Realtor Refusing to Return Keys

**nikki1217** · 09-07-2009, 04:17 PM

Hi, I'm not sure if I'm posting in the right place, but I need advice!

I needed an appraisal, and a realtor was recommended to me to get an appraisal with consideration of selling based on the appraisal. That was clear when we spoke prior to filling out paperwork, etc. The appraisal was beautiful, thorough, and worth the $350 I paid him, but the value was not enough to make sense to sell.

The apartment in mention is out of state, and I'll be going there in a week and a half to do some cleaning, etc, and called him, as he was fully aware we had fedexed him the only set of keys.

Without a hesitation he said no. He said he was too busy to mail them. If I wanted them, I could come and get them, but he would not mail them, regardless if I was willing to pay, or the fact that I had mailed them to him in the first place.

What do I do? Is that legal? I don't want to go down and "hope" he's around to get them, and find myself locked out, I mean, if he won't do so much as mail them to me how do I know he is reliable to find the time for me to come get them?

I called my lawyer and left a message. I'm pissed and really upset.

Any advice???

**Greg** · 09-08-2009, 05:55 AM

Have the agent leave the keys in an envelope for you at the front desk of the office.

Then take the number of a couple of local locksmiths with you when you go just in case this agent is as big a schmuck as it sounds. And in the future always retain at least 1 set of spare keys.

PS. In most states this agent would have to be a licensed appraiser to be able to legally get paid for doing an appraisal. If this is the case here and this agent is not a licensed appraiser then you might be able to file a complaint with the state real estate commission.

**Note Buyer** · 09-29-2009, 04:25 AM

I agree the Realtor sounds like a real jerk! If he has an actual office I would ask him to leave the keys at the front desk as mentioned above. I would then call back and talk to the person that answers the phone and verify that the keys are sitting there waiting for you the next day before making the trip.

**Dave Reynolds** · 09-07-2011, 05:21 PM

If he is just a realtor, try to contact his broker (i.e. his boss) and explain the situation - I'm certain that no broker would condone such irresponsible behavior. If you can't find anyone else to contact other than him, you can contact him and make it as easy as possible for him to do the right thing...let him know that you will send Fed Ex to pick up the keys at a time and location of his choosing (obviously you'll have to contact Fed Ex and pay for the pick up)...if he refuses, let him know that after you hang up the phone, you're going to call his local Board of Realtors to file a formal complaint against him (it would be ideal if you could have the contact information of his local Board of Realtors prior to calling him, so you can prove to him that you're not bluffing). If you do that, I'm pretty sure you'll scare him into complying. I'm not sure if what he is doing is illegal, but I know for sure that his local Board of Realtors would have a serious problem with what he is doing and his behavior could result in him being sanctioned or having to pay a fine or perhaps even losing his license to sell real estate. I'd try that if I were you.