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MR BUYER - PLEASE STOP TRYING TO BREAK MY PIGGY BANK - RESPECT MY TIME!

By
Real Estate Agent with Coastal Real Estate - Cape Coral FL SL3150658

MR BUYER - PLEASE STOP TRYING TO BREAK MY PIGGY BANK - RESPECT MY TIME!  We have all encountered difficult clients somewhere along the way in the real estate business but sometimes a client is just so difficult it is not worth the effort of working for them.

I worked with a buyer that placed an offer on a short sale at $49,900 and the offer was accepted.  The buyer had me go to the home which is 45 minutes away from my office to "check on it" while we were waiting to close as he lives out of state.  Then his relatives were coming to town and he insisted I meet them at the property so they could see it.  Then of course came the inspections etc...and finally the final walk thru which he flew into town for.

After all of these trips to the property it really hit me that I wasn't really making much at all on this transaction.  I truly was floored when he informed me right after closing that he felt I "owed" him and his family (who had flown in with him) dinner at a really nice restaurant to thank him for his business.  Fortunately for me he was leaving the next day and I was able to explain that I had a prior committment that evening.

Now he wants me to find him a similar deal in the same community and I can't imagine going thru another transaction with him.  PLEASE COMMENT ON HOW YOU WOULD DEAL WITH HIM - I truly prefer to work with less demanding clients so I need to find a very polite way of telling him - MR BUYER - PLEASE STOP TRYING TO BREAK MY PIGGY BANK - RESPECT MY TIME!

 

Comments(5)

Jeana Cowie
RE/MAX Real Estate Limited - Paramus, NJ
Broker Associate, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES

Terry,

Maybe I am looking at this in the wrong way, but most of the things you did for him & what he asked of you (except his request for dinner) are part of being a good agent. It's no ones fault the home is 45 minutes away from your office & he was out of town. Just my take on it - and please do not take this the wrong way, I know you worked very hard for him and the sales price is low. Is he flipping the home so you can get a listing also?  You could always just refer him if it's too taxing and doesn't make financial sense for you.

Sep 10, 2010 06:28 AM
Terry McCarley
Coastal Real Estate - Cape Coral FL - Cape Coral, FL
REALTOR, SRES, CDPE - Cape Coral, FL

Jeana,

I understand your take on it but I felt like meeting his relatives to let them see the home was also above and beyond the normal call of duty.  He has no intention of listing/selling - he is renting it out.

I have tried referring him out twice but he keeps coming back - my guess is that is because even agents that live in that area won't meet his demands.  I probably should have put in more detail - he calls sometimes as many as 15 to 20 times in one day - he likes to chat.

He is just really high maintenance.

Sep 10, 2010 06:34 AM
Jeana Cowie
RE/MAX Real Estate Limited - Paramus, NJ
Broker Associate, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES

Terry, - Oh that's a nightmare. My bad. I thought maybe the business could snowball from him. Funny how some of the clients that take the most time & create the most frustration make us the least money. I think you know what you should do with him :)

Sep 10, 2010 09:44 AM
Debbie Atwood
Century 21 Real Estate Center Everett, WA - Everett, WA
Real Estate Broker

Well... maybe he owes you dinner for finding him such a great deal?  :)

Sep 10, 2010 07:18 PM
Terry McCarley
Coastal Real Estate - Cape Coral FL - Cape Coral, FL
REALTOR, SRES, CDPE - Cape Coral, FL

Jeana - Thank You - and yes I do know what I need to do with him - I'm just trying to find a "nice" way to do it :)

Debbie - I've got to dump him for sure - I'd almost take him to dinner now if he would just go away - lol

Sep 11, 2010 03:35 AM