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In order to succeed we must know when to be flexible.

REALTOR(R) opportunities

A while back I called one of our fellow ActiveRainers. I did this because I had received an email and could tell this person was struggling a little in their business and needed some words of encouragement. So I called.

Anyway, it seems discouragement was setting in because she was going on listing appointments but was losing them on pricing. Then they would list with another REALTOR® and after several months, and a few price reductions, the property would sell at close to the list price that she had suggested from day one. Have you ever had this happen?

I actually felt a little guilty because I know this person reads my blog constantly and has heard me time after time talk about "NEVER take an overpriced listing".

I know I write about these things a lot. NEVER take an overpriced listing. I NEVER work with Buyers and I NEVER lose a listing.

Well folks, today I want to let the cat out of the bag. I'm a big fat liar!!! There I said it. I HAVE taken an over priced listing. I HAVE worked with buyers and I HAVE lost a listing.

OK..... so now I'm wallowing in the puddle of deceit. Or am I?

One of the attributes of a successful person is the ability to be flexible....being able to read a situation and change directions quickly.

NEVER is a guideline not an impregnable barrier. What that means is, in an ideal World or situation I would NEVER........(fill in the blank).

However, we do not live in an ideal World so we have to learn to be flexible. We have to make judgment calls. Being able to read folks and their motivation is imperative to being a good "salesperson".

We have to make judgment calls on whether or not to work with folks under less than perfect circumstances. If I meet with a potential Seller and they do not agree with my pricing then I MAY take the listing at a higher price. It depends on a few things:

Their motivation. Do they need to sell but have a little leeway with timing?

Is their suggested price within reason? Within 10% or less of where I feel it needs to be is my rule of thumb.

Do they understand what I am telling them about pricing but just feel they want to try a little higher?

Do they trust me and do we get along?

Do I feel they will listen to me in 30 days when I tell them we need to reduce?

Will they sign off on my suggested price and agree that I am taking the listing higher than I have suggested?

If the answer to these questions is yes then I will probably take the listing. My NEVER has turned into a maybe.

My point is, we have to be brutally honest with folks and make sure they understand THEN we have to make a judgment call. Guidelines are set to guide us in our decisions. But our ultimate decisions have to be based on our judgment. This is where our experience and ability to read people comes in.

We will make mistakes along the way but that is all a part of the learning process. So be flexible. There are very few absolutes in real estate or life for that matter. Your success will come when you are able to discern when you need to be flexible.

Be firm when it comes to your ethics and your morals but leave room to change your mind in other areas. Does this make sense? Never? Maybe? What say you?

Bryant Tutas
Broker/Owner
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker
http://CentralFloridaShortSales.com

http://ShortSaleSuperStars.com

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Posted by Bryant Tutas Broker/REALTOR(R) Tutas Towne Realty, Inc on 10/26/2009 05:25 PM

Comments (111)

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Originally posted at: BrokerBryant.com: In order to succeed we must know when to be flexible.

111 Comments on In order to succeed we must know when to be flexible.

OCT

Reserved Parking For "The Lovely Wife"...TLW...ROAR!

Hun...

Flexibility is key to most things is it not? :)

You better stop lying to The Members or I'm telling on you :)

P.S. I think you and I are on the same wave today :)

TLW...ROAR!

I agree about being flexible. I took an overpriced listing and it took me 6 months to wear the seller down enough to agree to get an appraisal and price about $3,000 below the appraisal. She did and we brought a buyer in 24 hours. Flexibility...a great word.

Bryant,

I agree with you that they need to be in range. If they want to try it at their price and are willing to let me walk out with signed price reductions in hand, should the market validate my point, I am willing to look at a little hire price. I don't like to, but I'm open to it.

What we claim to be a practice today can rapidly change as the market dictates that we use our brain.

The only thing worse than saying NEVER is not being able to understand that when circumstances change, the word NEVER is then inoperable.

Bryant-

It's true, these things are rarely etched in stone (with the exception, depending on what one believes, of the 10 Commandments :) ). Successful people think on their feet and stay open minded. If they can find a way to achieve something by braking a rule they had previously set for themselves, as long as doing so doesn't hurt others, more power to them.

