Don't be an EGO Agent

Of all the things in this world I disdain it is arrogance...an egocentric arrogant agent is my biggest challenge!

Make this post members only as the public gets the drift, scent and our image nationally could use some jacking up. Not lowering. There is a reason public opinion is what it is, where we are on the ladder around the used car salesmen. And we don't help ourselves pointing out the good, bad, the ugly every industry has. Work with what you have for agents, brokers and keep it professional. Think closing, no matter how you have to get to one for your buyers, sellers. List, market, sell (repeat).

In 24 years of real estate and over 2000 sales I have never encountered anything as severe as you describe. The law of averages say that there will always be one in a crowd, but from ego perpective I believe there is a bit more subtlety to it. The typical ego problem when it occurs is when someone say, "I have been in this business for 20 years and that is not the way it is done". Often, they are incorrect about their assumption and are not willing to listen to not only me but also their broker and the real estate commission. When we shut down negotiations because it has to be our way then our ego is a problem. FYI, in Oklahoma this is not an inspection requirement and would only be required as an appraisal issue. I would try to work with you about this and it would depend on what my sellers could afford and the original price we negotiated. Alway keep the dialogue going.

Good Morning:  EGO Agent!!  some good and some bad,   keep up the good work and good luck with your business,  E

Wow! I love that you called and let him know that his conduct was unprofessional. I do not suffer fools or anyone who behaves badly. I was at an event recently and ran into an ego agent who had recently treated my new neighbors unethically with their purchase. I didn't care that it was in a social setting - I just told her that I was shocked that she would consuct herself so unprofessionally. She nearly dropped her glass of wine. But I held her gaze and didn't move until she responded to me. I hold everyone in our professional accountable. If we don't insist on better standards with one another, we'll all look like shady car salesman.

 

We seem to have a different sort of ego agent around here, more often the quietly arrogant type, who make me wonder how they got buyers and sellers in the first place. I've been told a variety of things by these "better" agents like: "I don't go to inspections I'm too busy; I don't waste money on photography on homes less than..; I can't meet you while the inspector is there because I'm out shopping; I don't return calls from buyers in a price range below..., etc."  I often wonder what cocktail parties these agents go to in order to get these referrals... as they apparently have time for that.

Ben, we have a couple of those around here that have been in the business forever. You wonder how!

Ben - Wow! This Ego Agent just got served! Thanks for sharing. Whether he was having a bad day or not is no excuse for that behavior.  Great post. We have to just rise above people like this. You did the right thing.  

You handled it well, Ben.  I wonder how I would have handled it?  I don't think it would have been as elegantly as you.

That type of Agent is what the general public sees - and the image gets passed to the rest of us.

More like a case of dual personalities. He had absolutely no reason to flip out on you like that. Ridiculous.

My friend, there go I but for the grace of God..Is that what I looked like and sounded are often my thoughts...Whoa

Ben, 

Love how you handled this and addressed the bad behavior.  It's a shame you had to do it, but folks need to be reasonably called on it.  We all have our less than stellar moments, but we need to avoid this as much as possible.

All the best, Michelle

I have always felt that being respectful and understanding can be a WIN-WIN for everyone.  The agents who push too hard thinking they are doing the best thing for their clients only serve to alienate the other side and make them want to be less cooperative.  Seems like basic negotiation 101 to me.

We probably all have a touch of the Ego agent in us when we get a bit of a curve thrown at us. I get my back up with some of the low ball offers, but after a cool down period, try to respond professionally

That shows good character for you to reach back out to that A-hole and glad it worked out for you and your client. I would have been hard pressed not to turn him in for not even allowing his seller to see the counter and the way he acted WOW

Great that he apologized to you as you definitely didn't need to be treated that way in the first place. Even if he was having a bad day, there is no need to speak to someone like that and in an unprofessional manner.  If he was in any other industry or a corporate world and spoke to a peer that way, he'd get an immediate speaking too from HR.  Glad you atleast handled it professionally and it's a good reminder to everyone that we should always speak to others as we would want to be spoke to! Thanks! 

That listing agent may have been venting about something that had nothing to do with you. He could have had an argument with his spouse or boss that morning. However, at least he apologized later when you called him on it. Unfortunately, some agents never apologize for anything.

I had to deal with a big ego and very hard working and successful agent in the Springs years ago.

I had heard stories of how he could be shall we say... vocally suggestive.

At our inspection we found some major issues.  I took clear color 8 1/2 x 11 photographs and attached to the Buyers Inspection Addendum. 

When I met with him, for about 30 seconds his chest puffed out and he was getting ready to be defensive...and then he flipped to the photos...flipped back to the Addendum and said something to the effect of "I will have this signed by this evening."

The photos saved the day!!

I think you handled that situation quite well and didn't try fan the flames. I agree with what many other posters have said that acting as a professional is better than acting as a jerk.