Ar_home_b_search
 

With apologies to Jeff Foxworthy, I would like to present a few real-life examples of bad Realtors that I have dealt with in the past.  You might consider this a companion post to this "Real Men of Genius"-themed post I did awhile back:

Here's to you, Mr. Client Who Doesn't Have a Clue

  • If your method of pricing is "What would you like to get for this house?"....you might be a bad Realtor.
  • If your window for returning phone calls is one particular hour during the day and you specify this on your voice mail...you might be a bad Realtor.
  • If you say "Your call is very important to me", then you are among the hardest people I have ever tried to reach in 12 years of real estate....you might be a bad Realtor.
  • If you present contracts missing vital pieces of information, such as the SALES PRICE, ....well, you know where I am headed with this one.
  • If your primary method of getting business is to sit outside builder models and prey on unrepresented buyers....
  • If you allow your assistant to handle the most challenging parts of the business....
  • If you refuse to offend your clients by simply setting the appropriate expectations during a negotiation...
  • If you are so uninvolved during the transaction that I have to spend hours with YOUR client working out repair details, resulting in roughly $7 million in referral business for me....
  • If your best negotiating technique is, "I had to use smelling salts on the seller after presenting your offer", then we still get it for $300,000 less than the asking price...
  • If you greet me and my potential buyers with the following phrase: "Welcome home!", ....
  • If you offer up my services as a mover during our mutual closing, you might not be a bad Realtor - you are just a jerk.
  • If you steal my client during my first potential million-dollar sale in 1997, you may be a fine Realtor, but I will NEVER show one of your listings again, nor will any of my agents.
  • If you don't publish your cell phone number anywhere, ....
  • If you refuse to blog because "I don't really have time", you are cheating no one but yourself.
  • If you don't keep up with current contracts, ....
  • If you allow your builder client to counter an offer by changing my commission and NOT the price, you are a schmuck.
  • If you are a builder and you require me to be present "on the first visit" in order for me to get paid when my client enters your model on a Sunday afternoon, I can assure you that you will pay me or I will take them elsewhere.  It's not as hard as you think.
  • If you are a lender and you tell me that my client is "pre-approved" and you later come back and tell me that things will not work out because of some minor bit of minutiae that you overlooked, I marvel at the fact that you appear to make an actual living in the mortgage business.
  • If you are a title company escrow officer assistant, and you blame something that you did on me, you are foolish and this will come back to bite you (believe me on this).
  • If you are a top-producing agent in west Austin, and you attempt to solicit my client IN FRONT OF ME, expect to be embarrassed in front of your client and mine.
  • If you lie at a closing in order to cover up a mistake, expect that I will call you on it and make you fix it.  Even though I can be the world's nicest guy, I don't appreciate dishonesty. 
  • LASTLY, if you do something truly bad or stupid during our transaction together, expect that it will end up on my blog in some form. 

Thanks for reading this extensive (though not exhaustive) list!

 

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere or subscribe via email?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can also visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com.  If you're interested in social media training, visit 210 Consulting. Thanks!

 
Post is included in group: AR Comedy Club
Post is included in group: Club Chaos
Post is included in group: Dedicated Bloggers
Post is included in group: 'JACKED!!!!!
Post is included in group: Realtors®

58 Comments on You Might Be a Bad REALTOR If....

AUG
13
2008
6 Featured Posts

"LASTLY, if you do something truly bad or stupid during our transaction together, expect that it will end up on my blog in some form." I laughed out loud at this; woot for the blog-age;p Thanks for the great post.

1:30pm • #1

Wow, sound like you've dealt with them all- and stayed sane! Veronica

1:33pm • #2
174,786 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

If you are a lender and you tell me that my client is "pre-approved" and you later come back and tell me that things will not work out because of some minor bit of minutiae that you overlooked, I marvel at the fact that you appear to make an actual living in the mortgage business.

...this sums up my last transaction.  Another excellent post...but I LOVEDDDDDDDD the RCOG (Real Clients Of Genius)  blog entry.  :)

1:35pm • #3
178,888 Points 20 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

You know, I read this and I know for a fact that all of it is true that people do all of these stupid thing and I just shake my head.  Where is the common sense and the golden rule.  All this will do is make these folks look stupid and cost them money in the long run.  I just don't get it sometimes.

