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I Will NEVER Show That REALTORS(R) Listings!!!

Hi folks. Have you ever had such a bad experience, working with another REALTOR(R), that you swore you would never work with them again? I know I have. It can be difficult but we must remember that our job is to help Buyers and Sellers achieve their objectives.

It's tempting to not show a REALTOR'S(R) listings or suggest to your Seller not to accept a deal from a particular REALTOR(R) who we have had a bad experience with. However, as difficult as it is, we must not hold the Buyer or Seller responsible for their REALTOR'S(R) incompetence.

The reality is, the Seller just wants to sale and the Buyer just wants to buy. Work towards helping them achieve these goals. This may require dealing with unprofessional and rude REALTORS(R) on occasion.

Bite your tongue, put on a smile and muddle through it. Take charge of the transaction. Be the one person in this stressful and difficult deal to hold it together and get the job done. Not only will your customer/client be impressed but the other REALTOR'S(R) customer/client will also become your biggest fan. This is how you build a long term successful business.

Anybody can handle a smooth transaction it is getting through the difficult situations that set you apart and make people remember you. Maybe your professionalism will rub off on the other REALTOR(R). One thing is for sure, the problems and issues we have, with unprofessional REALTORS(R), will always be a part of our business. It's our job to rise above it and keep moving forward with a good attitude. That's something we can control. It's why we make the big bucks. What say you?

MORE INFO FROM BROKER BRYANT... THE SOURCE FOR POINCIANA REAL ESTATE

Posted by Bryant Tutas Broker/REALTOR(R) Tutas Towne Realty, Inc on 09/13/2008 07:43 AM

Comments (61)

Ethics in the Training Channel

ethics

61 Comments on I Will NEVER Show That REALTORS(R) Listings!!!

SEP

2008

There are certainly times we are tempted - but I am an ethical Realtor and my buyers and sellers are the boss. If they want to see "that" agent's listing then that's what we do.

I have even found that "those" agents turn out to be better later on, as they gain experience or have better days than the ones we met in previously. Give 'em another chance, they can surprise you.

Broker Bryant just did a post about a difficult situation I had with an agent. I would still show their listings and glad accept any offer but... I must say it has sent me a red flag whether I can trust this particular agent entirely to do what they say and say what they do. So I have learned to watch my back in some situations. :-)

Hope your wife is doing okay. Please let her know she is in my thoughts & prayers.

Very professional Bryant. In a couple of weeks, you won't remember it anyway. Keep your eye on the prize!

Dr. Joy Brown has a saying that I love "Be cheerful and stupid". I try to remember it and say it over and over again when I am co-oping with someone who I reallllllly don't want to work with. I also remember it's not about me, it's about the buyer and the seller.

Bryan- As investors my parents have a Real Estate Brokerage they will not even entertain offers from anymore because they have had many difficulties with that Brokerage (not the clients being picky, but the Brokerage being an idiot lol).

Good advice. While it is sometimes hard to bite my tongue, in doing business with someone with whom I've had a bum deal or a trying/difficult deal with, I still remember that "it's all about the customer--not about me."

Bryant, here is my take analyze the options that address the wishes of your buyer and if the listing is only marginally close to the wish list show the others first hope that one meets the goals, then reschedule a follow up and offer the last tier of properties ... on a need to see basis. This is not with-holding just, less suitable for your buyer. On the other side always show anyone your listing, as that is a situation you control the outcome of, and will guide the deal to completion for your client.

In this biz we cannot burn any bridges. I agree that sometimes I have had difficult agents to deal with. The last time that happened, luckily I gave it over to my managing broker for my team. If I am going to get mad, better to let someone else handle it!

We have all been involved with agents that drop the ball, don't get the information, make dumb comments and the list goes on. Your expert advice...get the job done in spite of the other agent will gain your more referrals and respect from both parties in the transaction. The best part you still get paid. Nice post Bryant.

It is a very hard thing sometimes to put the past to rest. I will advise my clients of the past problems. I do not tell them as encouragement to reject them. I only do so as to inform them of potential problems that could arise based on past performances.

In regards to listings to be shown, if you have 40 listings that are identical it is much easier to weed out the chaff from the wheat.

BB, our only issues are whether or not there will be gyrations in receiving payment. It's never about a specific individual or company. We're headed out to show waterfront today, and one doesn't pay buyer agency, so that will be an issue- but better to know in advance, should that property end up being "the one." Relative to a year ago, where most didn't entertain BA, we're aok with one minor complication. For the most part, short of creating issues with showings, it makes no difference if the agent is problematic or not- our focus is just to work through issues that are legitimate. The listing agent is secondary to the outcome. Best to TLW!!

