Cooperating Agency, one of those Critically Important Facts of Real Estate Life

We're all in this together.

While waiting with my father at Martha Jefferson Hospital (broken toe) I ran into a woman that I recognized but could not identify.  As usual, I offered my hand and said, “Hi, I’m Virginia Gardner”.  The woman said in return, “Oh how nice of you, I always forget people’s names.”  I was left standing there wondering who the heck she was, until she started talking… She said, “That was such a great house, I really liked it.  It was so perfect for my client.”  By this time, I was remembering to whom I was talking; she was an agent who had sold one of my listings this past year.  I said, “Well, you did a great job for your client by finding her the perfect house.”  She shook her head and said, “It never would have happened had it not been for you.”  What a nice thing to say.

I started thinking about the importance of our relationships with other agents.  I’ve worked hard throughout my career to make sure I am respectful of fellow Realtors.  If they drop the ball, as this agent had done, I may grumble, but I keep our goal in mind --> get the transaction closed.  I remember the deal with this agent, I remember that she acted completely flaky, and I remember that my client and I went above and beyond to make the sale work.  In retrospect, I wonder if the agent had something going on in her life that was interfering with her work.  You know, it happens.

I remember a really bad selling agent from this past summer.   My poor sellers, we were all left hanging out to dry on more than one occasion.  It turns out, the agent doesn’t usually work residential sales, but he had had an opportunity to help a friend buy a house and had taken it.  It was very difficult.  On the other hand, the agent for the seller of the house that my sellers were buying… well, she was unbelievable.  I can honestly tell you that THAT house of cards would never have stayed standing had it not been for her.  The bottom-line:  we need to be on our toes, keep our cool and our eye on the ball, and we need to be cooperative and respectful of all parties to the transaction. 

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.  ~ Benjamin Franklin

Enjoy a safe and happy new year's eve, all!