1:43pm • #4

That was such a wonderful blog. I loved it! You should do another one. I was laughing out loud the whole time.  I also agree with the last lender comment.

1:47pm • #5
385,713 Points 25 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hi Jason.  Good stuff, as always.  Funny, you changed your picture to your dinner shot.  Looking good. 

I hope all is well.

Ken

1:49pm • #6
227,296 Points Outside Blog

very funny, I may have to do one for mortgage brokers

Dave

1:51pm • #7
837,443 Points 163 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

DJ - Glad you liked this one.  My wife's grandmother gave us one of those "You might be a redneck if..." calendars, and I was inspired to write this.

1:55pm • #8
200,212 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

If your voice mail says you only return phone calls between 9-10am and 4-5pm, you might be a good Realtor, but, you're full of ***! Lol.

1:59pm • #9

Jason, your team is blessed to have you as a leader. I enjoyed this post... and I think Jeff would approve.

2:01pm • #10
164,174 Points 10 Featured Posts

Great list Loveseat. I'd add some of my own but don't wish to offend anyone here on AR.

LOVE your new picture! You look a lot like this guy I know ;-)

2:02pm • #11
837,443 Points 163 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

VERONICA - Sadly, I don't think I have dealt with all of them...yet.

ANTOINETTE - I have a quick question - why is your first name in quotes?  I am happy to hear that you enjoyed this post, along with the RCoG one from before.

AUDREY - As I have told a bunch of clients who have said, "I haven't really had very good experiences with Realtors", "Me neither!".

HANK - Did you get a chance to read the link to the other post?  I bet you would like that one, too.  Thanks for subscribing to my blog!

KEN - I changed the picture because so many people liked it and said that I should.  Glad you liked this post!

DAVE - That might make for an entire series of posts!

GET US A HOME - Agreed.

CONSUMERS ADVANTAGE - I think he might like it, too!

JENNIFER - Good to see you!  Feel free to write one.  As for the picture, I had a lot of people suggest the change, so here we are.  I am guessing I look a little like that guy from Austin?

2:15pm • #12

You might be a bad realtor if...I sell your listing and from start to finish, I never see your face!  You can't even give a courtesy handshake when you are not quite sure the other agent even exists or if you are dealing with a mythical voice mail creature somewhere...

 

Love your post!

2:15pm • #13
117,351 Points 15 Featured Posts

Jason Good job!  If your sign is still not in the yard of your listing and it has been on the market for 57 days... you might not be a good realtor

If the lock box is not at the property with the right key in it if it is your listing you might not be a good realtor

Just to add a few...

2:15pm • #14

Those are funny and I really enjoyed the blog post using the "Real Men of Genius" idea.  Both highlight some of the craziest and odd things that people do. 

2:17pm • #15
1,140,610 Points 76 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jason:  Outstanding list...really covers all the bases.  Even my personal favorite today...someone eles's clients calling me to work out the details on a rental listing because (get your violin ready) the tenants agent won't make very much money, and therefore, made one phone call to me to tell me the application was coming, and then disappeared into thin air.  UGH!

2:18pm • #16

How about this one....

If you take the time to track me down at home, want to set up a showing within the hour, and then realize that your client isn't qualified for even half of the listing amount (because you didn't actually look at the listing before you called me).....

Thanks for the laugh  :)

2:27pm • #17
143,139 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Jason, there couldn't possibly be a list like this for lenders. After all, there is no such thing as a bad lender, just bad buyers, right? LOL. Enjoyed the list.

2:33pm • #18
256,174 Points Outside Blog

Jason - I especially appreciate the one about the realtor who refuses to publish his cell phone number...Not only is it not published, he won't allow the office to give it out.

I had to deal with an agent  like this once and couldn't believe it.  I had to be a detective and call his home phone (It was very important.)  He was, of course, very upset and angrily told me never to call his home phone again.

I'm staying far away from this guy...  :)

2:50pm • #19

If you refuse to blog because "I don't really have time", you are cheating no one but yourself.

Ouch.  I'll have to pass that one along to some agents and brokers I know.

Not Yet Licensed
2:56pm • #20
707,323 Points 36 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jason, I have one to share you might be a bad Realtor if you still have no voice mail on your cell phone, so on your days off your seller/client calls me (his buyer's agent) for an update on how things are going.