As in many things in life, being overly rigid usually does not result in positive outcomes. I do what you do. I assess the situation and make my decision accordingly.

Hi Bryant. Your featured post is right above TLW's which is amazing. Both of your posts are inciteful. FWIW I have taken a few overpriced listings. I learned the hard way.... These days I *may* take an overpriced listing if they agree to a price reduction if it hasn't sold within a certain time frame. ~ Lana

BB - Bend or break? Yeah...I get that!

Today's market demands flexibility from buyers, sellers and agents. Those who combine sound business strategies with a willingness to adapt will do well.

A lot of great posts today here on AR!

A seller at the time may agree to reduce the price eventually but sometimes they won't budge when it comes down to it. Like John said, "Today's market demands flexibility from buyers, sellers and agents" It's twu! It's twu! :)

Lana's right Hun...

And so was I. We are on the same wave length today. We're even sharing bandwidth :)

TLW...ROAR!

Bryant:

I am shocked ---- it takes courage to admit that you need to come clean.

Bryant - Brutal honesty is great. I say follow your intuition, and you do!

Well said. Of course there are always exceptions to the "rules!" I have taken overpriced listings simply to be listing in a particular neighborhood. But I am upfront and honest with the sellers about the fact that I think it is overpriced. Flexibility is the name of the game!

Bryant...I learned long ago to not say "NEVER' or "ALWAYS" these two statements don't stand the test of time, things I swore I would never or always do have been broken many times over. Best to say I try not too or Or will strive hard to. Flexible as a gymnast...thats me...but heavier!!

Well, many folks do say "Never say never." Isn't there a James Bond movie with something about that in the title? 2.5 years ago I said that I would never work short sales. Boy did I put my foot in my mouth BIG time on that one ;-)

I too have taken an overpriced listing, some sold, some didn't, I hang onto the listing and sell it, I lose the listing and the next agent sells it. We would all rather our sellers and buyers would take our advise, but must of us are loath to take advice, even from a professional.

You use your judgement and make the call. BB, don't worry about the lie, I'm sure most of us think when we hear those declarative statements from another realtor, "who does he think he's kidding?".

Good post!

Bryant - I love your attitude. Let's face it, you can't break the "rules" unless you have them in the first place. As long as my integrity is in place, I'll be as flexible as a q-tip when it comes to overpriced listings.

Michael

Bryant - ok, just imagine Robert DiNero saying this (rather than saying "you talking to me").....Flexible?, you mean flexible ?....hell in this market we've all been Extremely FLEXIBLE.... Great Post!! I just thought I would add some comic relief here.....

Whenever I utter the word 'never' it's always (mostly) prefaced by 'if I always feel the way I do now I will...'

BB - I never will forget that phone call. Well, the cat's out of the bag too!

I've learnt alot from that conversation. One thing is to never say NEVER and some flexibility never hurts. I've gotten so much better with listing appointments since then. Only losing 1 - to an agent who sold him on working with 300 other agents, while I am only "me". Oh well. That's another story for another day.

Being a mother has taught me so much about flexibililty - not quite losing enough listings. From there, I really learnt to grow up.

I'm still constantly in consideration about taking listings because I do have a track record I want to preserve. But I also recently learnt to have flexibility about creating 2 sets of records. (1) for those who listens to me, how fast they sell and (2) for those who are willing to try at a higher price, then took sometime to get down to reality.

I just love learning. I'm going to Never say, Never again.

Never say never... oh, wait... I mean almost never say never. Something like that.

You make a great point about being flexible. In this market it is important to be willing to work outside your comfort zone. You do have to be aware of your client's motivation. I recently spent a lot of time with a group of buyers who decide to hold off. I was mad at myself because I knew deep down it may happen that way. I should have been more flexible with myself. I would have been better served to limit my time with them and spend that time prospecting for new clients. But like you said, you have to learn hard lessons from time to time.

I don't do listings but the theory can be applied to everyone in sales. It shows a lot of character that you publicly spoke up about taking over-priced listings.