BB -- you are absolutely correct. We have a duty to our clients to be professional. I try to set a good example with these types of agents! It makes things quite difficult for everyone.

Bryant I run into those situations more then I run into the smooth transactions. I do feel the same way about those realtors but, as you said we are there to make our clients happy and if that is the home they want or the offer they want to take we suck it up and get them their deal.

Bryant - I agree. We need to do our best to get along with everybody. There is one realtor that I had a horrible experience with. She was so difficult, but I kept smoothing things over so that we could get to closing.

Thankfully, we made it to closing. I wouldn't relish working with her again, but if I had to, I would... :)

That is exactly why you need to be nice and cordial in dealing with your fellow colleagues. Especially ones that have been around a while. Odds are you will end up dealing with them again in a few months or years. In an ideal world, Realtors would sell each others listings based on the merits of the property and not the personality of the people. But in reality espeically when there is so much selection, Realtors will skip other agents listings if the commission is low or if it is someone they don't like.

Hi BB,

YES!! Oh my, yes, I have worked with that unprofessional Agent. I did as you suggested and, wouldn't you know it, she has become a valuable asset.

Fodder does happen, but low and behold, it can be a helpful positive if we maintain our professionalism.

Good post!

Dealing with incompetent agents seems to happen way too often. But I will say that by taking charge of the situation and getting it to the closing table with or without the help of the other agent, I have had several agents (both competent and incompetent) say that they enjoyed the transaction with me because it was so smooth and I was responsive and timely with seller or buyer responses. Several of those agents have told me after the fact that they can't wait to sell another one of my listings because the process was so easy. If it means that it'll bring me a sale in the future, then kudos!

If we sideswipe an incompetent Realtor because of personal reasons or even professional reasons we are putting ourselves in front of the client's best interests. The smartest thing we can do is stay on top of the situation and do our due diligence and keep a watchful eye out for the things that make that particular agent INCOMPETENT.

We if don't, there are plenty of newbies that will not know about the incompetence and will still bring buyers and sellers together, even in shaky times, because they are hungry.

I really don't worry about, or care about the other agents, good or bad....I only care about the protection of my CLIENT. That's my job!

Great post! We all have those certain Realtors we sure don't want to have to work with but we do because it is the right things to do.

Amen, brother. Amen. :-)

I wasn't familiar with Dr. Joy Browne, or her "be stupid and cheerful" advice ... so I googled her name and the phrase, and after a little digging came up with a list of podcasts

http://wor710.com/pages/48782.php

I have some friends who would probably object to the "be stupid" part, so maybe I'd make that "be cheerful and shut the f*** up" :-)

Excellent, excellent advice! Although many times the client doesn't know what a jerk their agent is or how little he actually knows about what he is doing, I think that usually both sides are grateful for a calming, professional person to see that things get done. Maybe it's because I'm a woman and well past my tennybopper years, but I can often soften up a jerky guy by the way I handle him - always polite and kind, but firm. Not always, but often enough to keep it up.

I would NEVER not show a property because of my disdain for the listing agent. However, I HAVE made sure that listings of certain agents who have treated me well get on my showing schedule. What goes around comes around.

I am surprised this post has not been featured yet. So well said Broker Bryant. Have a few of those Realtors in our area that have the whole Real Estate community complaining about them. Some of these Realtors just do REOs and are extremely unprofessional in how they treat the clients and other fellow Realtor. However, with the demand and interest of home buyers in REOs I just have to smile and get along through the transaction.

My mama always taught me to "kill em' with kindness". I'll admit, sometimes that's hard when you feel the agent is being irrational. I agree with you though, let the seller sell & let the buyer buy, don't burn your bridges you might have another transaction w/that particular agent. Big Bucks? :). Kristin

Bryant, great post! I think the most important thing that we have to do is keep our client's best interests in mind regardless of what we think of the other Realtor. Thanks for the reminder!

I agree its all about the buyers and sellers, If my buyer wants that house, you bet I show it to them, in as good a light as I can.....and in the back of my mind I tell myself.. I will get them to the closing table in spite of Realtor XYZ. So then I smile and gulp and off we go. Clients do figure out when a transaction is difficult, just keep them positive about the whole deal and I tell them we will get thru this and you will have the house you want. Which is my job.... to find them a home they want.. at a price they can pay .. regardless of what Realtor has it listed. Plus I will have a check to take to the bank.

