Come on now, admit it! There are agents, lenders, inspectors and even buyers and sellers that we would be more than happy to never do another deal with as long as we are in this business. Unfortunately, this is not our reality. We will have to deal with them again and do it, ahhhemmmm, politely.
I have heard other agents say the experience they had with ‘such and such’ agent was so bad they won’t even show that particular agent's listings. Honestly, I don’t understand why an agent would make a transaction so difficult, but I can surmise that most of the time it comes down to either control or money. I have dealt with agents who were very clear they were the ones in charge of the deal and ‘don’t you forget it’. What is interesting is about half of these deals failed in negotiation and I can assume the agent is asserting themselves with their buyer/seller in the same way they are me.
Do I dare bring up the money side of an agent's dealing in a transaction? Let’s be honest, we are all in this business to make money right? And this is definitely a driving force. However, when I have an agent telling me the transaction needs to get closed so they can make their car payment, house payment, or whatever they need money for, tells me they are looking out just to get the deal closed just so they can get paid and not for the best interest of their client.
Will I do business with them again, yes. Will I cringe when I see their name as the listing agent or buyer’s agent, heck ya! But I will watch out for my backside and continually remind myself that common courtesy goes along way and everyone deserves respect regardless of what I have heard about someone or my past history with them.
You make some excellent points. It reminds me of the old saying that goes something like this "...a known devil is better than an unknown devil." Business is business and we all have to learn how to deal with the difficult people and situations.
There are only two agents in Austin (out of many thousands) that I don't work with anymore, because they openly stole money (clients) from me many years ago. I have forgiven them, but I don't want to put myself in harm's way again. Other than that, I can get along with just about anyone. :-)
I hear we should forgive, but we don't have to reopen the account! One of my favorite sayings! :)
Thanks all for the comments. There is a saying that goes 'Do it once, shame on you. Do it twice, shame on me' We just need to be on guard when dealing with certain people.
It sometimes works out that there are problems in a transaction. Most of the time I let the bad folks roll off my skin. If they want to get paid, they will do the work.
Dale wrote:
"It sometimes works out that there are problems in a transaction."
Thanks for chiming in Dale. We had a transaction where the real estate agent representing the listing side was a nightmare (understatement) to work with. After the property closed I thought we were finally done with this difficult agent. Sadly, we were not. I went to the property to give my buyer the keys only to find the agent had removed the lock box and brought it back to his office. My buyer waited while I went to the other side of town to retrieve the keys that should have been left at the property a few more hours, or at least brought back to the property. Oh well.
Yes, our market is moving really fast right now and sometimes that brings out the worst in agents. Do I want to work with them again - no. But will I? Of course. If my buyers want to buy their listings, I'll have no choice. If their buyers want to buy my listing, then ditto. But, if we've got a glut of inventory and I'm showing homes, I may put there's at the bottom of the list of ones to see.
Why do some agents and professionals think theirs doesn't stink. I hate cockiness. Putting a transaction together is a team effort. We are all trying to work on behalf of our client, but until it comes to fruition, we are all in limbo land and not doing anybody any justice.
As Home Inspectors, we have been met with agents who tell their clients not to let us into their property. They even went so far as to put it in their agent notes on the MLS. We can only guess they don't want someone in there who does their job well. They must have been on the other side of a transaction that didn't close when we did our inspection. We know that reporting the current conditions of the home is in the best interest of our client, blowing it out of proportion is not. But what we report, and what the client decides to do based on that information is not in our contol. We want clients to close on their new home, but not at the expense of integrity. Report the facts, don't water down the situations, don't overblow them, don't compromise just to close the deal. Good agents recognize that houses kill deals, not good inspectors.
I recently had a buyer under contract to close in less than 30 days. So the listing agent tells me about 2 weeks into the contract that "this better close on time because I leave to go on vacation the day after closing & I need the money."
Really? You think that your desired vacation & need for funding is the reason that this deal has to close on time?
Believe me, I was more worried about my family of 3 moving 1000s of miles, paying $8500 to movers, and getting their 6 year old back in school than I was about some stupid vacation that no realtor in their right mind would schedule to begin the day after closing. ARE YOU NEW?
We work in a tough business, and sometimes it is made more difficult because our colleagues are unethical, ignorant or both. In addition we have all had clients who turned into aggressive, ruthless strangers during a transaction. In the course of an hour we can go from strong and productive to bummed and distraught. Fortuneately, we have the ability to control our own business, so we can fire our clients and avoid those who give us grief. It isn't everything, but sometimes it's enough.
Yes we have all met and/or delt with "that person". However, we must always keep our Client's best interests protected. Regardless of the amount of unprofessionalisim others bring to the deal.
Would you advise your client to avoid certain agents? I'm thinking about checking on agents before I present their offers. I'm having trouble with one now - a cash buyer that should have been simple - and can't find her in the REALTOR database.
I have 2 agents I won't work with....I will refer the buyers to a solid agent (with a tough skin) who will handle it for them, but I won't put myself through it.
