Flyer, I did the same thing. Technically the listing agent referred their best buddy at the same agency. Also did an offer the same day as the listing.
I have no complaints since I got a place I love below market price. But the poor seller could have had an extra 25 to 30k if he had done FSBO and priced it better. I know this for a fact because I would have paid more and not cared at all if it had been FSBO.
Yet another example of poor pricing. There was a short sale that was on the market for several months priced like 20% too high. I put in a low ball offer, both by email and telephone. No response at all, though the agent got it because I was added to the agents email marketing list. A couple months later, the price gets cut by almost 25%. This is despite the fact I made a slightly higher offer. Listing agent does not even bother to tell me, the guy who offered more than the new list price in a slow market. I then put in a full price offer, below my prior low ball offer, and got it.
I am sure there are plenty of awesome agents around here, but both of my experiences buying the agent left serious money on the table.
