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A Pushy Real Estate Agent Should be a Red Flag

real estate agent One of the things that give our real estate profession a bad name is agents who are just too pushy.

Have you ever heard someone try to compare REALTORS® to used car salesmen? I have and it really got under my skin. That opinion came because of how unprofessional an agent was that they had interaction with. Now I have a potential client who has a low opinion of our profession. Thanks to a less than professional agent.

You hear of physicians making a hard sell for their services or any other top professional for that matter?

I feel that there are few reasons why an agent might be too pushy.

They do not know their market or they do not offer superior service.
Not very successful and are desperate.
Inexperienced and not properly trained.
Greedy
Lacking social skills or class.
They may just be in the wrong line of work.

The good news is that they are a tiny minority of those in our profession. Hopefully they will get better trained or move on to a more appropriate line of work.

For the public:

If you run into an agent who is far too pushy, that should be a red flag for you. A professional will never try to push you into a decision you are not comfortable with. Their job is to provide you enough information so you can make the proper informed decision.

Posted by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® on 02/08/2008 12:24 AM

Comments (36)

realtor, professional behavior

Originally posted at: Hawaii Randy's Real Estate Opinions: A Pushy Real Estate Agent Should be a Red Flag

This post has been included in Hawaii Information

36 Comments on A Pushy Real Estate Agent Should be a Red Flag

FEB

2008

Randy - Can you say "commission breath"? Sure glad that the type you describe are in the minority and fading fast in our current market. Many of these pushy agents have hung 'em up and gone on to other jobs.

I think you will find that the pushy agents do not stand the test of time, perhaps that is where all the car salesmen came from. They are, thankfully, not the majority. Another reason could be because of their insecurity.

Dottie

Randy
Great post!
Unfortunately there can always be a bad apple in the apple cart.
Do you know what drives me nuts? Is when you are enjoying showing homes to someone and you are really having fun.
Then you come to a listing where the other broker insists on being there. I can see how this can help. Perhaps the Seller requests it. Not this time. We walk in, and immediately the broker starts taking control of your buyers, asking for numbers, lenders names, and adding more manure to the air than you can take. All before we have a chance to look at the home.
The buyers get out of the home and look at me like "What is all that noise about Tom"
Nice people, but it turned them off so much that they just lost the fire for buying, and said they would wait awhile.
Pushiness just does not get you any brownie points with having customers for life.
I see it is pretty nice by you, we got 21 inches of snow yesterday in the Milwaukee outskirt neighborhoods.
Sincerely from Wisconsin,
Tom Braatz

Great post Randy..... If you are to pushy.. you can push them away.

Yeah...those pushy ones need some lessons, guidance or whatever. Some just refuse to learn...think they know it all and then mess everything up. They won't last.

I wish we could RED FLAG them (visibly) so the next agent can avod them too.

I wish there was a way to FASTTRACK them out of the business.

Randy, Great post, and I agree with the comments as well.

Commission breath? haha. I don't think I've ever heard that before. Too funny. Randy, you're right on target, as usual. Our job is to give them the information so they are comfortable with making a decision.

Randy - Well said, our job is to provide information to help the client make an informed decision. As an agent I too hate those pushy agents, a real turn off.

Excellent point! Wonder if we could get VAR to send out "Red Flag" pins and make it mandatory to wear them on their lapel! lol

I recently ran into a personal experience with a Realtor that was extremely pushy to one of my expired listings, I posted a blog on Ethics and the Realtor. Not a fun experience! Worse when they as a "professional" decide to belittle a fellow agent. Fortunately it just showed my client I was the better woman!

One time I was playing a round of golf and I was paired with this guy who asked me what I did for a living...Naturally I told him I was a Realtor(R) he said...oh your a used car salesman...I took offense to that and told him ...no I'm a used house saleman and then asked him what he did...he said a cop ...I said oh a donut salesman:) I hate when lousy agents give us a bad name..

TOTOH, that potential client just may not like anyone and is using the "I don't trust pushy", to gain a benefit by putting others on the defensive. I've met folks like that. They announce proudly at first meeting that "they don't trust . . . . ".

That can be a personality trait and not necessarily reflective of their true experience.

Don't you just love it when the contrarian visits???

Marlene - I am glad to see many of them leaving.

I was talking to a parent at the chess club who described an extremely pushy agent she encountered. It rang familiar with me. From her story, I guessed who the agent was. I am grateful that there are not many like her.

Dottie - Some are insecure. Others just are rotten.

Tom - I have had to stop other agents and let them know my clients already had an agent. Some are either clueless or just don't care.

Roland - You will in most cases. The one thing I can be sure of is that you will not build a referral business.

Sally - Most won't be around long.

Bob F. - It would be cool if we could require they wear a red flag. Oh well back to the real world.

Tom & Darcy - Thank you

Jesse & Kathy - I am careful about pushing people. They have to make the payments and they have to live there, not us. If that is not the perfect home for them, I will keep looking until we find it.

Jennifer - I am like you, hate pushy agents. I try not to be like them.

Charles - Too bad it can't be required to have a disclaimer in their advertising that they are pushy agents.

Sandra - Sometimes they help you, like in your case. If you continue to conduct yourself in a professional manner the clients will see the difference.

Neal - As long as we conduct ourselves as professionals at all times, those who know will never give us negative labels. Unfortunately the bad agents give the industry a broad brush rep that we constantly have to overcome.

