You have met them, those that come upon us quickly and descend as if they are intent on causing us harm or injury. Those that attempt to hurt you via words, looks or mad dogging, for no reason what so ever, except that they are built that way.
Case and point, a couple called on a sign for a property we have listed for sale. We scheduled the appointment at our office (this is always our first step). We do very little, if at all, meeting at property locations. If a consumer, who is intent on purchasing what will probably end up being the largest investment in their lives, does not want to meet us at our office for the first step so we can explain how the process works, the ground rules, and how we operate, then they are not serious.
They came into our office and I observed that I had a couple before me that were in their late 60's. The man was apparently vision impaired due to him holding and being guided by his wife. They had a female in tow, which appeared to be mid 20's. (can't get away from that government training-lol) Anyway, he explained to me that he had lost his sight recently due to a rare disease (he told me but I cannot remember what it was called). His wife works at a medical record company and their daughter holds down two jobs and goes to college. So to lay the ground work, these are hard working people that want to buy a home. They currently live in a condo that is not in their name. They made the down payment on it for their son and his daughter in law sometime in the last few years. That property is in the name of their daughter in laws parents due to some credit issues that were going on at that time. Our new clients had current copies of their credit reports with them and they were now finance-able.
The man asked me what I was going to charge to help them purchase a home. I went through the explanation of how the commission works and he apparently understood. But he seemed confused. I further explained that when the time comes and they want me to sell the home that I am going to help them purchase now, they will be paying for both sides at that time. This was a bit clearer but the man responded, "I am not here wasting your time, my wife and I want to buy a home. As you can see our credit is clean, we are willing and have money in the bank."
At this point, I am thinking a couple of things, 1. These people have been given bad information or worse misinformation (the difference is intent, with bad information it stems from speaking out of school and making up the answers, misinformation is a deliberate attempt to mislead) and 2. They have been misjudged in the past. I told them that if we go out, after we have spent time looking for homes, and the decide they don't want to buy; they do not owe me a dime. Furthermore I emphasized that I am not hiding any "hidden fees" under the table with the intension of springing it upon them sometime in the future.
He appeared relieved and I found out where their concerns stemmed from. Apparently their daughter in law has a friend in the real estate field. Their son and daughter in law have been attempting to have them purchase where they are renting for some time now. But don't want to allow them to get their own agent. This visibly concerns the man sitting across from me. They told them that they will be able to get it done cheaper when they just use their friend. So out of his pocket comes a net sheet. I review the charges and their "friend" is due to make over 30K for a sales price of 260K. Not bad, to put that in writing, mean people can also be dumb. I explained the sheet and said the ball is in your court, what would you like me to do? He told me that he wants his own representation. I told him that I would and come to find out their daughter in law and her friend would have no part of this, placed the home on the market and my new client is going to purchase something else.
My client relayed a recent event that occurred at a local car dealership. Apparently when he and his wife went into the dealer, the car salesman (which we are too often compared with), would not let them test drive, or even sit inside of a car without first going inside to have their credit run. He informed him that this is not a shop first buy later establishment and that everyone that comes to this dealership has to have their credit run first for liability reasons (I'm thinking discrimination reasons). He also demeaned my client and wife by treating them as if they had no capability of affording to purchase a vehicle.
My client left that dealership and went across the street to another, where he purchased two new cars cash. (Whatever happened to never judge a book by its cover) When we misjudged a book by its cover when I was full time LAPD, we usually ended up in the hospital. Those of you that have been following my past of being a Full Time Cop and Part Time Realtor and my most recent transition to Full Time Realtor and part time Cop, know me as someone that does not mince words and says it as I see it.
Pain and Anguish. People being mean for no apparent reason. I never want to be the reason for another's fall. I never want it to be said that I was the cause of another's pain out of being selfish, envious, judgmental, cruel, or for any self centered reason. I have found another area of this "real estate" arena where I get to actually fix wounds that have been created by others. It was something that I did not expect but will do excitedly due to my code.
Where are you on the topic of mean people and their attempts to hurt others just because they can?
Please provide for me the insight of your experiences so we can all grow stronger from the sharing.
With Honor - Connor MacIVOR
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