Agents Need To Live With Tug Of Wars Without Freaking Out

Well for heavens sake, I guess that people should realize this BEFORE entering the business although to be honest, I was rather surprised myself but have F I N A L L Y gotten over it! thanks and have a great weekend!

Good evening Gary,

Patience..patience..is needed in negotiations. It's best to keep the volley going but at the pace appropriate for a particular seller and buyer. Each one is different and it will happen if both parties feel it should! It does feel like a tug of war at times but proceeding fairly and honestly it will come together if it's meant to be!

I think we are going to see more agents partake in the tug of war because principals from both sides are starting to ask for some of the principle. What was agreed to be paid in a listing agreement is now just another piece of the action. Not many people in the working world are asked to do a good job, then they do a good job, and then they are asked to take less pay next time, or even this time...just to make it work.

Gary, ow true. Andd though so many would agree with you, not so many wold notice it when it happens.

Take AR, how many times we read here when an agent would throw something like "I will not do this" or I will never do that" completely forgetting that it is not their money and it is not their property, and if they are hired by a Principal, sometimes it is not a bad idea to think about the deal from the point of view of the Pricncipal.

But this is a bit a side note

Gary, transactions can be so much smoother at times, if the agent(s) would NOT let their emotions and personal feelings get involved.

Sometimes the agent feels the necessity to "do their job" by negotiating. Sometimes it's not that necessary, they can just get in the way!

Gary:  It's a shame when Realtors get personally invested in the outcomes of their client's transactions.

I'm always calm but I really hate it when a client starts asking for something truly unreasonable and wants me to fight with the other agent for it. Not gonna happen. I know I might have to work with that same agent again further down the road on other deals.

Hi Gary, I always seem to work well with my counterparts. Perhaps I have been just lucky to get such great professionals on the other side of the transactions I am invloved with. For one thing, I respect them and secondly, no one knows everything and if we help each other with our strengths, our clients win. We are here to serve our cleints best interests and help them through the process. Our egos big or small should never be in the way of giving them clear and proper information so they can each make their our best decisions.

Gary, a timely post! I am playing tug of war as we speak....you are so right...we have to make sure we are always putting our clients needs first...

Hi Gary -- Exceptional advice and perspective.  I was told on day 1: never emotionally invest in a transaction and be tied to the outcome for whatever reasons (financial, statistics, etc).  Do what is in the best interest in the client, both objectively and professionally, and if you do that, everything will take care of itself.  Every once in a while, things simply don't work, or may never work with a given client, and that is also a part of this business.

One thing is for sure, it feels more and more like tug-of-war than doing business.

Gary-well said.  It is ultimately up to the buyers and sellers, not us.  Transactions should be based on the clients needs, not ours.  I think urgency has been blown out of perspective.  It seems like instant gratification and the "right now" mentality has tried to take over.  Technology is awesome, and having so much access to information and to people has caused a lot of "right now", "instant" ways of doing things. Sometimes, time has a way of working things out, if we can slow down sometimes, I think it would help. 

Gary, I have turned down several agents this year that wanted to join my firm because of the antics they portray.  When an agent stops looking out for a clients interests...That agent has lost their edge.

There is nothing worse than the realtor getting involved in the antics between the buyer and the seller.  Agents and brokers are facilitators to get their client what they want in the contract.  Nothing more, nothing less.

I think "starting" the transaction off with the other Realtor on good terms goes a long way.  I have seen inspection and appraisal issues really strain the relationship, but starting off on good terms has helped get the transaction to the closing table.  Being responsive, getting the information quickly, turning around FHA Mandatory clauses, bids, etc all help to get everyone level headed for sure.

Cindy in Indy

We have all played this game.  I agree that there are some deals that are just not meant to be and everyone has to walk away.