Special offer

Greed.....When Enough is NOT Enough

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 311291

Some can call it greed.    You can give and give and give and there are those who will still take more. You have to know when and how to be in control. In other words how to put a lid on it.

Squirrel at feederSquirrel on groundYou know I love my mini aviary and the colorful birds it attracts. But we have other visitors that just won't give up. They have managed to get into the bird feeders in spite of the "guaranteed" guards that are supposed to protect against the furry playful rodents. In addition to the plastic shield, which they were able to navigate, Vaseline on the long "S" hangers and "squirrel proof" bird feeders, the cute but pesky critters could always figure out a way to get to the seeds.

So then I thought, let's try two feeders with the same food, thinking one for the furry and one for the feathered. That meant purchasing more sunflower seeds which I placed in the brown container on my porch. That seemed to work - the pretty finches and other colorful birds were back. What a delight!

And then....

Chewed seed bagI bought a larger bag of sunflower seeds to supply both of those large feeders. And wouldn't you know it, the bag was too much for the can. I closed the paper/mesh bag and covered it with plastic and then put the can lid on top. There, that should do it.

Seed messA few hours later, I heard some noise out front. The lid was on the ground, the seeds were all over the stone porch, and the furry critters were inside the bag and chewing through the bag and the plastic. Why you greedy creatures!   Remember, they already had their own feeder at this time, but that was not enough. No, they emptied the squirrel feeder and started on the bird feeder. Time to refill so there is enough for everybody. Then I repaired the damage and put the lid on TIGHT.

Squirrel feeder emptyHow does this relate to real estate? With some clients, enough is not enough. Not enough advertising, not enough contact, not enough showings, not enough offers, not enough attention. You name it, enough is not enough.

How do you decide when to put the lid on?

I love working with my sellers, the ones that are referred, the ones that appreciate what I do, the ones who are pleased with my efforts, my phone calls, my emails, my texts, my ads, my blogs, my google juice, my Realtor.com, my updates, my negotiating skills...etc.

And then there are those few  clients who I choose not to work with from the beginning, because enough will never be enough.

That's an important thing to learn – saying "No" to working with people who will never be satisfied no matter what we do.

 

signature

 

 

www.HomeRome.com

410-530-2400

 

Posted by

Margaret Rome
HomeRome Realty
Broker/Owner/Realtor®

Baltimore, Maryland


Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Radio Host ALL ABOUT REAL ESTATE
Sundays 12 noon.

Author: Real Estate The Rome Way

About me
My blog
My website
My radio podcasts

(410) 530-2400
CALL OR TEXT

EMAIL ME

Sasha Miletic - Windsor Real Estate
RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd. - Windsor, ON

Hi Margaret, Good post. Thanks for sharing.

Best - Sash

Mar 31, 2009 01:59 AM
JR Sangiuliano
CENTURY 21 JRS Realty - Clark, NJ

Great post this is the hardest thing for new agents to master

Mar 31, 2009 01:59 AM
Andrew Haslett
Van Warren Home Inspections, NAHI CRI - Fort Knox, KY
Heartland of Kentuckynulls, Best Home Inspector

Margaret, good point. Good pictures, too.

So, how do you know distinguish the needy client from the satisfied client in advance.

Mar 31, 2009 02:15 AM
Bruce & Mary Smith
Savannah Lakes Homes - McCormick, SC
REALTORS, Savannah Lakes Village McCormick SC

Yes, Margaret, we have to learn the clients we are able to work with and separate those from the ones who will not be satisfied with anything.  Good post and good analogy!  Thanks!

Mary

Mar 31, 2009 02:18 AM
Bettina Settles
Greenwood, IN
Your Indiana Connection

Margaret,I like the comparison you made and great point. I am with Rebecca, that this is a lesson I had to learn the hard way.

Mar 31, 2009 02:29 AM
Jessica Jones
Sandestin Real Estate - Sandestin, FL
Destin Sandestin 30-A Real Estate

Great post! Learning to say no is very difficult but we need to make sure that we don't say "yes" and hinder our ability to focus on all our clients because of one.

Mar 31, 2009 03:58 AM
Diane Aurit
LKN Realty, LLC - Mooresville, NC
Lake Norman Real Estate

Great analogy Margaret, I couldn't agree more.  We also have some of the same issues with our birdfeeders and have to store our seed in a sealed plastic 5-gallon paint can which is then inside a storage container.  The squirrels seem to be content eating what is left on the ground:)

Mar 31, 2009 04:07 AM
Vito Simone
203k Services - Baltimore, MD

You are so on target Margaret. It is so great to work with people who truly enjoy working with you and appreciate the experience and relationships we try to develop. I love my birds too....we have Dove's that come each spring to nest on our window sills. My kids have grown up watching them guard their egs, then feed their young, then dump their mates! Have a great day!