Bryant- I think being successful in any endeavor, business or personal , requires knowing when to bend. That means being able to see past the current situation and make a judgment call. Good post, and BTW, very thoughtful of you to contact your fellow ActiveRainer. I'm sure your taking the time and kind words were helpful and much appreciated.

BB, wow, just when I thought there was nothing MORE you could do to impress me, there you go again! I have taken overpriced listings, and been honest with my clients. Sometimes you just have to make that judgement call. Sometimes I just KNOW, I mean, my choice, walk or work.

Flexibility is the key. And sometimes it hurts to be flexible, I ought to know. My issues with my back that send me flat on it for days at a time is because.... my back is too flexible, LOL. Imagine that! And Steve is right, never and always should not be in our listing vocabulary at the very least, LOL.

BB-I don't like the word "never" in our business. We must be flexible or we won't make it long in our crazy up and down Realtor worlds.

I rarely do take overpriced listings, however. If it is CLOSE to what I have in mind, I'll take it. If, like you stated, they agree to reduce sooner rather than later, I'll take it. Otherwise, I'm out. 80% of my clients are Engineers. It is hard enough to sell them something that is AT market value, much less a home that is even a tiny bit overpriced. I am continually forced to show my buyers WHY a home is priced right (as I should). No way will I look like an ass idiot with an overpriced listing and not be able to back it up, lol. The Engineers would hang me by my toenails. OUCH!

Sadly, I've turned down many listings this year because they wouldn't listen to MY price, or even consider it. I just checked before commenting....not one of them has sold YET. One (my neighbor, lol) is on their third agent. It's still $10,000 overpriced from the estimate I gave them one year ago.

I have a listing interview in the morning. I have already sold 2 homes in their neighborhood. Both sold quickly. This person is on the market now, priced $8 per square foot over the neighborhood average AND it needs to be toned down with more neutral paint colors. Cursing their current agent for not selling the home...What do you think the odds are that I"m going to get this one? LOL.

Very well put Sir !

And of course, the key is always to be able to think on your feet and make a decision based on the individual situation.

... hence the 'never say never' phrase, and the fact that there's not just one exact scripted response for all sellers.

Be prepared, be experienced, and be flexible, then you will be able to make the smartest choices for your business.

... now about this double feature with the wifey !!!!!! ... now THAT'S impressive :o)

Flexibility in ALL aspects of life is critical for success. I rarely use the word "never" in my vocabulary (note I didn't use "never" rather "rarely"). It just locks you in. Thanks for the post Bryant and best of luck to you.

Flexability is a great asset. I still have to say in this market don't take an overpriced listing. It's not worth your time and money. I can't agree with the 10% ratio, that is just too much for my marketplace 'off the mark'. I just turned down a listing where I was at $155 and the seller was at $175. The market has changed and the sellers expectations have not. Didn't even take it for a 'test period' as the seller said.

Subject to change at a markets notice!

This could't have been said any better! Price is so important...thanks Angelica

I believe you have to do what it takes to survive in this market> I don't believe their should be any hard or fast rules.

Hi Bryant -- Those words like never, always, must, etc., will get one into trouble every time. I try to avoid using these words if at all possible, even when I feel strongly about something as it is hard to truly see something from someone else's perspective. Not only that, but sometimes, a buyer might come along and pay more and the appraiser validates it, even if the comps, history, logic and reason don't support it -- real estate is a weird animal.

Well, have you ever?

Hyperbole...

Not lying...we all do things we say we NEVER do occassionally. We have to adjust...learn motivations...listen and make a decison that is best at the time.

Bryant, in short rules were made to be brokenn and there is always an exception to every rule. Our job as realtors is to be able to recognize the exceptions and be flexible enough to allow for them.

BB - so the truth comes out...finally! I KNEW you were holding out on us! LOL. Great post!

Bryant, I posted a blog about being honest with sellers about pricing today. Read it here. I have had the exact experience about losing listings to agents who price the house too high and after one or two agents listing the property and perhaps a stint of FSBO the house would sell at or below my original suggested list price.

