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Can you be fired?

By
Real Estate Agent with Atlanta Communities 303302

Did you know that agents can "Fire" a client? Does this sound like a preposterous thing for an agent looking to make money in Real Estate to do? Well, it happens. We as agents try our best to get along with every client. We will jump through hoops to make sure our clients are well taken care of through the sometimes intense process of home buying and selling. But there are times when we call a time out, and sometimes have to part ways.

I would guess that 99% of the people we work with are amazing people. They appreciate the help we as agents provide, and are usually well pleased with the results. There are others though that create havoc in the process. We have had sellers scream at us for being 5 minutes early to an appointment. We did not fire this seller even though it was a close call. Instead we sold their home quickly and efficiently for them despite their childish behavior.

We recently had a buyer that was looking for a home over a wide geographic area. As they found a home they liked, they would ignore our council and low ball the offer. When the seller responds with a counter, the buyer walked away to go look some more. After a month of this, and blaming us for the issues they were having, we firmly but politely fired the couple. Maybe some other poor agent will be able to help them. When clients don't listen to us it wastes all our time.

We run a real estate business and offer a high degree of service to our clients. If the clients become abusive towards us or will not listen to our council as sometimes happens, the process becomes quite a mess. If the client will not help us help them, we find that it will usually end badly for all involved, so we will generally be the first to suggest we part ways.

If you are thinking about using a Real Estate agent to help you buy or sell a home, please enter into the process with an open mind and listen to the agent you hire. You hired them supposedly for their knowledge of the market. If you will not let them do their job, you will be wasting their time and yours. Otherwise you may find that the agent will after trying to help you, fire you instead.

Posted by

Peter den Boer, Associate Broker, Realtor

Atlanta Communities Real estate Brokerage

 

Ph. 770.713.1545

www.denboerhomes.com

 

I write about daily life as a Realtor in the Towne Lake Community in Woodstock Georgia.

Comments(8)

Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Fired sounds like someone was caught with fingers in the till, doing something unethical. The expectations of the buyer, seller may not be realistic. It may not be a good match where no party is bad, wrong. Neutral but just not the right combination, compatibility. No right or wrong. Just avoiding nashing teeth and finger nails across a blackboard sensory in your gut to struggle with. Don't and set limits, boundaries. Be proactive, not reactive. Steer them along.

Mar 12, 2013 10:50 PM
Carol Zingone
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Network Realty - Jacksonville Beach, FL
Global Realtor in Jax Beach, FL - ABR, CRS, CIPS
I have not yet fired a client, but have come very close; it's a waste of time to continue to make low ball offers, especially in this market.
Mar 12, 2013 10:54 PM
Peter den Boer
Atlanta Communities - Woodstock, GA
MBA,GRI, Associate Broker, Realtor

Andrew - We do as much as we can for a client, but will, not take abuse. Life is just too short for that kind of thing.

Carol - Agreed. We don't do this often, but when we need to, we do.

Mar 12, 2013 10:57 PM
BILL CHERRY
Bill Cherry, Realtor - Dallas, TX
Broker & Wealth Coach
By some good fortune I always seemed to have enough business to not fall to the temptation of keeping a client whose practices, for whatever the reason(s) did agree with mine. That was good, too, because I can't tell you how many I dumped over the years. One begged me to represent him as he was accumulating a lot of commercial real estate. He didn't pass my smell test, so I turned him down. Within a year, he was convicted of one of the largest title fraud perpetrators ever.
Mar 12, 2013 10:58 PM
Peter den Boer
Atlanta Communities - Woodstock, GA
MBA,GRI, Associate Broker, Realtor

Bill - OMG! Thank goodness for your good sense of smell!

Mar 12, 2013 11:03 PM
Scott Larson
BHHS/Utah Properties - Park City, UT
Park City, Utah Real Estate News

Peter-Life is too short for that type of thing.  I haven't been doing this long enough that I have had to fire anyone yet, hopefully it will be a while, but frustrations at times, sure.  Good points overall.

Mar 12, 2013 11:08 PM
Rob D. Shepherd
RETIRED - Florence, OR
RETIRED

I have fired a few because they would not listen. My advice is part of what they hired me for.

Mar 13, 2013 12:19 AM
Sharon Miller
RE/MAX Platinum - Crane Hill, AL

Peter,

Selling second and vacation lake home property exclusivly, I run into "high maintenance" clients and customers with regularity. I pay particular attention to the mannerisms, actions and comments of both buyer's and seller's during our initial conversation. I learned long ago that you have to deal with people, some of which, whose behavior resembles that of a hungry pit bull. In short, I give them the benefit of the doubt, if after our initial meeting they continue to exhibit obnoxious behavior, make rude comments or display abrasiveness towards others, guess what, my schedule becomes too busy to accomondate them. Purchasing or selling a second home is a big deal to most people, as such, some individuals subconsiously put on airs during the "feeling out" process. Once we begin the process in earnest, time is too valuable to waste on individual's who I would categorize as "habitual offenders". Let somebody else waste their time.... 

Mar 13, 2013 12:35 AM