In the Las Vegas market, our MLS policy says we should leave a card as a professional courtesy. If the seller is home, I hand it to them; if not, I leave it on the kitchen table or counter.

If the buyer's agent gave her card to the seller and said anything more than "Here is my card", AND your selling agent was present then to me that crosses the line and shows a disregard for communication to flow between the agents. I would have intercepted the card at the time, but now I'd let it go.

It is an accepted practice in my area for the showing agent to leave their card when showing so if the seller is home they might just give it directly to the seller. it doesn't make me feel threatened.

It's a non-issue in my book.

Sounds like the seller should have vacated the home while the showing was taking place.  That would have cured the situation...

I actually have "showing cards" that say "Thanks for allowing me to show your home" printed on them - along with a place for date and time.  Gives the homeowner a sense of security in my mind.

Beatrice - I have actually been asked to provide my business card to an owner who was at home during a showing with my buyer. They want to know that I am a legit agent. When the owner is not home, it is customary to leave our business cards.

As long as the agent was not asking the seller for the listing, I don't see any issue.

Was the Seller asking the showing agent questions? Was she offended by the agent giving her their card? In my market when showing a home we leave a business card.

When buyer's agents show a home in Denver it is customary to leave a business card.    I would give it directly to the Seller if they answer the door.  They need to know we are a licensed REALTOR to show their home.

In our market, showing agents usually leave a card to show that they have been to the home. There is nothing wrong with handing out business cards.

I always leave a card in the home or hand it to the Seller if they are home.  Sure don't see that as being "overly agressive".

As a courtesy I will give my card to a seller if they are home while I am showing their property, to let them know that I am a licensed Realtor. If their agent is at the home during the showing I would give my card to them, and if the owners/Realtor are not there, I will leave my card on the counter.  Hopefully the showing agent did not try to solicit business from the seller...

OMG, please get a grip...

I am floored at all the insecure real estate agents...the listing agent already has a contract with the seller and they are sweating a measley business card?? 

If they are sooooo worried that a business card will unhinge the relationship, than maybe they should take better care of the client.

And to those that have never read the code of ethics...giving the seller a business card is NOT a violation of the code of ethics. Send a complaint to the real estate commission?...sure, do that...they need a good laugh.

Eve

If the Seller was home, answered the door and the agent was confirming their identity, I see nothing wrong with it.  However, if in a situation where they were soliciting the listing, you do have a valid complaint. 

I have other agents passing out their cards at my listing during my OH in front of me.

Technically they are in violation.  Then you find out your complex photos are used by the same agent on her listing.  I called MLS to take down these photos. Call agent's broker is useless. She is the owner-broker!  No wonder some realtors have given our profession a bad reputation.

I agree, what is the big deal??

around here it is common courtesy to always leave a business card at the home after a showing

Just let it go.  It may have been some game playing - which just makes them look tacky.  Or it may have been an honest mistake.  I had them to sellers when there agent is not there or at other times you are just passing out cards and don't want to leave anyone out.  

I think this is normal.  I leave my card with the sellers because I think it is a courtesy to let them know that I am who I say I am.  I am not soliciting their business, just being respectful.

Nothing. I wouldn't worry about it. I wish more showing agents would leave their cards.

In our market, we leave business cards in the home to provide proof that we are who we say we are and that we were in the home when showing. In our market 99% of the time, the seller isn't home, so it's a non-issue.

I think as the broker, I would bring it to the attention of the agent's broker, then I would tell my seller that it was not a normal thing.

I would take the card from my seller and give it back to that agent.

John nailed this one!

Brazen. Unethical

It is common practice to leave a card around here. If the Seller answers the door, I hand it to them right away. It is a non issue, unless they are trying to interfere with your listing.

I'd blow it off and focus on much more important things, like our clients and gaining more business.  

Professionals are fearless or they should be, so what will happen if anybody gives their business card to my client? Well, it depends, doesn't it? If my service isn't superior for my clients, they might dismiss me, yet, I don't have any concerns about my service, so I don't even think about it.

Beatrice,

YES, I think she should call the agent. Speaking directly with the person with whom there is an offense is the best way.  Allow the opportunity to "Clear the air/confirm her reason" for  doing this and make sure this agent "knows the rules of the game."

I would be curious and interested in knowing the "rules of the game" for Brokers myself!   Please give more detail about what you mean by "overly aggressive?"