It makes perfect sense!! Good thing I have been going to yoga lately ;)

BB - Wewll as you point out so clearly it really depends on HOW overpriced and a host of other factors. I have take d afew that I felt were a bit high we for a variety of reasons felt we could make it work. In several cases I was right, but in one, well, I was wrong. My hunch is the market was shifting down, but regardless it did not work and it was a higher end property. Home did not sell and is now rented. We'll try again in the spring.

Jeff

This is a good piece. Thanks for the well stated but not so obvious truth.

Hey I've taken overpriced listings and waited for the sellers to see the light and then we sold it, payday!

TELL SELLERS WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR NOT WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR!

Very compassionate and honest post - we all know what the 'right thing to do is' and so often we fall short of the mark for so many different reasons..............cutting ourselves and the circumstances some slack is the sign of a wise woman.........hmmm i guess men can do it too........lol

BB & Son,

Every one who's has ever taken listings has taken a few over priced ones. There is no problem until you get a reputation for over pricing! Like the boy who cried wolf, your listing may be ignored!

Bill

I agree...if you list homes, at some point we have all taken an overpriced listing. Sometimes its on the street we live on or a dear friend...but I always schedule an appointment to discuss price with my sellers at the same time I take the listing so they know we are going to revisit that topic and when.

Thanks for setting the record straight. It helps to hear that everyone loses one here and there.

I absolutely couldn't agree with you more when you say "...our ultimate decisions have to be based on our judgment." Too many times have I felt that my judgment has gone against the guidelines by which I have been taught to follow in my business. Although, sometimes it has turned out for the better. Your posts really show how blogging and social media can educate and help all real estate professionals to have a skilled and sharp outlook on their clients.

OCT

First of all pricing is an art as well as a science. To think one know for sure what the pricing should be is really not being fair. I've taken listing that ended up selling for more than the listing price as well as less. This means that the market makes the decision. I'll take a listing that I might consider overpriced with the understanding of the owner that there should be some price reduction incorporated from the beginning. If a listing is overpriced it certainly can be frustrating. I always am sure to leverage by marketing the listing and myself. I've always benefited from listing that did not sell.

you're right...you just know when to bend....

This is a great post. Thank you so much for the information. You might say it's "tweet!"

we have to be brutally honest with folks.....

Here in lies the key to our market.....sure agents can say they skys the limit.....but those of us who know and have the guts to be brutally honest.....with flexibility...win in the long run

Right on! we all have to bend and go with the flow... and none of us are perfcet or even close to it... I found this to be a very honest and enlightening post... thank you

Being a Realtor is more than reading the comps. It is also about reading your clients. If you don't bend a little bit then you can break. Put down firm roots and you can weather the storms small and large.

Honestly, it would seem that those of us Realtor's still in the biz should be the most flexible people on earth after what we have had to put up with the last 5 years!

Great post... as usual, full of common sense... as usual and well worth the read....as usual! :)

"There are few absolutes in real estate...or life."

"Be brutally honest."

"We have to make judgment calls."

"We will make mistakes."

Some things we agree on, BB.

If you are not forthright on price, you not only lose money on your costs of holding a listing:

You set yourself up to be unsuccessful in getting a price reduction later

And for being blamed for the seller eventually losing money by not starting lower.

Ask: How will my advice by looked at with 20-20 hindsight?

Not only by the seller...but by every neighbor on the street and everyone the seller knows.

And every agent I may have to deal with in the same market area.

You sound like an "Intern" is going to spill the beans.. .and want to come out clean.

Of course, everyone takes an over-priced listing. .I did that with my own home!

Bryant

I am hlad you qeote thia post. Many newcomers to AR take your words literally. Forgetting in the process that if they are unyielding entirely they may work themselves out of business. The first negotiating begins at the listing. Many Brokers will dictate policy but the consequences fall upon the agents trying to earn a living.

FOLKS use good judgement. The rest will take care of itself.

Actually Bryant, as inventory starts to shrink in many areas, more agents are willing to live with some overpriced listings in that goal for listings. Depending on the situation, it might be a good call or it might be a waste. Only you can judge what you're willing to go for.

never's a nasty word isn't it.

maybe it's never go to an appointment with the intention of taking an overpriced listing, but be flexible if it feels right.