Steve

3:02pm • #21
107,647 Points

Great and fun post Jason.  We deal with too much of this everywhere.

All the best!

3:11pm • #22
174,786 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

ANTOINETTE - I have a quick question - why is your first name in quotes?  I am happy to hear that you enjoyed this post, along with the RCoG one from before.

Cuz that's how the NJ Real Estate Commission dictates we post our name if it's our DBA, and not the name on our birth certificate or "licensed as" name.  Something (else) I can blame on my parents' as they feuded when it came time to give me a name (BTW, I love my folks).  :)

4:22pm • #23
4 Featured Posts

Hi Jason, Thank You for your honest view of integrity.  I appreciate who you are!  Safe people honor and prefer others!  Unsafe people don't!  You clearly reveal the motives and actions of unsafe people!  Your contrasting perspective clearly reveals how to be a safe person! 

4:42pm • #24
240,793 Points 29 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

I just have one question... wasn't this market supposed to weed out those degenerates?

5:11pm • #25
1,040,285 Points 32 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Good list.  I can say i have sen 15 of these at least.  thanjks, going to use this at the next office meeting!

6:15pm • #26
200,847 Points 11 Featured Posts

Jasonizer, Great list and sadly true. how about: If neither the MLS or your office have your current contact information!!!!

6:25pm • #27
295,317 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog

If you are a title company escrow officer assistant, and you blame something that you did on me, you are foolish and this will come back to bite you (believe me on this)...

Oh yeah, I know about this first hand (although not a title company but a lender) and oh, how  I hope it will come back to bite this loser and bite him so darn hard that...  (and was/is a so called Vice President) no wonder the lending institution has such trouble...  well, I won't get started. 

6:47pm • #28
419,612 Points 71 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Crouch - Damn, a no-nonsense edgy post?  I love this!  So very true.  Another one out of the park, big man.

6:54pm • #29
240,697 Points 4 Featured Posts

How about this one: You might be a bad Realtor if your seller gives me an unsolicited referral when you leave the room.

8:12pm • #30
225,623 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Nice picture! You did take someones advice and posted a new photo.

Good List.

8:52pm • #31
552,536 Points 78 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Jason!  Great post.  The Jeff Foxworthy act, while cliche by now, still gets me (and many others) laughing hysterically every time.

9:13pm • #32
134,342 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Someone had a bad day.  Me too!  Thanks for the chuckle.

9:37pm • #33
294,408 Points 15 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I like the new picture much better. Here's a couple of mine, pardon me for being tired and grouchy: If you tell possible clients that their old agent has retired or moved when it's a lie, you're not just a bad agent, you are a dodo. If you say you don't have an agent because your agent can't be bothered, you are a slimebucket timewaster. I have more, but they aren't really funny, just annoying!!

10:46pm • #34
591,941 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

I've experienced so many of these. It's amazing how stupid people can be. And I LOVE your last line. But hey, they're not blogging, so they'll never see this anyway. But doesn't a part of you want to e-mail and even snail mail this post to every one of those people? *muwa ha ha haaa*

11:07pm • #35
AUG
14
2008
335,636 Points 14 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I liked the list, but my favorite of all was the person who offered you as a 'mover'. LOL   I am laughing again, that was funny!  Thanks Jason.

12:33am • #36

This is a very good post and I am still laughing. It is amazing what Realtors go through. I think you covered alot of them. LOL  

1:20am • #37
443,247 Points 19 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jason, loved the list!!  Another thing that I believe makes a bad realtor is someone who continually calls the buyer or seller "my buyer" or "my seller" as if they themselves own the client.  They start out as if we are in enemy camps.

6:27pm • #38
139,779 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

This was the best list.  Except I didn't see - You leave them a message because their mailbox is FULL!!!!  Who waits THAT long to check messges or leaves on vacation with no back up plan or outgoing message saying so??!??!?!?

11:06pm • #39
170,553 Points 2 Featured Posts

We seem to know some of the same Realtors.

Sandy

11:12pm • #40
212,171 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Now that had me laughing out loud!  You should have this list "POSTERIZED" to place in brokerages everywhere.  Great laughs come from true experiences.