Lenn - I have met folks like that. If it is just a defensive tactic we can gain their confidence. If they are absolutely non-trusting people, that may be a red flag. Those who can't be trusted, can not trust others.

Randy, Buyers can smell desperation when someone is to pushy, and good Buyers don't want to do business with people who come across that way.

Randy, Can't stand pushy in any field. Like your list and have run into several in my area that fit the fourth and fifth items to a tee.

Commission breath.... donut salesman.... haha.

This is a great topic and I hope lots of consumers see your post.

George - You are right. The few that succumb to the pressure tactics will be in the high percentage of those with issues and complaints.

Marc - We all know a few of them and hope we will not be on the other side of a transaction with them.

Georgina - Consumers need a kit with tips about finding a good agent. I liked commission breath too. :)

Pushy, to me, translates to uneducated and that they are going to over-compensate for what they don't know. Big difference between confidence and arrogance. Let's hope that is the bunch that starts to fade away - and soon!

Randy, your post is right on.

Pushy salespeople telegraph one message, 'what I want, is more important than what you need.' I will walk right out of a store if a pushy salesperson will not leave me alone.

Leesa - Many will fade away. I am sure they will be replaced by others like them.

Laurie - I am with you on that. I hate pushy salespeople at any business.

Hi Randy,

Ditto on Marlene's commission breath comment, we used that term in our coaching group. Consumers can spot it every time!

FEB

2008

Randy, you are so right. Who likes ANY kind of pushy salesperson? People want to buy, not be sold. The bad apples give all the great people a bad rap.

Randy, Those pushy so called real estate agents are going bye bye and returning to their roots and I have it first hand from my wife who works in administration for a large car dealership and she wants to throw up everytime they hire one.And get this,they have fired quite a few for hustling up car buyers to buy a house through them.

FEB

2008

Lynda - I like that one.

Gary - They do create job security for those who do it right.

Cameron - Even after having to sell cars to pay their bills they still don't get it. How pathetic.

FEB

2008

Randy - a timely piece here, and unfortunately we find this type of agent fairly often. Some are that way even with other agents, say at broker opens. It drives me nuts and automatically my defenses are up, as it does with pushy sale folks in any business. I don't think most people are fooled by this nor convinced to buy but it certainly is annoying. I have to buy a new car, or lease on ein teh next 2 weeks and the thought of it makes me cringe.

Jeff

Randy - My thoughts exactly. I have a consultative selling approach which works really well for me. I tell my buyers and sellers, I'm not here to convince you to buy or sell a home, I'm here for you when the need arises. In the meantime, I stay in touch with them. Eventually, the need does arise, but I'm the one they call when they have a real estate question. That's important to me -- to be their real estate resource.

Jeff - I feel your pain. Buying a car has been pleasant for me until the next one. My car salesman was one of my clients, who made it quick and painless. He is no longer with the dealership, so I will be thrown to the wolves. Yikes!

Gail - That is a great approach. I spent many years selling supplies and machinery and that was my approach. Since getting back in real estate a few years ago, I kept that approach. It works well when clients do not feel they need to be defensive around you.

FEB

2008

Great Post Randy. This comes from a car salesman that quit and became a realtor. Oh, I know what you all are thinking but I wasn't pushy when I was a car salesman. The general manager tried very hard to convert me to one but, I told him as soon as my sales drop below the top 5 out of 20 salespeople I would change my ways. The process does not have to be that way and I am a firm believer in listening more than I talk.

Of course that dosen't mean that you don't ask for the sale, there is a time to say "gosh you say you really love this home. Why don't you put an offer in". I think that its all on how you read your customers. I truly believe that there is some buyers and sellers out their that wouldn't do anything until you ask for a signature. Have you ever been showing property and came across a home or land that meets all of your customers needs and they still have bad comments about something that is wrong with it. After the 10th property that you have shown them. That starts getting old real fast and you start wondering if you have a real buyer.

I always ask my customers or clients this question before we start looking for a property: "If I find the property you are looking for are you prepare to put a offer in?". You find so many things out when you ask that question. We all know what to do when they say yes but, what do you say if they say no? If they say yes, are they lying to you. If I don't try to see where they are at, I might just be a tour guide for a day or two. I live in the beautiful North Georgia Mountains with vacation homes and second homes, and let me tell you it has happen to me more times than I can count. Randy, I bet you know what I am talking about selling in Hawaii. Have you ever heard this: Buyers are liars and Sellers are yellers? Is there a fine line between being a good salesman and being to pushy? That is a big question that all of us have to think about. So think about it right now people! Boy am I pushy or what?

Make It a Great Day!

Chris - I do interview my clients and try to find out their needs and time line. I never ask that question in those words. Every time I ever stepped on a car lot the salesman asked me that, going back 31 years when I bought my first car at age 16. I have been conditioned to that question to go on the defense.

Randy.... basically the underlining reason in my opinion, why people push is because they are greedy, but more so, desperate. They need a sale. And this is a big read flag. One of the best compliments that I can get is when I ask someone why they chose me... and their answer is not only am I knowledgeable and helpful, but because I wasn't pushy or sounded like a sales person. Good post.... awareness to the general public.

Jeff - That is definitely a compliment all professionals should want to get from clients.

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