We've Got This vs. It's So Difficult - What's your mindset?

By Wayne Zuhl

Real Estate Agent with Remax First Realty II 0790808

November 29, 2013 09:00 PM

To use a broad paint brush, there are 2 kinds of agents.

The It's-So-Difficult Agent likes their clients to know how hard they're working. After all, if it looks easy, no one would use a Realtor. Therefore, this agent tells their clients about every single problem - real, possible, and imaginary.

The We've-Got-This Agent makes it look easy. Their clients think buying and selling a home is simple, no muss and no fuss, while the agent is furiously paddling under the water keeping things afloat.

It wasn't until we heard what one of our clients was saying about us that we realized what kind of agent we are. A friend of our clients asked us "Why is Rich and Betty's deal going so smoothly? When we bought our house, there were problems after problems and Rich and Betty haven't had any!"

Apparently, our clients think we're the We've-Got-This kind of agent, and we couldn't be more thrilled. If we need to paddle under water furiously, we will, but our demeanor is always calm and cool.

What kind of agent are you?

Re-Blog

Featured

Comments(25)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Catherine Ulrey

Keller Williams Capital City - Salem, OR

Equestrian and Acreage Property Specialist

I'm as cool as a cucumber to my clients. I find it hard to relate to clients that are frantic all on their own though. I just don't get that worked up over things.

Nov 30, 2013 10:25 AM

Bill Reddington

Re/max By The Sea - Destin, FL

Destin Florida Real Estate

Don't think it is a work hard or not situation. Some deals are ordeals. Some aren't. You do what you gotta do.

Nov 30, 2013 10:43 AM

Joan Whitebook

BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH

Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

A good post. Most of us strive to make things as smooth, easy and stress fress as possible.

Nov 30, 2013 10:52 AM

John Buetergerds

Buetergerds Team at Keller Williams Realty Select - Sarasota, FL

The Buetergerds Team

I like your post. I do my best to bite my lip when there is a problem and just handle it. When my customers get alarmed by something, I tell them there rarely an obsticle we can't overcome and that I will handle it. You're right, it's best to paddle under water and look smooth on the surface. I find it's even better to give them a schedule and set their expectations so they really aren't left in the dark.

Nov 30, 2013 11:12 AM

Jill Sackler

Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY

LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

What a great post! I never thought to think about how the deal is going from the client's perspective.

Nov 30, 2013 11:17 AM

Laura Cerrano

Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY

Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

"Do what is needed..." is mine.

Love and light,

Laura

Nov 30, 2013 02:09 PM

Aaron Hofmann

Atlanta Communities - Smyrna, GA

aka Mr. Smyrna Vinings

There are agents that are calm under fire and if your clients sense that you have it under control and not stressed, then they will certainly be a lot more reassured.

Nov 30, 2013 06:20 PM

Cheryl Ritchie

RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD

Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

What a wonderful testimonial. That is a good way to break it down... a calm under fire description.

Nov 30, 2013 07:42 PM

Martha Brown

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Annapolis MD 21403 - Annapolis, MD

Your Homes Around Annapolis Agent

Like you I've got this is the way I like to work. The happier my clients are the happier I am and that in turn makes the problems just another day in real estate. :)

Nov 30, 2013 08:57 PM

Kat Palmiotti

eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT

Helping your Montana dreams take root

I think our job should be to make the deal as smooth as possible, even though we know there are always things that will happen to get in the way. So I strive to be the second type of agent.

Nov 30, 2013 09:44 PM

Nina Hollander, Broker

Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC

Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I'm the "we've got this" type of agent--I don't ever want my clients worrying about anything before they really have to. But after all is said and done and they are happy, I find ways to let them know what happened behind the scenes to ensure all went smoothly. That way, there's never any question about how hard I might have worked for them.

Nov 30, 2013 10:26 PM

Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV

Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA

Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

W & J, I'm definitely a we-got-this agent. I don't want my buyers/sellers to worry or get concerned unless their is a reason for them to be concerned. Most of the time, they have no idea of the stressful situations that take place during a deal. I like it that way.

Nov 30, 2013 11:02 PM

MaryKay Shumway

The Kellstrom Ray Agency, Inc. (Est. 1948) - Sister Bay, WI

Door County Wisconsin's Real Estate Expert

There are easy transactions and there are difficult ones. Obviously, one owes honesty to a client. Too many things are outside of a broker's control (home inspection results, appraisals, etc.) and the prudent Realtor should probably just sit down and state "these are the potential things that could happen, but I'm here to facilitate them to the best of my ability."

Dec 01, 2013 12:02 AM

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Too many agents fail to communicate with their clients on a regular basis.

Real estate sales is hard work and consumers need to know it. Otherwise, they'll never believe we're worth what we're paid.

Dec 01, 2013 12:07 AM

Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED

RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

I'm the type that will ask if they want to know the behind the scenes, most will tell me they do. Then I let them know what's going on.

Dec 01, 2013 03:08 AM

Allison Bernard

Keller Williams Central Rhode Island - East Greenwich, RI

Real Estate & Relocation Services 401-533-6916

Keeping them informed via a weekly status report via email or through the mail is unobtrusive.

Dec 01, 2013 03:36 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Wayne and Jean- I love your illustration with the ducks who we never see feverishly paddling under the water while seeming to glide along on the water.

Dec 01, 2013 07:42 AM

Randy Shamburger

Movement Mortgage - Greenville, SC

FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional Mortgage Expert

Wonderful post, thanks for sharing!

Dec 01, 2013 10:41 PM

Karen Feltman

Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA

Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

I think that there is another type that most of us actually are. Nothing is seamless, there are always things that can and will go wrong. The key is to anticipate them and head them off at the pass before they become a real problem. I am the kind of agent that is honest and handles things quickly, but I don't think that any of my clients think that my job is easy. :)

Dec 03, 2013 02:42 AM

Joan Cox

House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO

Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Wayne & Jean, just had one of these agents on the other side of a deal, and the THREE deals he had were totally stressing him out.

Dec 03, 2013 11:33 PM