When I was in school, I first heard the phrase "Those that can do, and those that can't teach". While that is not always true in any field, it does have a fair amount of application, especially in real estate.
We've all faced the evil former agent monster at some point. They were in real estate in 1989, and although they failed, and nothing they did in those days is relevant to anything in the business today, they went to school so they know it all. Anyone in the business for five years, and in many cases less, will tell you school gets you legal so you can start learning the business, which is a forever process in a changing world. They won't listen to anything you try to advise them to do, and they complain that you're never doing enough.
Then if you get an offer, they really can be obnoxious! They say things like "listen, I know what my house is worth" and "I don't have to sell, you know". The house is worth what a buyer will pay you in a given market. That's it. If you don't have to sell, quit wasting my time and take it off the market.
My most favorite client was a former agent who retired five years earlier after being one of the Grand Ladies of the business for forty years in a tough high end market. She called me to list her home. I was shocked and flattered. She told me the business had passed her by, she was not relevant in the marketplace anymore, lacked the needed computer skills, and she wanted my help. While still extremely savvy and sharp as a tack, she listened to everything I said, did basically everything I asked, and was delighted when we sold her house three years ago in less than ninety days.
She still refers business my way, and by the way, if I listen, she still teaches me every time I talk to her!
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