This is a very interesting topic. It not only applies to Real Estate, but also applies to almost everyday life. Kris, I like "Be cheerful and stupid". I will keep it in the bottom of my heart. I have to admit I am a little bit snobish.

The situation that you're talking about is very common. Some agents do the very least possible, put in NO effort and expect compensation! Just list it or show it and let the transaction fly on its own.

True character is revealed when things get difficult- when everything runs smoothly- everyone is a hero.

There are always a few bad apples. all you can do is rise above them and stay on the high road and do the best thing for your client. Have a great weekend and try to stay dry!

Betina

I so agree with your attitude and there are a few agents whose listings I may initially hesitate showing. I realize however that if the home fits for my buyer I HAVE to show it to my clients. At this point in my career I just figure that I will respond in whatevermanner is need to get the job done while letting my clients know of any issues BEFORE we make an offer! We are in the transaction together and sometimes disclosure also involves details about the agent on the other side!

BB,

So freekin true...and so freekin tempting not to...the sellers and buyers only care about us making their transaction successful and don't want to get caught up in our drama with personality conflicts...the only thing that you could advise the client is if they are interested in the property it might be a more difficult deal because of the other agent but I won't even go there unless they want to know it seems difficult...as long as they are aware that I'm willing but the other agent is not cooperating.

I can relate to this post Broker Bryant. Just thinking about it brings back unpleasant memories.

Cheryl, too funny. A lot of people don't know when to just shut up already.

I think we all have at least a few in our own markets. I work with them but warn the clients first. My clients needs and feelings ALWAYS come first!

Bryant, I've felt this way about a few agents in my marketplace, but would never refuse to show a listing if it was one that my client wanted to see or was the right home for my buyer. Believe it or not, there's one agent in my market -- my wife and I had a role in getting him arrested a few years ago -- and I still showed his listing earlier this year (and actually submitted a contract, although it didn't get accepted). I spoke with him on the phone during that period, but don't think he remembered me!

I'm 100% in agreement with you. We have a fiduciary responsibility to represent our clients and work in their best interests even if it means showing them a house listed by a Realtor we don't necessarily like or get along with. It should be the same for us if we are a listing agent too. I've heard of stories where listing agents advised their seller to choose one offer over another because one buyer's agent was much easier to deal with than the other. What if that other offer was better? Regardless of who we work with, we are all professionals. We don't have to like eachother, but we do have to work together. When it's all said and done it's about the client not us.

I have a couple of realtors that would be on my list if I didn't feel the way you did. I was considering it once right after I got burned about something and said something to our office manager and it just became a passing thought which I did not follow (because of my buyer). However, your post had me realize that I would be penalizing the seller as we..

Broker Bryant, How do you feel about showing houses of certain builders you are not confident in his building practice or negotiating tactics? I agree with your thoughts on dealing with Realtors you would prefer not to work with but I think builders are another subject.

BB- I can't even begin to tell you how many times I cringe when I hear some agents are showing my listing...Almost praying they won't submit an offer. But you are right. We are here for the buyer/seller and need to put our differenced with an agent aside to service our clients needs!

Over the years, I've had to take over with buyers when the agent couldn't make any progress with the listing agent. Agents often only work with "nice" listing agents. News Flash! Not everyone is nice and surely not everyone is a nice as Lenn, as we all know. I can't get by on my looks any more either, like some others.

You're right. Sometimes you just have to use a different approach.

I do draw the line if the other agent becomes abusive/nasty/doesn't respond.

I have ways.

BB,

Yep our job is to do absolutely the best for our client. Sometimes the best home for their needs is listed by someone that I wouldn't care to ever talk to again. But the client comes first.

There is one local agent that I caught in several lies in a prior transaction. It is also my duty to let the current client know about the past actions of the agent and to make sure my current client is protected. Once I explained the lack of ethics of the agent, the client has decided to "pass on this house".

So it all works out .... as the amazing Lenn says ... I have ways.

List and Sell (and stay on the ethical agent list) Gary @ RentonHomeFinder

I just had a deal with an agent that, before the offer was accepted, absolutely drove me crazy. I really didn't expect her buyers to perform based upon all of the initial drama but it ended up to close very smoothly...you just never know!

BB - I would hate to see that a Realtor(r) get slapped with an ethics complaint just because they did not want to show the other's Realtor's(r) listing.