Great post. Negotiating does begin at the listing. Price, timing, how the house shows etc. NEVER is a strong word and I'm glad to see you let the cat out of the bag and brought out the judgement card!

Bryant - I couldn't agree more with this post. You said "there are very few absolutes in real estate and life for that matter" - so very true and I often take the approach that I don't need to be right or to have a definitive answer either way when it comes to business. Often I will start off with one approach and realize over time it has changed - being flexible can open up more opportunities and show that you are a person that is easy to work with. Often times that is exactly what someone needs from you. I think it's important to establish how you work and determine if that's something your customer can work with and appreciate from the get go. Like Loreena - I think being a mom has truly helped me become a more flexible person - having 4 girls in their teenage years brings its challenges and opportunity for me to truly test my patience and flexbility. I really love the positive message you put out here! ~Anne Marie

Bryant -- Absolutely true that you have to be flexible and adaptive. Additionally, you want to be sure that the homeowner will also be flexible when a price reduction is in order.

Great thoughts....NEVER....is way to strong in the real world. Experience and judgement trump hard fast rules.

Good morning all. I just read every comment and as always the comment thread is better than the post. Thank you.

I wrote this article 2 years ago. Recently I have been going back and reposting some of my articles. When I originally wrote this there were maybe 20,000 memberes so I figured it needed to make another appearance.

Busy day so I have to fly. I'll be back later.

It is definitely okay to call an audible(like Peyton). Client motivation is everything in the decision process !!!

Hi Bryant, I agree with Lyn Sims (#30), over-priced listings are not worth the time and effort. Better to be the third realtor with a realistic seller and a home priced to sell. Thanks for the re-post, this one will always be timely.

Linda Metallo, Re/max Impact, Lockport, Il.

Bryant:

Good for you for being honest on this point. I am not a listing broker but I am always a bit amused when I read these preachy articles about never overpricing a listing. In my area, that is a common practice. The listing broker overprices the listing to get the listing, then later reduces the price.

Never say never...

Your last paragrapgh needs to be on every office wall for every agent to see!

I have a listing right now that is priced a tad high, but there house that is being built is about 1 year away. I agreed to it with a set date in mind to shift gears, and change the marketing and pricing. I have had calls but no showings, yet they sent an email that was high complimentary about the job we were doing. The 1089 views on Active Rain in 45 days didn't hurt. The poi9nt is we are meeting our clinets needs, and have a flexible plan in place with a timeline.

Be flexible... for those that are flexible don't get bent out of shape!

I admit I have bent over the last several yrs as well but try to live by my "gut/good business sense" as it has worked for the last 14 yrs! When I teach I tell the newbies there is a little bit of time wasting we all have to do just goes along with the business but don't let it become the business. Great Post!

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not get bent out of shape! You are right. I do not take overpriced listings as a practice, but I have taken a few with a pre-signed price reduction and I have a form that I require them to sign that states that over pricing is a hinderance to me getting the property sold in a timely manner and that they are aware of that fact. Good post!!!

Bryant,

I tell my clients that I was not issued a crystal ball with my Realtor license. My job is to "Test" the market. I provide them with the market data and ask them where they want to compete? I explain all the implications of overpricing and the time price relationship. I also show them their current competition.

If they are still insistent on overpricing I set then up on an incremental time frame to "Test" the market and make price adjustments.

Bryant, good post. I always remember by mother always said "never say never". I have learned this lesson. Now it is perhaps, maybe....

Thank you for the great post Bryant. Flexibility is important when negotiating and buying/selling a home is all about negotiating.

I agree Bryant. Someone said, "I don't change my mind, I just make new decisions based on new information." A clever way to state the truth of the matter. Sometimes, when the situation changes or new events occur, we need to be flexible and adapt to the circumstances. It only seems like we are changing our minds. :)

Heck, I don't know a politician here in DC that has ever changed their mind on anything. Yeah right!!!

