About eight months ago I was contacted by a potential buyer through Trulia. She was young, just graduating college, had her money saved up for a nice down payment and she was honest. She told me from the beginning that she wouldn't be actually buying for about 9-12 months. Over the past eight months, I emailed her regularly with property listings, we talked from time to time about properties, towns, etc. We had never been out looking at homes but I knew the time was coming.
Today the time came but it was not what I had expecting. Due to some personal family issues she was being forced to have to move out of her family home and now contemplating whether buying right now was right for her. She already knew that she'd be wasting her money on renting so I didn't even go there in our conversation but I understand her personal situation and thought that renting may be a better option for her at this point as well.
So when she asked me about rental properties in West Essex and the surrounding Essex Count areas, I explained to her the way most rentals work in my area. The tenant pays out one month's rent; one and one-half month's security deposit and one month broker fee albeit sometimes the landlord will pay the fee but usually it falls on the responsibility of the tenant. In essence on a $1,200 per month rental, the tenant would have to put out $4,200 at the time of lease signing. That's a lot of money for most people. to come up with in one sitting. I know people who have bought a low priced house and put down less 
money.
A while later after my explanation to her about how rental properties typically work, she contacted me and asked if she should try to find a rental property on her own. My response was that IF she was willing to pay the extra month's rent, I would find her a rental property but I told her it would save HER money if she did find a for rent by owner property. I even said, "you must think I'm crazy that I'm a real estate agent and telling you to find a for rent by owner" and her response was, "I don't think your crazy. You are honest and I really respect it and then when I am willing to buy you will be the only one I talk to!"
Who knows what will happen when she's ready to buy but I'd like to believe that she will remember my truthfulness and honesty. In the meantime I will still send her property listings and all rentals where the 
landlord is willing to pay the broker fee or at least half of it.
Now you may wonder why would I turn away business....in my eyes I didn't. I may have thrown away a couple hundred dollars but what I earned is far more valuable to me.....I earned her respect.
"Respect cannot be learned, purchased or acquired - it can only be earned" -- Unknown Author
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