Please give by best to TLW and tell her I'm thinking and praying for her every day. I really do miss her "CRAP"

I will freely admit I have felt this way about another agent who actually screamed at me and called me awful names, but I know what my fiduciary responsibility is to my clients and did not follow through on the thought. Agents of that caliber reap what they sow and end up having the agents who do not care about their fiduciary responsibility to their clients avoid their listings. Hence they find themselves with an inventory of listings and not many buyers. I have found that agents who are rude and mean to other agents, generally think it's everybody else who is rude and plainly can't see themselves in the mirror.

Your advice to muddle through and obtain the home that best meets your clients needs is right on target.

It is amazing that some of the local agents make it so difficult to put together a transaction and they do it with a smile and you wonder how they stay in business. You're right we need to be the one that helps the buyer and seller and to do that we need to do the deal and make it as smooth as possible for your clients.

Hi BB,

Just came back to check on TLW. Any good news to report? We're all praying.

That said, There are a handful of agents in my market that are completely unethical and I explain to my clients that we really don't want to get tangled up with these folks. However, I bite my lip and live through it if I have to w/the buyer beware.

SEP

2008

BB = Another great post. There are some agents who not matter what we do no amount of professionalism will every rub off on them. I understand what you are saying though. Pretend to the end and keep it together - for the sake of the client.

Although I may to strangle the other agent I must remember it is not about me, it is about my client and their wants, needs and desires!!

Don - brings up a great point - its about the client . if the realtor is standing in the way, bypass directly to the agents broker to get a deal done smoothly - dont cut of your nose to spite your face

This is going to sound really mean but the list agents I worked with when I got licensed (2005) are different from the list agents today (2008) because of REO.

The list agents from then were DOWN RIGHT MEAN because they could be. Today they are just buried with work so I let it slide.

I have run into situations where I would write offers for list agents of today for different buyers & properties and not hesitated. Never had to run into a situation where I had to potentially work with the same agent prior to us becoming REO hell.

Can't tell you how I would react but I probably wouldn't like it secretly and just hold my nose and try to catch more flies with honey.

Yikes!! What does that say for our industry when we can ALL relate to this post? I'm hoping that many of the less competent will be gone from the business as things get more and more difficult. Nature has a funny way of working like that:)

Ok Cheryl Johnson's comment cracked me up!!!!

I hope everyone had an awesome weekend!!!

This is exactly what I teach my children...don't lower yourself to the other person's level. We are not responsible for what another person does...but we are responsible for our own actions. I can't say that I've not been tempted to write off another agent...but like you said...that would be punishing an innocent buyer or seller...AND compromising my own integrity. GBU!

I get downright religious showing some agents' listings, praying that my buyers hate the house. But if they love the place, what do you do? Suck it up! It's why we make the big bucks.

Bryant,

Thanks for the post. Been there and felt your pain. However, with time, you move on and should you have the opportunity to work with the agent again, you're better prepared.

SEP

2008

If the house fits..it doesn't matter who listed it. At least to me. What does matter is my customer.

SEP

2008

The agent listing a home would never come into the decision making process for me. It is always about the client.

Great post ! So true !!! I often hear "I will never show another property listing from that agent" or even some offices too ! But at the end of the day, it comes down to servicing the buyers and sellers. Is good to plan ahead though : )

Bryant,

The one sure statement you make that rings true is "One thing is for sure, the problems and issues we have, with unprofessional REALTORS(R), will always be a part of our business."

If you're a consumer you best surround yourself with capable professionals!

Thanks, Fran

SEP

2008

Hello Bryant,

I have definitely had this experience. I took the same road you take, just be the bigger (and more professional) person and make the transaction work if that is what your buyer or seller wants.

I did learn a trick with my experience though. The agent I didn't want to work with has an assistant, so I just call the assistant if I ever need anything. I've found it gets done a lot faster and easier that way.

Talk to you soon!

SEP

2008

Of course we show their listings. The bad agents that are in this business will have their own Karma to deal with, it may take some time but it does happen. We show our clients any home that they want and of course just hope that the poopy agent plays nice if one of the listings is theirs.

SEP

2008

There is one particular Realtor whose listings I prefer NOT to show. She wants to get both sides and if she doesn't and you sell one side, prepare to get CUSSED out at every contact. Personally, it's not worth it. Fortunately, there are enough homes on the market that I can usually meet my client's needs without having to show hers. However, if the client requests or this Realtor's listing is too perfect for my client to pass up, only then will I show it.

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