5 Reasons for Firing A Client
Most worthy of a RE-blog! I love most of my clients, but every once in a while... you have to set them straight. And yes, I too have fired a client. Y'all need to understand this is my livelihood... but that doesn't mean I have to put up with bad behavior from a client, OR put my livelihood at risk...
~Lori~
In challenging markets...like the one we currently face...it's difficult to find new clients.
Why would you even consider firing a client?
Purely and simply, even the best client relationships can turn bad...and when they do, it's time to end them by firing the client.
Most of us are too busy to allow deteriorating client relationships to drain time and energy from attracting new clients and serving existing clients. With that in mind, here are 5 reasons for firing a client.
1. Perfection Obsession
These are the buyers who are obsessed with finding a perfect home, in a perfect location and at a perfect purchase price.
Or they are sellers who insist on selling their homes terms and conditions that they consider perfect.
Perfection rarely exists in our world, and besides, your responsibility is to give clients the best possible service, helping them find the best possible deal...not the perfect one.
2. Lack of Trust
This can cut both ways.
For whatever reason, you no longer trust your client or vice versa.
Since trust is a key element of all client relationships, once the trust is gone for either party, the relationship is essentially over.
3. Miscommunication
Sometimes miscommunication is inadvertent or accidental.
Others times it is deliberate.
In either case, when miscommunication becomes a common element it represents a problem to be addressed.
If the problem of miscommunication itself cannot be resolved, it's time to end the relationship.
4. Conflicting Advice
We all have advisors who offer opinions and suggestions on our decisions.
Some of these people are professionally trained, qualified and well informed. Others are well intentioned but otherwise poorly informed and mis-directed friends relatives and acquaintances.
It is the second group of advice-givers that have the most potential for causing problems in client relationships.
When clients start to be guided more by this group than by your professional advice, it's best to reserve your time, energy and expertise for clients who value it.
If clients do not value what you offer them...fire them.
5. Indecision
Certainly changed circumstances result in changes in clients needs and wants.
However, when clients continually change their minds for no obvious reason, it's hard to be sure of what they really want.
If they don't know what they really want...how can you help them?
Is it not better to devote your resources to helping clients achieve what they know they want?
What other reasons might there be for firing clients?
What stories do have abut firing clients?
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