1) began to call me names and send nasty emails on a personal basis when my buyer changed their mind
2) was an REO agent who never even bothered to open escrow for us....we were 2 days away from the close and had no title, no escrow instructions etc. nothing....and she lied through the whole thing.
It is frustrating to say the least, and I do have a few agents in my area that I would rather not work with. However, if they have a home listed that fits my clients criteria then we will see that home. If my client loves that home then we will write an offer and present it the same as we would to any other agent in town. If the agent causes discomfort or grief, well it won't be an enjoyable transaction on that side of things but I still work for my client and I will do what is in their best interest and helps them achieve their goal! It can not be about me, the other agent, or either of our egos. It must be about serving my client and fulfulling what they have hired me to do! There are still professional ways to deal with those that don't conduct business in the same manner and protect your client in the process.
Better that we know so that we can be better equipped to handle the situation. Knowing the "enemy" is a tactical necessity in how to do "combat" and win the battle.
I've got a listing agent that was surprised when I told him the other day that my buyers hadn't made an official loan application prior to the purchase agreement being fully executed. His response when I informed him of this? "So we just lost a week's worth of time?"
Uh, yeah, we lost a week, and it wasn't because of my buyer or me...
Have to agree with Chris in #17. There are a few agents whose ego exceeds the need for common courtesy and we would prefer not to work with again, but will go there again if we need to for our clients best interest. They only respond when THEY want something, can't bother to acknowledge receipt of anything, threaten to bring a lawyer in when THEY are the ones in contract violation, etc. And they really think this is how you serve your clients??
As Realtors®, we are obliged to put our client's interests ahead of our own. The problem is that many real estate agents are not Realtors® and therefore they have no Code of Conduct, but the consumer must rely on the agent's individual ethics - which is a roll of the dice if you ask me.
Zig Zigler is a great salesman. He gives a lot of good advice.
However, the one bit I remember the most is that...
If you help enough other people get what THEY want, eventually you will get what you want.
However, this cannot be applied with the thought of immediate exchange in mind repaid by each individual that you help. It simply states that by focusing on other people, it opens more doors for people who are willing to help you.
It's one of my most favorite points, really!
We have to deal with all kinds everyday, pleasant or not. There was an agent in our office that left about 1.5 years ago & I haven't missed him one bit. He was the kinda guy you mentioned.
I had my fair share of transactions where the agent on the other end is a huge nightmare. Anywhere from telling a renter in a property I'm selling that I'm incompetent to demanding I drive 50 miles to their office to deliver the keys because they have no time to meet their client out there to give me the keys in the LB.
Do I want to business with them again--definitely not. But should I yes, if my clients wants the home. It's hard to distinguish the two in the heat of the moment, but I agree it's all about the client. Unfortunately, it's not different then dealing with a difficult co-worker except you can probably be done in a matter of a couple of months versus spending 8 hours a day/5 days a week for years and years.
Yes, there are those that will turn a perfectly pleasant deal into the "dreaded deal" that just won't close fast enough. I had that for my very first sale ever, and it made me extremely conscious of how I treat everyone around me at all times. There is no reason to turn a negotiation into a war of words.....
I have to agree with those who will show whatever properties their buyers wish to see no matter who the agent is; I've figured out most of the "bad eggs" - INCLUDING those that attempt to solicit my client's business AT THE CLOSING TABLE - in my area and am ultra careful when dealing with them!
Angry! She was always so gruff and angry! Doing business with her was like kissing a chain saw. Even the mention of her name caused my face to flush, my heart to palpatate, but clamp the teeth tight and say nary a word. Four years, Atilda and I danced our tortuous routine, while I seethed and hated every minute of it.
February in Florida can be a beautiful month. Atilda, after being out of sight since the holidays, reappeared to my great disappointment. "Hi, how are you," she smiled. Seriously, she smiled, and if I can add, actually radiated a peace around her. Let me tell you, I was suspicious.
As our conversation develops, Atilida shares that for over 7 years she suffered chronic pain from an incurable stomach infection in the stomach lining. 4 years ago, she learns an optical nerve degeneration whould shortly leave her sightless. Over the holidays, she underwent new surgical proceedures that corrected BOTH conditions. Atilda was reborn!
Today, when I encounter the unreasonable, I try to understand the reason, look for the opportunity to extend the hand of help, and not take it personal. We seldom know the great burden under which others must toil.
I'm with Karen on this one,
There are one or two agents that I do try to steer clear of. Its not that they are unpleasant - its that they are either psychotic or so dishonest that the chances of closing a transaction are much smaller. I'm talking about 2-3 people out of 7000. So it has never really come up. If I had a client that truly LOVED a home listed by such an agent, I would pay someone else who has no trouble dealing with the patently dishonest to handle the transaction. I know my limits. I'm not good at dealing with absolutly devious and would not serve my clients interests well in such a situation.
These agents who make deals hell - may be hurting themselves. Certainly other agents feel the same way - stuff like this gets around. When buyer's agents start avoiding their listings like Bubonic Plague - how are they to stay in business?