Bryant,

Don't feel too bad. I doubt anyone believed you anyways when you said those things.

Being flexible is a must. If you are too rigid in anything you will not succeed.

Dan,

Awesome quote:

"I don't change my mind, I just make new decisions based on new information."

Flexibility is key. If you're too rigid, you will eventually break.

--John

I like the "tell your seller what they need to hear, not what they want to hear!"

Patricia/Seacoast NH

I like the "tell your seller what they need to hear, not what they want to hear!"

Patricia/Seacoast NH

Great post Bryant. We have all had it happen but we all learn from these things and it will make us better for next time...

good article good insight ,, adapt , improvise, and over come the situation sometimes easier said than done

Great article even if you wrote it when there were 20,000 members at the time. To adapt is everything.

Bryant - I think adjusting is part of the territory and I also think the longer you're in the game the better you will be able to read people.

Bryant, In June I took an overpriced listing. I'd read about how you should never do that (wink, wink), but I did anyway. I let the listing ride for more than a month. I always kept the owner informed re buyer interest and feedback. The listing received a tepid 1 showing a week, if that.

After a time, I finally contacted the owner and expressed my dismay over the lack of showings. I talked her into lowering the price $5,000. I knew that wasn't enough, but my plan was to wear her down over time. A month later, the lower price didn't change anything as far as showings, not that I thought it would. I talked the owner into lowering the price another $5,000, which would bring the listing within striking distance of market value. It was also a price point that would get more notice. Many more showings followed. The buyer agents always complained the price was at the high end. They weren't telling me anything I didn't know already!

Upshot is, we have a contract. The contract price is slightly below the price where I thought the listing price should have been initially. It took a few more months to get the contract, but in the end, the owner understood where the list price ought to be and also where the contract price had to be.

I didn't have to show her ... or lecture her ... the market did it for me!

Hi BB...It was good of you to fess up back then.

Kate

I think flexibility is important. I have very definite guidelines for my business. However, I am willing to take circumstances into consideration when making a final decision.

OCT

Yeah TLW - glad you got after him and yes you need to be flexible .. in this market almost all listings are overpriced UNTIL THEY SELL....Good blog Broker Bryant....

It all comes down to motivation. If you start overpriced but know that the seller has to sell and will reduce price over time, then be flexible and take the listing despite your price recommendation.

I am NEVER going to read this blog again! (He-he!)

I have, on occasion, decided to take an over priced listing. Sometimes it works out fine and the seller eventually reduces. Sometimes the seller digs in and the listing expires only to be relisted at the lower value and sell. This is a tactic that I use with a high level of success. Take the listing at the seller's price but write into the contract that within "x" amount of days if the property is not under agreement, the price will be reduced to "x". Be specific with the amount of days and the revised listing price. That way, you have a built in price reduction and a higher chance of selling the property within a reasonable amount of time.

This happens so often. It is a really difficult call. I have seem so many houses languish on the market at the wrong price point and then suffer price reductions. It a downward market it is a no win situation for the seller. They end up selling at a lower price that they would have needed to if they started at the right price. It's all about education. But is that enough to get people to change?

I have taken some bad listings just to have something to do and get a sign up. The over priced ones are not as bad as the ones with tenants that will not cooperate or sellers that refuse a lock box. I am more reluctant to take them and will not expend too much time and money if I do not think the seller will work with the situation.

Great Post! Thanks for admitting what many of us have known all along; we all sometimes do that which we say we would NEVER do!

Quite the out pouring of comments here!!

I have to say I have absolutely nothing to add to this conversation except.......

Thanks for stopping by.

You really need to expand your vocabulary....instead of never, try these: sometimes, once-in-a-while, now and then, rarely, on occassion, from time to time, I know there must be more, but I can NEVER remember them when I need to ;>)

Hi Bryant,

Thanks for being honest. We all try to tell our sellers what they need to hear and try to make sure that they acknowledge that they understand. Being flexible is not always an "F" word if we feel that we can be the help that our customer needs.Sometimes they DO need to see what the buying market has to say about their home (by not having a lot of showings) if it is overpriced. We do need to be honest with them and ourselves. Ourselves...knowing that it is costing us money to market a property. Ourselves...will they be flexible and lower the price later if it is needed?

