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Get Down Off Your High Horse And Get Over Yourself

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Killian Properties (Oklahoma & Texas)

I've spent the bulk of my over 27 years in the real estate business, listing/selling in small rural areas which translates to usually having both sides of the transaction.  Occasionally I have to deal with a "big city" agent who thinks they are above the rest because they're some bored rich housewife who got into real estate to grace the rest of us with their presence. 

O.k. I made that last part up as I don't know that's why they started selling real estate but that's how they act. 

I've been dealing with an especially difficult woman who thinks because she's older than me and she has bigger hair than me, then she must be way smarter than I am when it comes to our business and that's how she treats me.  Never mind that she's only been in the real estate business for 4 years............. she's got bigger hair, remember? 

I submitted an offer on one of her listings and she starts telling me all the forms I need to submit.  I KNOW what forms I need to submit.  This isn't my first rodeo, I have you know.  She wanted the buyers net estimate.  I asked why she needed that and she said she didn't, but I needed to get it.  duh.  I knew that and already had given it to the buyer for her review and signature. 

Apparently she thought I was too stupid to handle my client so she took it upon herself to talk to them during a showing and tell them their closing costs would be $XXXX.00.  My buyer turned and looked at me in horror because this estimate was way higher than mine.  I turned to the sellers agent and asked where she came up with those figures and she proceeded to name off expenses such as "origination fee".  Hello?  This is a cash offer with the buyers taking the cash out of their savings account and therefore no mortgage fees will be involved. The agent knew this already since we'd discussed it before.

She then said "well, there will be escrow for taxes and insurance".  Hello again!!  A CASH OFFER!! 

"O.k. but what about tax service fee and underwriting fee and......"   Again......CASH OFFER...I said.   

She ended up making my clients so angry with her superior attitude that they backed out of the transaction the very next day after signing the contract,  which was well within their 10 day option period so they had every right to do so.  The agent called...yes called my client and chewed her up one side and down the other and then called me and did the same.  She was talking very badly about my client and I finally told her that this was the nature of our business and if she couldn't handle it then she should go back to throwing parties for her husband for a living. 

Yes, I said that and yes, it pissed her off but it was her own fault she lost the sale. 

Here's my point.  I don't care if you drive a $100,000.00 car and your shoes cost more than my monthly mortgage, you don't have the right to assume you are smarter, wiser, or better than the rest of us who actually have this down to a science because we do this for a living and have done some way longer than that face lift of yours will hold up.  Got it? 

If you resemble any part of this scenario, I hope you're not the one with the big hair and the big attitude to match.  :)

Posted by

HAPPY TRAILS, Y'ALL.........

 

 

Comments (5)

DEBORAH STONE
Balboa Real Estate San Diego, CA - San Diego, CA

Janie-

I might have reported her to the Ethics Committee at my local Board of Realtors. She was out of line in discussing anything monetary with your Buyers.

Mar 13, 2010 08:12 AM
Malcolm Johnston
Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON
Trenton Real Estate

Janie, you mean that bigger hair doesn't automatically translate into a bigger brain?

 

Mar 13, 2010 08:32 AM
Wendy Cutrufelli
Alain Pinel Realtors - Walnut Creek, CA
Contra Costa Realtor

Janie, I agree with Deborah.  Not only was she waaaay out of line to discuss anything monetary with your buyers, she stepped even further over the line when she called them and chewed them out.  That type of unprofessional behavior should not be allowed to continue or ultimately we all suffer. 

Mar 13, 2010 08:39 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Janie,  These problems started when she was given accesss to the buyer.  Are you going to pursue this unfortunate event ?

Mar 13, 2010 09:21 AM
Janie Killian-Sullivan
Killian Properties (Oklahoma & Texas) - Waxahachie, TX

Unfortunately I'm not a member of the same board she is so I think the complaint would have to come from my buyer and she's had so much drama already that she's not willing to create any additional hardship on herself.  Otherwise, yes I'd be reporting her. 

My client called her broker and complained and he was sympathetic but basically patronized my client and did nothing. 

As for giving her access to my client, it was because the agent showed up at the property after we'd signed contracts and my buyer wanted to walk back through a third time. The agent lives in the same gated community and never let me show this home without showing up.

Mar 13, 2010 10:06 AM