You do business with people you have to do business with, but there are some I try to avoid.
I love Ruth's quote above -- and I agree! There are agents everywhere that we should steer clear of. Hopefully they'll get the idea and either straighten up or find a new line of work.
I had an agent literally cuss me out like a crazy person (we're talking "F' bombs and everything) when someone who had wandered into his open house, decided to use me as a buyers agent. I was calling him to let him know, and even offered him a referral fee to be fair! Thankfully they didn't buy that house for other reasons, but whenever I have to write on one of his listings, my partner takes over and deals with him.
Thanks everyone for the stories and comments. I shouldn't be surprised. Fortunately, at least in our local market, the good agents out-number the bad agents 20-1. :)
I work both San Diego and Brookings OR as a loan officer, We continue to see price erosion and fewer qualifying buyers in the market. I am not a fan of confidence factored into market realites.
we all know the lenders have not worked thru the inventory of PENDING foreclosure much less the next wave of resets for the Option arms which shall peak 3rd quarter in the next two consecutive years..this shall force more inventory on a shrinking buyer population, with so many folks still losing jobs..I really can;t see an upside into the next 3-4 years.. every foreclosure takes that person out of the market for longer than a bankruptsy...fewer buyers = fewer deals = lower demand.
this is not being negaive and simply viewing the data provided by the national lenders , NAMB, etc.
I also feel the sources for lending will shrink as many mortgage brokers are leaving the business nationally, due to tightened lender guidelines, higher costs for licensing, etc..
Good luck to you all...keep your belts tightened.
Colleen - Like Jason and Karen, there are two agents in my market that I will NEVER work with again. Just a few months ago, a prospect called me and during our conversation, he mentioned who his Realtor was, I cringed. It took me a couple of days, but I finally told him I couldn't work with that person and why. He appreciated my honesty and we bid each other adieu.
There are a few others that I would PREFER not to work with and when prospects and clients ask me why, I tell them why. and let the chips fall where they may.
I think we all have the "I need to close this so I can get paid" mentality, and there is nothing wrong, as long as its in the best interests of the client. Whether it closes 2 weeks early, or on time, as long as the agent is not cutting corners, i.e. pushing the client to waive inspection, its probably not going to be a bad thing. Ther perception is that of unprofessional when an agent injects one's own personal agenda into the mix.
I haven't had the misfortune yet of having to deal with anyone that unpleasant, but I know my mentor has mentioned to me one particular agent broker who she prefers not to deal with...integrity is important and when people show that they have none, it does cause problems down the road.
@William,
I'm with you William, but my fingers are crossed. So far I have no agents in our area I will not work with.
@ Eugene,
I believe not being in a financial position where a check is 'needed' helps go a long way in treating others respectfully, whether the other agent, buyer, or seller.
You find agents like this everywhere. I was driving around and discovered a boarded up house with a Gov notice on it. I wanted the house, so drove to the nearest RE office, and the agent, after searching his databases, asked where I found this at, because it wasn't listed. I told him I was driving around and found it. He made a phone call, and then said it wasn't on the list yet, then turned away as if to say we are finished now.
I went back the next day and asked for him to check again, and he wanted to know if I was pre-qualified. He pulled up my credit report, and made every excuse possible why I couldn't qualify for this house. Just then a loan broker walked in, and asked to see the report. The broker practically had to force the guy's hand. But he finally got it, looked, and then said there was no reason why I couldn't qualify for the house. I then filled out a bid for $40k for the house, even though I knew it was worth about $80k.
I didn't hear from the realtor for four months, so decided to go see if the bidding was done yet. But then decided to drive by the house first. There were people LIVING in it! A gentleman was out watering the lawn. I stopped and asked how he liked his new home, he said he loved it. Then I asked if he knew so-and-so, the realtor, and he said yes, that was his brother in law, who helped him get the house!
I went to another realtor who made some phone calls, found out the house was sold for $20k, and that my bid had never been received!
Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
We should be service providers, not sales people. Providing service will lead to a sale.
@Sanna
@Karen
Amen!
I'm with you...but I've been negotiating a deal and said in the background I want this to close so I can pay mortgage or whatever. That doesn't make me a bad agent or unethical. I'm thinking about what I need to do to feed my family and will just go ahead out and scream if it doesn't come together, BUT I won't do something against my fiduciary duty to get it to close. I will just have a long walk and a tall drink and run to make the next deal so I can pay whatever it is I need to.
Turns out the one I was having trouble with usually does property management, not buyer agency. So what was all that again about sticking to your area of expertise?
Though there are agents I would PREFER never to work with again, but if a client is interested in their listing I will certainly show it. However, I LOVE it when my clients are looking at condos in which they are all alike, similar price ranges, and there are 40 of the same thing. Then they ask me to just pick out a few to look at, and you better believe that my 1st eliminating decision is based on who the agent is. It never pays to treat your fellow agents poorly, because in one or another it will come back to haunt you.