Expert: Sue Bernstein - 8/6/2006

Question
I am a Federal Agent Stationed in Los Angeles with a house in
Riverside.  In April I received orders to move to the East Coast by
Sept.  However, I had not been given an actual report date.  
Knowing that I would need to sell my house I signed with an
Realty company the assist the owner in selling their home.  I
signed a contract with the broker till Sept 6.  Well as of a week
ago I was assigned a check-in date of Sept 3.  Meaning I would
have to leave Mid Aug to drive out.  My house is one of only
three 2 bedroom in a community of 3 Broom homes.  It has been
on the market for over 90 days with not even one offer.  My
broker has yet to give me any strategies to over come this slow
market, and I rarely hear from her.  I have asked my broke to let
me out of the contract but she refused.  Even though my
contract is up in less than a month, I will have already left Ca.  I
will not be able to fly back out to sign on with a full service
Agent unless I terminate my current contract now and get a new
Agent.  Given my situation is there some Federal or State
provision that allow Federal employees under permanent change
of station orders a way out of such contracts?

Thanks for ANY advice you have to offer!

Answer
Dear PJ,

If there is a provision that will allow you out of your contract I am unaware of it. This is exactly the service one gets when they list with a discount broker. You might not have an out of the contract but I would start interviewing agents right now.  You can even sign the listing with the start date of whenever you are out of the old contract.  Just make sure you are protected in the new contract in case the old agent procures a buyer while you are still listed.  Even if you don't sign anything until you leave all contracts can be faxed, e-mailed or Fed Exed to you for signatures.  We do it all the time for out of area clients.  If you don't know a good agent I would be more than happy to  refer you to a Riverside agent through my companie's relocation department.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Sue Bernstein
www.SueBernstein.com
818 728-2226