11:38pm • #41
AUG
15
2008
1,255,301 Points 242 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Now, Now, Jason- Nestor does not blog nevertheless he is one heck of a good Realtor! :)

1:35am • #42
208,350 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Jason, Great list.  Fortunately for me, I am not a bad realtor based on this list.  wooo hooo.

7:54am • #43

Jason...GREAT POST!  I didn't realize all those agents you've dealt with have since moved to my city of Little Rock!  LOL

One more..."If you lie to me about the transaction continuously through the process, and contradict your own lies, you...."

8:07am • #44
111,916 Points

Yes, I think every area has these same characters running around trying to make our lives harder.  Good post, thanks.

9:55am • #45
122,821 Points 13 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

Too funny... great post and commentary.  I too, like the last one about writing about the 'bad realtor' in your blog.  I might just have to print that out and keep a copy at my desk for those frustrating moments.  Thanks, Jason. :)

12:46pm • #46
AUG
17
2008
142,644 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

What a post. 
Here's one that gets me every time " You might be a bad realtor if you refuse to pay me because my buyer showed up without me at an open house". Preposterous!

7:37am • #47
563,639 Points 17 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Jason - keep 'em coming. I laughed until I thought, that stuff really happens and some of it happenned to me, then I laughed again.

7:41am • #48
405,745 Points 34 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I already commented on this but I realized after our recent conversation that we have both experienced the same behavior from the exact same agents! It certainly takes all kinds but we know the ones to avoid now!

5:34pm • #49
175,854 Points 14 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Now Now Jason, Taking down notes and blogging about jerks and smucks? 

Good for YOU!!!!!

6:04pm • #50

If you send an offer by fax from a copy of a fax that is unreadable and expect the seller to sign it you might be a very bad and lazy Realtor.

6:05pm • #51

NO JOKE...actually happened last week...If you call me from my listing you are showing and locked your lockbox in the previous house and need my gargage code to show my listing....

6:20pm • #52
Localism Sponsor

You might be a bad Realtor if...

You post a really bad photo (yes, just one photo) of an amazingly underpriced foreclosure home with no sign out front, and intentionally put so many errors in the address & stat sheet info that it won't show up in searches.  And then... after the price drops even more, YOU buy the house... you might be a bad Realtor.

Thanks for the post Jason, but tell me...  how do you know her - all the way down there in Texas? :)

7:26pm • #53
Localism Sponsor

Afterthought:  Maybe it should say "bad real estate agent", because people who do these things are not truly Realtors®!

7:29pm • #54
1 Featured Post Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

Since I am in the Miami area. I could easily add about 100 to this list, but i will restrain myself and just add the few that I experienced this weekend.

You might be a bad realtor if:

You have three different phone numbers on your listing and when each number is called you ask the caller (on the recording) to call the other number.

You say you will call right back and do not prompting the buyer's agent to call three times the next day only to discover that there is a new tenant in the listing who signed a one year lease which of course is not noted in the listing.

You give the lockbox code as two codes because you cannot remember which one is the right code, but neglect to tell the buyer's agent (me) that oh you also need the code for the front gate to the complex which no one knows right now since they just changed it. I was actually at the listing or the complex itself trying to flag down cars as they were leaving to gain access to the town homes, which as it turns out were not too appealing.

7:45pm • #55
583,268 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog

We haven't been in real estate as long as you (not that your old!) and we've seen almost every one of these.  They're everywhere!

8:59pm • #56
FEB
19
2009

You are a terrible Buyer's Agent when you make fun of the Seller's Agent to me the Buyer, you are unprofessional and immature.  P.S. I didn't get the house because my bid didn't get to the Seller's Agent for 5 days.

Mildred
9:11am • #57
MAR
26
2009
591,941 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Just followed the link from your newer post about the idiot agent you worked with. I see I've commented before... but what the heck. I'll comment again. Because I HATE that "system" that has the agent tell you which couple of hours during the day, that they'll be returning their phone calls.

11:53pm • #58

This blog does not allow anonymous comments

 
Jason2 Ambassador_large

Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

Austin, TX

More about me…

Austin Texas Homes, LLC

Address: 3636 Executive Center Drive, Suite 210, Austin, TX, 78731

Office Phone: (512) 796-7653

Cell Phone: (512) 796-7653

Email Me

I write about humorous stories, family, things that are interesting to me, and the Austin real estate market.

website counter



Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog

Find TX real estate agents and Austin real estate on ActiveRain.