Mar 31, 2009 04:28 AM
Terry Chenier
Homelife Glenayre Realty - Mission, BC

Margaret,

The worst are the Stellar Jays. I put peanuts out for them and they'll keep coming back until they're all gone. The bury them, so I play with their heads and retrieve them.

Mar 31, 2009 04:58 AM
Dave Murray
DMTX Realty, Coldwell Banker United, Realtors - Austin, TX

We finally defeated our squirrels, and built a birdfeeder they can't get into. When that happens, you'll notice that they will hang out at the bottom waiting for scraps to be thrown their way by a careless or messy bird. They eat, but only after the birds do first. This happens to greedy folks, too...they become such pests and everyone puts them out, so they resort to begging for scraps. Food for thought. :)JM

Mar 31, 2009 05:14 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

BB, I remember those raccoons!

Connie, We can decide whether we want to work with an occcasional squirrel.

Gary, Are you saying my thoughts are for the birds? Everyone here needs to read all of your posts.

Marian, Don't get me wrong, I do love those squirrels but on my terms.

Alexander, This a wonderful profession and we can decide just who we work with.

Dawn, I have been very lucky with all the special buyers and sellers in my many years.

Cathy, Thanks for stopping by.

Martha, Persistant little nut cases. You know how to put the lid on.

Joe, That bird poop is great fertilizer for the tree. Never looked at it your way.

Kathy Knight, The good thing is that most time you can please most of the people and wind up with good friends and referrals

Lisa, You are the one to make that decision. Tammy and BB comments were worth reading.

Chistianne, You have your hands full training your own. Enough is enough.

Daren, Being selective allows  lots of positive energy and enjoyment.

Chris, "Quite assertiveness" works. But I don't think your lab is that quiet.

Rama, Good that you knew when to put the lid on.

Carole, You are so special and I appreciate your comment.

Jason, Let me know when you write it. Feel free to link it here if appropriate.

Mara, Yay, you did it!  We have all over fed, Now you make room for those who like what we serve and the way we feed.

Simon, Yes, knowing how to set boundaries that work for us...

Rebecca, Put the lid on. But remember there are those agents who special in "squirrels" There is business in that niche.

 

 

 

 

Mar 31, 2009 05:16 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Lane, Too expensive to get rid of something you don't want. I could just stop the feed.

Bob and Carolin, You are so right.

Charles, We can choose who we feed.

Jeff, Not heard of squiddles but I like the term. Think I better go fill up the squiddle feeder before they get the bird food.

Regina, Knowing how to negotiate up to the end is important. I think I have joined your group

Mike, But they are so cute. Ijust need to know how to put the lid on.

Morgan, All deals can go south. That's what we are hired for.....to meet those challenges.

Linda, My problem was the bag of food was too big to "lock" the lid. Sometimes we can give too much and that causes problems because with some....enough is just not enough.

Neal, Nice seeing you. I remember that post and is was a good one. When things don't go right....blame the messenger.

Mark, Even better than "no" is the word "next'.

Sasha, Thanks,

JR, Yep you are right.

Andrew, Sometimes intuition, sometimes experience & sometimes trial and error

Mary, Thanks for taking to time to read this.

 

 

 

 

Mar 31, 2009 05:35 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Bettina, At least you learned the lesson.

Jessica, Such a good point.

Diane, You understand what we are going through. The tight metal can is the answer for us.

Vito, We have doves but they are no problem. I have found they will eat the seeds on the ground.

Terry, You are a playful fellow. Are you saying you did up their peanuts?

JM, Please take a photo of that birdfeeder. Like your analogy....hmmm the greedy wait around for the scraps.

Mar 31, 2009 06:18 AM
Robin Turner
Happy House Real Estate - Cocoa Beach, FL
Robin Turner

Pigs get fed, Hogs get eaten....

Mar 31, 2009 07:51 AM
Jessica Bigger
Bigger Communications - Reston, VA
Freelance Real Estate Business Writer

Great Analogy Margaret - Sometimes it's better to decline to work for someone if you get a sense that nothing you do will make them happy.  Especially when we work so hard to build a fabulous reputation.

Mar 31, 2009 11:51 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Robin, Looking forward to your first post.

Jessica, Sometimes it is ok to have a squirrel in your life.

 

Mar 31, 2009 01:44 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

At least you could have fun watching the squirrels fly around the yard. 

Mar 31, 2009 02:43 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Lane, How did you know that my husband just bought one of these?

 

                               water gun                                   He is having too much fun!

Mar 31, 2009 10:38 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Margaret, great metaphor!

But in all fairness to the furry guys, there is a huge acorn shortage this year.  And there is no such thing as a squirrel proof bird feeder!  Especially when there are no acorns!

Apr 01, 2009 03:17 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Pat,

My furry guys are getting plenty to eat...they are not worried about the acorn shortage.

WOW....and I just noticed you have no shortage of points! Congratulations on the big 500,000 !! So proud of you!

Apr 01, 2009 03:25 PM