Carol Riley, Huntington Real Estate, Albuquerque, NM www.CarolsellsNewMexico.com

BB,

Thanks for the pep-talk! I'm going on a listing where I know the Sellers (we've become friends thru my selling them several places), they want to "recoup" their investment (bought in 2005!) and then reduce the commission!

I'm going to take your suggestions to weigh the situation as I stand in front of them. Hopefully, we'll both be content with the outcome!

Kathy Opatka

Great post BB. But can I add my two cents worth from the viewpoint of a broker/owner?

Agents: DON'T make these business decisions on your own!!! Consult with your broker. Make him out to be the bad guy if you need to. You need to step back from the heat of the moment, gather your thoughts and talk it over with your broker. Same goes with lowering your compensation.

The 10% rule is a good rule of thumb. Remember, your reputation is at stake if you get a "stinky listing". You are going to work very hard at selling something that isn't marketable. Get the seller to buy in to your marketing strategy and hold them to your agreement to drop the price immediately and without further discussion if you find that the number of potential buyers is next to nil.

And finally, good luck!

Being flexible is important as long as you stick to your core philosophy, whatever that is.

Charlotte Discount Realtor Don Anthony Realty Signature

The real estate profession demands flexibility. The only absolute is never lie.

Totally agree with you guys. I think the words never and always should be wiped from our vocabulary. They are too extreme and make no room for any change. Life is not black and white. That being said, it is much better to hve guidelines that we adhere to most all the time, and make exceptions to when appropriate.

OCT

Makes great sense, Bryant. Thanks for the input.

Bryant - another lesson realized. The language is wrought with mis-steps. There is no lie involved. If we were able to always communicate our intent, without it being misconstrued as gospel, we would never have to face those that question our actions.

It is true in professional and personal behavior.

Some will castigate using the broad brush of perception based response. Some will say that there is no permanence in situational based behavior. Both reactions will be correct. Neither reaction will be totally accurate.

All decisions must be based in our core belief system. Of course, most people will use the term never. It is safe to say that never is only an accurate depiction of our beliefs in most situations.

There is no shame in altering behavior because of a situation. There is no shame is doing an about face when faced with new information. There is no shame in admitting aberrations to normal choices.

In our profession, we claim to be educated regarding laws, markets and trends. These things vary from black and white to shades of gray. Ethically, whether a member of NAR or not, we also claim to stand for doing our best for our clients. All agents, clients and situations are different. We must be ready to address each situation from our most honest position.

There is no harm in admitting that we have feet of clay if we are doing our best to have a heart of "gold".

Perfect point, flexibility. Every time I turn my head either something in the market changes or how we have to handle it changes. Yikes.... I think it is turning so many times it is making me dizzy.

This is wonderfully written and so true. Never is as never does. I am going on appointments that at one time, I wouldn't have gotten out of bed for! Literally. I was a spoiled brat who gave away buyers when my kids were small because my listings were selling so well, I didn't need to worry about it and I was so overwhelmed with work. I was happy to take the referral fee to supplement my income. Now, I wouldn't dream of giving those buyers away! Never is very subjective! The only time I stick to my never now is that I am never going to meet another male buyer at a home without meeting them in the office first. It's hard to do when the listings are too far away for this to make sense, but in that case, I ask a man in my office to either accompany me, or I refer the business to him. Either way, that is something I vow to never do again. Great post BB!

OCT

Bryant,

Ha-ha, we all are liars in that sense. And it is a bit easier for me, as we usually work with Buyers, so all the troubles of pricing do not affect me. And with short sale price is usually not that much an issue.

Hey, at least something good in working with Buyers (LOL)

NOV

Bryant,

It makes perfect sense. We all need to find our rhythm with the listing process. I used to hate going on listing appointments, and then I found my rhythm and what worked for me. I stopped doing what I thought I should do and came up with an approach that is me. I now enjoy the listing process and actually look forward to listing appointments, even when I know I'm competing.

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