Hi All,
Today I want to call your attention to a plague sweeping our Nation. A woefully underdiagnosed ailment striking down innocent folks somewhere every minute of every day, "Helpful Friend Syndrome". Helpful Friend Syndrome (or HFS) can strike anyone, anywhere at anytime and it is not limited to folks looking to enter the Real Estate market, it can strike folks considering a job change, involved in a romantic relationship or contemplating any major life decision.
HFS seems harmless enough, but let me assure you that this can be a killer. One of the first symptoms of HFS is auditory, you will hear the victim say something like "I was talking to my friend "Blah-Blah" the other day and they said...". And no matter what "they" said, I can tell you from personal experience that "they" never said anything good, or at least not good for you and certainly not good for the poor soul about to fall victim to HFS.
The second symptom is visual. You will know they are well and truly infected when you see that "Deer In The Headlights" look that accompanies their quavering voice as they murmur "I don't know... I just don't know".
When a relationship is involved the HFS carrier will say something like "Hmm, you've been dating him how long and he still hasn't given you a ring yet? Are you sure he's over his ex?" Or the ever popular "Sure he's a Doctor who worships the ground you walk on and who you love being with every minute, but I really liked your ex boyfriend better... When is he due to be released again?"
If a job is the topic, then the carrier will be sure to point out all the reasons why your dream job falls short. "So you'll be making twice as much as you do now, you know money can't buy happiness." Or, "A promotion to Manager, huh? Boy, now all your friends at work are going to hate you."
But where Real Estate is concerned, this is where the HFS Carrier really shines. Despite being lifelong renter's they are the absolute experts on what the market will be doing six months from now so they will advise you to hold off on any decisions until then.
They know that even if you find the home that fulfills every one of your want's and needs, if you haven't looked 50 others you aren't done yet. They can tell you without ever seeing a comp how much your house is worth and, if you have it on the market, no matter what you are offered it is never enough. They always know that the house around the corner sold for more than you got (if you're the seller) and for way less than you paid (if you're buying).
So, by now I am sure you are wondering what can be done to combat this scourge. Is there a treatment or, dare I say it, a cure? Well, I'll tell ya, there is and there isn't. You can't prevent the infection because we are all carriers who at one time or another have done our share to continue the plague. But you can do some preventative maintenance, which might work, sort of the way washing your hands frequently can help to prevent colds.
You can talk to your clients about this great illness, vaccinate them with information to try to stave off infection, and build a strong relationship with them so that yours will become a voice they will listen to above the din. Or, you can fill your tank and prepare to show them fifty homes in rapid succession and to explain why, once they've seen everything for sale from sea to shining sea, that perfect house they saw way back on day one isn't available anymore.
Take care all, help lots of people and have a wonderful day!
Tisza
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