Special offer

RACISTS! Yeah, Well You're Fired

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with The PowerHouse Group 0467092
Some years back, I listed a property near the lake and explained to the sellers (an African American couple), who were still readying their house for sale, that there was no need to start looking at a replacement home until we had their current home under contract.  It was highly improbable that our market (that we were in at that time) would not allow us to locate a seller willing to accept a contingency offer.  They agreed and continued to make the improvements to their home that we agreed were necessary prior to marketing.  

You guessed it...within 2 days of our conversation the wife found a house she just had to see and "probably" make an offer on.  I showed them the house, but again explained that their home was not even on the market yet so there is no chance of another seller accepting a contingency offer.  My clients viewed the home, immediately decided I didn't know what I was talking about and advised me they wanted to make an offer.  I tried once more to tell them was not a good idea.  They demanded I move forward with an offer.  Now understand this wasn't just any offer, but a contingency offer that was 20K below list price and in a hot market.  I was dumbfounded and told my clients not to hold their breath, then submitted the offer.  

I received a call from the listing agent the following morning saying the offer was laughable, at best.  I called and left a message for my clients that their offer had been categorically rejected. Within minutes, I received a call from my client while I was in the middle of fueling my car.  The husband was absolutely livid and was yelling at me that I didn't present the offer properly and he's not sure I knew what I was doing.  I again advised him of our market conditions and my experience, but he railed that there was something that didn't add up here and he thought the seller's rejection of his offer had racial overtones.  The buyers and sellers had never met to my knowledge.  I told him his assumption was ridiculous and the rejection was based on a clearly unsuitable offer, not skin color.  He then yelled at me for a couple more minutes and said he'd be back in touch later to discuss this.

 As you can imagine, I knew this had no where to go but south, so I went directly to my home office and processed a listing termination letter.  While driving to my client's home, I called my broker to advise him of the situation in case things got worse.  I continued directly to my client's home and saw the husband cleaing out the garage.  I approached him, shook his hand and told him I was firing him effective immediately.  Believe it or not, he couldn't understand why I was upset.  He said he wanted to continue working with me.  What?  I was the idiot he had yelled at only a couple hours previously.  I told him there were plenty of agents who needed his business much worse than I, so please contact one of them.  

Before I even got home, he had called my broker and complained that I had fired him and couldn't understand why.  My broker questioned him for a few minutes and then told him our decision was final and he should locate another office to list his house.  My then former client had the nerve to ask if there was another agent in our office who would list his house to which my broker replied that no agent in our office will be working with him.  

This business never ceases to amaze me....never a dull moment wouldn't you agree?

Comments (13)

Debra Gambill
Weichert Realtor's Southern Coast - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Realtor, N.C. / S.C
It is amazing- I worked with a couple on a land deal who did not have a kind word-you would have thought I was the enemy- it is a tough situation.
Mar 28, 2008 09:49 AM
Chris Horton
Horton's Lawn Care L.L.C. - Burton, MI
Yeah, in my profession I get that kind of stuff too. I just explain to them that I treat everyone the same but if you feel that I am being racist in any way shape or form you are free to contact someone else as I am immediately terminating the contract. I actually had a white gentleman (using gentleman loosley here lol) that I was giving an estimate to over the phone after checking out his property call me the N word because he thought I was african american trying to in his words "get back at the man" with my high price. While I do not claim to be cheap, you do get what you pay for with me and he wanted "the works". Needless to say he appologized and did some serious back peddling after I told him I was white and he even offered to accept my offer, however I declined as I will not put up with that kind of thing.
Mar 28, 2008 10:08 AM
Pat Enterrios
Coldwell Banker SkyRidge Realty - Lake Arrowhead, CA
Great story... We should all be ready to drop those clients that abuse us instead of walking on egg shell to please everyone!!
Mar 28, 2008 10:09 AM
Joan Mirantz
Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH
Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire
Sounds like a good move...If that was only the first situation...what was the selling end going to be like?Shudder!
Mar 28, 2008 10:45 AM
Gene Wunderlich
1st Action Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
Realtor & Legislative Liaison
It's a hard thing to do but sometimes firing a client is the best thing for both of you. I'm pretty easy going but I've had to fire a couple and the sense of relief is palpable. Congratulations on doing the right, not necessarily the easy, thing.
Mar 28, 2008 11:03 AM
Guy E. Gimenez
The PowerHouse Group - Austin, TX
ABR, CRS, GRI - Broker & Investor (512-731-5613)

CHRIS:  Sounds like he should've called Jethro to list his place.  They could watch their dentures soak and talk about the "old days".

GENE:  I only have to fire about one every couple of years but I won't hesitate.  Life is just too darn short for that kind of nonsense.  

Mar 28, 2008 02:04 PM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Guy, it looks like you have a good head on your shoulders. When your client does not have the trust nor respect for you that is needed, it is in the best interest of all parties to conclude their business. You made the right decision and avoided any further problems. I would have done the same. These things happen and it's best to cut your losses without further loss. Spend your time with clients who appreciate a good Realtor.

And Good For Your Broker!

Mar 31, 2008 05:17 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices
In this slow market firing the client is tough, but sometimes there is nothing else yu can do.
Mar 31, 2008 05:30 PM
Diane Aurit
LKN Realty, LLC - Mooresville, NC
Lake Norman Real Estate
I too have had to fire clients...and while your clients happened to be African American truly this whole story had nothing to do with race...just another example of disrespect. 
Apr 23, 2008 09:26 AM
Cheryl Powell - The Powell Team
Southern Homes of The Carolinas - The Powell Team - Harrisburg, NC
Concord,Harrisburg & Charlotte NC Area Real Estate

Interesting story Guy.  I've never understood why some buyers/sellers think it is ok to verbally abuse their agents...none of us should stand for it.  I think that you made the right decision to fire them once they made an accusation of racism toward the seller as a reason for them rejecting their offer, you just can't win in that situation!

BTW, smileys for your recent comment on my blog post!

 

Jun 12, 2008 02:15 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

When clients decide that I have no idea what I'm talking about, that's the time to end the relationship. I wouldn't have written the offer, if I had been in your shoes. They were disrespectful, clearly did not trust you and treated you like crap.  I've encountered a few like that over the years, and I refuse to work with them. Let them turn somebody else's life into a living hell.

elizabeth weintraub real estate agent Sacramento

 

Jun 13, 2008 04:18 AM
Guy E. Gimenez
The PowerHouse Group - Austin, TX
ABR, CRS, GRI - Broker & Investor (512-731-5613)

Elizabeth, I understand your position, but I wrote the offer as a way to help the buyers understand that what I told them was the truth....no one in our market would accept a contingency under those conditions.  And since my cliients instructed me to write the offer and since they had given me no indication of the problelms that would be coming, I thought it was worth 30 minutes of my time to prove my point and perhaps make them realize I knew what I was doing.  Obviously, it didn't turn out that way, but hindsite is always 20/20. 

Thanks for your comments.

Jun 13, 2008 04:45 AM
Greg Freeman
Citiwide Real Estate Services - Allen, TX

They would have been trouble down the road anyway better to get rid of them sooner than later.

Dec 27, 2010 11:15 AM