It depends upon how it happened.  Was the seller home when the agent showed the house?  It's not unusual for a showing agent here to leave a card in the house when they leave.  Did they leave a card or somehow make a point of giving a card to the seller?

We are  to leave a card when showing. If the seller is there I hand it to them to identify myself.

Why call the agent?  Call her broker immediately.

IMHO, I think that was dirty pool.  The agent needs to be reminded of Agency and professional standards if it was anything other than a showing and providing their card for contact info.  I'm with John Novak  on this one. 

It depends?  It is customary to present some form of business card upon the Seller greeting the Buyer's Agent on a tour of their home.  Sometimes its just a professional courtesy when we're cooperating on a deal pending, when there is trust I make it ok for my Seller to communicate with the Buyer's Agent sometimes for Buyer Inspection or final walkthroughs confirmation.

Now if I think an over aggressive Agent is prospecting my Seller, and my Seller conveys they feel they have just gotten an uninvited become my new Client communication, I contact the Agent and inform them I have served on the professional standards and grievance committees with the Local and State Association, handling complaints of Agents pursuing other Agent's Clients.  I don't accuse them, but I do tell them they really don't want to go through that experience.  Whenever you mention the Association or the Board or the Licensing Office, Agents stop and listen to you, and they think about staying out of trouble.

If I arrive at a showing and the owner is home, I always give them my business card to show that I am a Realtor. It is for safety purposes for the seller. If the owner isn't there, I leave a business card to show that I showed the home. I think it is courteous. Am I missing something?

Always leave a business card we are ask to by listing agent to do so and it helps the seller be more comfortable and maybe a little more secure especially if they are home to identify yourself with so much that goes on now days.

We leave business cards in homes we show all the time.  So I do not think this rises to a scandal.  I would not call her the showing agent.

I'd ignore it. The fact your client told you says she has faith in you!  Just say it's normal for folks to sometimes leave their card. Next time just remind them to bring buyers if they are that good.  LOL

I always leave a card and if the seller is present I hand it to them.. That is professional courtesy.  But the professionalism leaves when any comment to recruit another agent's client is made.

It depends upon what the agent said. Just handing the seller the card so they'd know who showed the home would not be objectionable. I once had an agent leave a card with a note - "Call me when the listing expires and I'll get the house sold."

Fortunately, it made the seller angry, so she got some good old fashioned negative advertising for her efforts. 

I always give my business card to the seller or leave it on the counter.  I want them to know who was in their house and it is, in fact, the actual person that scheduled the appt.  It is out of respect, not to solicit business.

I'm not sure of the question. Whenever we go into a sellers home in my area we hand them our card. It's not considered solicitation in our area.

I would not be too worried about a Buyer's agent giving their card to a Seller. It shows that they are not very professional, but what can I do about that?! I give a list of all Buyer's agents showing the house to my Seller client, anyway. When the Buyer's agents scan their key to the lockbox, the notice goes to me and the seller's email.

If you have noticed unethical Buyer agent behavior, that's a different thing.

Homeowners in our market expect a business card to be left so that they know who was in their home. Its a courtesy. If the owner is there, I will hand it over, its merely for identification purposes.

As pointed out in various responses, it really depends on the circumstances and the "manner & intent" of the action. Courtesy "leave card" per tradition, Seller request, intent to try to "steal" Seller, ...

You need to speak to both your Agent & their Client to get more info and a better picture of what happened. Then, if warrantied, call the other Agent & if need be, their Broker.

All depends on the situation. I have shown properties and given my business card to the owner because they were there. If they aren't there, I leave it on the counter or a very conspicuous place. I keep any conversation as short as possible and never solicit. If the seller asks me questions, I have directed them to their agents. "That is a question you should ask your agent about." I'm there for my buyer not the seller.

In the area I serve it is customary to leave a card when showing a home.

We do it all the time in our market. I wouldn't give it a second thought.

Its a business card with your phone number, that's it

if the seller is listed with an agent, who cares....there is an agreement in place....or you could have some fun and call the top agent and say "guess you missed one".....and then laugh!!

Beatrice Briseno It was always customary for a showing agent to leave a business card in the home they were showing. It showed the sellers agents were showing the home. If there are other ulterior motives, then it is wrong.

I would call the agent and depending on their tone I might file an ethics complaint and or report them to my state real estate commission.

Look like you already have your answer.  Just need to get some more data about how it happened before you decide what to do

Beatrice Briseno - If it is a mistake, let it go. If it is intentional, talk to the agent and remind them what he/she should do!