Thread: Commission question

Hello I am a first time buyer, I’m looking for a condo in Illinois. My relative is my real estate agent.

A few weeks ago I saw a place with my agent. Yesterday I had some follow up questions about this property (such as pet policy) and I didn’t want to bother my relative / agent so I thought it would be better if I called the listing agent directly (I found his info on the internet). So I called the listing agent and asked him a few questions and he was really helpful over the phone and was willing to show me the place. At this point I mentioned that I’m already working with an agent, and if I want to see the place again then my agent will set up a showing.

During our conversation the listing agent took my first name (which is not very common), last name (but I think he misspelled it), and my email address (I gave him a vanity email that doesn’t contain my first or last name). Also when making the call I dialed *67 which should display my call as “private” on his caller id.

I was talking to a friend yesterday and she said that by calling the listing agent directly I might have jeopardized my relative’s commission. She says that by calling the listing agent directly I immediately became his client by law, and if I purchase then my relative will not get any commission. Is this correct? I wasn’t aware of this law and now I feel really bad and really stupid. I was only trying to save my relative’s time. Please explain. If my friend is correct in her statement, then does the listing agent have enough info on me / enough “proof” of our conversation to take my relative’s commission? Also keep in mind that I originally saw this place, and many others, with my relative so logically my relative should get the commission. The listing agent spent 5 minutes on the phone so it doesn’t make sense to me that he would get the commission. Thank you.