I've had it

I feel like I'm setting myself up to become some sort of terrible viral advertising for do-it-yourself real estate services, but I'm completely had it. As I best understand it, we're completely screwed in this whole transaction. Since the buyer's broker is holding the earnest money, it's up to her who gets it. Of course, both the buyer (or former buyer, as it rests now) says he should get it back, but we've got a claim on it, too. The buyer is the broker's client, and the broker wants him to do business with her again, she doesn't give a rat's ass about us.

So it will probably turn out that our only option, if we want to pursue it, will be to take this guy to DeKalb Superior Court. According to my lawyer friend, that's the most backed-up court in the state, and we'd probably still be working on this a year from now. In other words, we'd all waste a lot more money than is at stake here.

As I've said before, I don't understand the value of an agent. I've dealt with three or four of them now, and I have yet to feel like I got my money's worth. We found both of our houses without an agent, but in both cases the agent got her full 3% commission. And we can't unload this one after two agents, both of whom talked about what a wonderful house it was and claimed it should sell in no time.

Do I sound frustrated yet? I need a beer, but all I get tonight are paint fumes.