Realtors & rattlesnakes
What can real estate agents learn from the pesky, western diamondback rattlesnake? The same lessons agents can learn by staying away from toxic buyers & sellers. First, if in doubt, don't go near their habitats. Second, be on the lookout for their presence. And lastly, listen for their distinctive sounds.
For over three decades I've run in the mountains surrounding Phoenix. On at least a dozen occasions I've come within a few feet of a rattlesnake. On every outing the snake felt me coming before I heard its distinctive rattle. Wisely, I chose to avoid the strike zone of the venomous viper.
There are buyers and sellers that every agent should also avoid. They reside in every country and county. Their poison can be toxic on your time, and sometimes impervious to an errors & omission policy. The can paralyze your sanity, and pollute your stream of referrals.
For example, the other day I visited an expired listing. The exterior of the house had what appeared to be overgrown landscaping. The interior had well-worn, yellow sculptured carpeting. The pad was nonexistent in the main traffic areas. The bedrooms were cluttered. My experience told me this could be a snake pit.
Fortunately, the owner seemed friendly. When I asked why the house didn't sell with the previous agent, I heard the rattling sound. "I don't have to sell & I'm not coming down on my price". The owner ‘hissed' and said she had one low offer and she believed there were other ‘verbal' offers that were never presented.
Snakes can be stubborn, and when confronted can become hostile. This seller knew all the comps, pendings, and active listings in her area. She believed the "feng shui" and "energy" in her home should command a premium price. When a seller tells me their ‘unique selling proposition (USP) is an energy force, it is a signal to leave this ‘twilight zone' before the snakes begin to slither.
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