it's bad business practice. It sounds like you handled it well, Noah.

Whenever I receive a phone call from an agent who says they've just shown my property and they start peppering me with questions, I cheerfully ask if the clients are there with the agent. 

It's not as though the information I'd convey is different with or without the prospective buyers present, but the delivery would likely be different.

The agent definitely should have mentioned other people were on the phone call.  It was rude not to inform you of that fact.

The agent should have let you know who was in the call.

The only thing I can say is - not a good practice from this agent.

I think some agents do this to impress their clients and I think it is tacky and not proper etiquette.

very inappropriate.  not sure I would say unehtical but definately bad form.

I don't know why anyone's panties are in such a bunch.  You are in charge of answering the questions any way you wish.  Your answers should not depend upon who you think is on the other line...

If this is a violation of law or ethics, show me where...it is only illegal in some states to record somone without their knowledge. 

This is no different that someone standing in line at the grocery store talking to their boyfriend on speakerphone so that everyone can hear.

If my client is intersted in a property, I do ask listing agents the hard questions.  Sometimes they will keep things confidential and most of the time they say more than they should.  So when they blab too much who is to blame? Me or the inexperienced agent? Certainly not me, who is gathering information for the buyer...I am just doing my job.

Eve

I hate that. Someone called me a few days ago on speaker phone, and they were sitting in their car with door open because I could hear the ding ding ding in the backround. I tried to listen to them for a minute, then just hung up because I couldn't take anymore. I also can't stand the scenario you had where someone is in background yelling " ask him this, ask him that, on and on. Rude and unethical.

Hi Noah -- interesting question.

I'm trying to think what I would do in your situation as I don't recall it ever happening.   When on a conference or speaker phone and there are others in the room(or car) I will announce those people.  

When representing buyers, I do ask questions to the listing agent which I believe are relevant and pertinent(and when I represent sellers, I tell them they may be asked certain questions as well).  

Without knowing the specific questions(you suggest they border on violating confidentiality) I'm not sure how I might answer except to say -- put it in writing and I will find out from my clients.  

Typically I find these questions to be in the arena -- will the seller take X price(?) is the seller is negotiable on price(?) or what price will the seller take(?) --- and I always say "I know they will take more" --- yeah, I'm a smart ass in that regard(and others) but it's my response.   Unless the seller has instructed me otherwise(and in writing) I can't reveal a price a seller will take that is less than the list price.   

I believe that is illegal to not inform the Agent of who is listening in.  Like you, I would have them put their questions in writing and I would of course tell them what I thought about their actions.

Does this woman have a real estate license?  Doesn't Illinois have real estate laws (or Realtor Association rules) about broker supervision?

Maybe you should have asked her if you were on "Candid Camera" at the time she was calling you.