Buyers and Sellers Aren’t the Only Ones With Choices

In my 11 years in the real estate industry I have learned many important lessons, but by far one of the most important is that agents have a right to choose, and they should not be afraid to do so.

In real estate there are more agents than there are buyers and sellers. Oftentimes agents compete for business – and there are many who will do whatever it takes to secure that listing or “win” that buyer. Of course in the end the buyer or seller is the one who will make the choice and decide with whom they feel the most comfortable, but as agents we too have can choose whether we want to work with that potential client.

I learned the hard way years ago when I took a listing that literally ended up making me sick. I had a seller who did not treat me with respect and constantly blamed me for the home not selling (in reality, this seller did not want to listen to my advice nor to what the comparable home sale values indicated). That was a red flag for me, but I figured the seller would come around and so I proceeded to market the home on the seller’s terms.

Needless to say, the home ended up selling many months down the road for the price I originally suggested, and after many marketing dollars and much effort on my part. I also had to relist it (which I was not going to do but since the seller practically begged me to do so I laid some ground rules about how I was to be treated – which were short-lived in practice). The entire process was beyond stressful and took over the bulk of my work hours, and when the seller called or I drove by the home I felt anxious.

These days I trust my instincts right off the bat. I met a potential seller not long ago and made the decision I could not work with that person. A commission is just not worth the stress of working with someone who does not respect and appreciate hard work.

The bottom line is that agents can be choosy too, and keeping sane and preventing burn-out is more important than a paycheck…at least in my book. Those who do not agree will likely find themselves unhappy very quickly, which will have a negative effect on how others perceive their work. I’d rather continue to enjoy what I do, and have others notice that!