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** BUYERS: Do you really want the property? Then BE NICE TO your Agents. Read to find out WHY.

By
Real Estate Agent with Century 21

Here is a story from an agent friend of mine. Difficult buyers are hard to work with and can be a drain on your time. If you're prospecting enough, there is alot of business out there so don't settle for less than the best you can. Consequently, you can be choosy on who you want to work with.

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On one transaction where my friend, John, was working on where he was the listing agent, a buyer named Betty called to inquire about it. At first Betty was quite pleasant. She then proceed to inform John that she does not like to work with buyer's agent because sometimes it could mean the difference between winning or losing the offer on a property. She goes directly to the listing agent to get the deal closed. Therefore, she does not work with just one agent.

After looking at the property, Betty decided to make an offer. Agent John drafted it up and present it to the sellers. The following day, Betty emailed the listing agent telling him that there is only one day left or else she would revoke her offer. She needs an answer immediately. Meanwhile, the seller and Agent John was working to write up the counter. John emailed the counter to the buyer and left her a voicemail. The price offered was somewhat low but the sellers decided to accept it if property is sold "as is" with no repairs or credit given.

Well, upon receiving the offer later that night, she called and left a message to John saying that she will not proceed with the offer if that is the conditions. She emailed John and said that if that is the case, she now revoke the offer and it is no longer valid. Mind you, this buyer is not an attorney but pretending to be a wanabe ESQ. according to John.

At this point, John, who has a knack for being patience, decided that he would no longer help Betty out. He proceeded to find another buyer to work with to purchase the house. His reason is that Betty is being difficult upfront and that could be a sign of problems down the line, either during or after close of escrow. She is not being grateful and has an arrogance about her and as a result it was a turn off for him. He only works with clients he choose to work with. Grouchy clients waste his energy and his time is too precious that he cannot afford to be with them.

Therefore, the moral of the story is..... BUYERS, be nice to your agent if you want the house. Don't pretend you know it all because you will not win the battle.

Does anyone else out there has a "Betty" in their real estate deals in the past? How have you reacted to them?

 

 

 

Show All Comments Sort:
Aaron Barnes
Barnes Real Estate Brokerage - Destin, FL

I have told clients to @#$&$ off before,  Just to have them drop the attitude and act right.  Somtimes manning up is all it takes...  But then again I own my own brokerage firm.... So I can do that.

Jul 04, 2008 08:43 PM
Ray Henderson
Weichert Realtors' Northeast Group - Saratoga Springs, NY

A lot of it is also the attitude of the agent. A real estate agent has to learn how to deal with all types of people. I agree some may be difficult. I personally have never had to drop a buyer even though they can get a little testy sometimes. Patience is a virtue.

Jul 04, 2008 10:13 PM
Kevin Corsa
H.I.S. Home Inspections (Summit, Stark Counties) - Canton, OH
H.I.S. Home Inspections, Stark & Summit County, OH Home Inspector

We all have to put up with things we don't like about clients. I'm not sure i agree with just dropping ones offer because you don't like them. There are many other ways to handle such situations.

Jul 04, 2008 11:08 PM
Valerie Spicer
Spicer & Associates Inc. Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer & Genesee - Oxford, MI
Broker/Owner, Realtor, Horse Farm Specialist, Michigan

I just went throught this same senerio this past week.  I presented an offer after working weeks to find the property, just to have one of the buyer's family members squash the deal because they thought they were an inspector.  My buyer decided that he didn't want to work with me any more.  I wrote him a nice, professional letter stating that I would not release him from the Buyer Agency Contract.  He will need to wait until it expires to proceed with his house hunting. 

Great post.  It makes me feel better that I wasn't the only person going through this. Have a great holiday weekend.

Valerie from Berkley MI

Jul 05, 2008 01:33 AM
Lisa Lambert
The Law Offices of Elisabeth A. Lambert - Fresno, CA
Esq. 1031 Exchange Expert

Jim:

I am all for carefully selecting your clients.

The clients who think they understand how the law works and extrapolate their obligations from their limited viewpoint are at minimum a pain to work with and at the maximum a strong liaibility for litigation down the road.

I'd like to refresh everyone's knowledge about agency law (typically determined by state law but there are common principles that cross state lines). When a buyer's agent accepts a buyer as a client they owe that buyer the fiduciary duty of loyalty meaning that can't represent two different buyers who are trying to acquire the same property without disclosing that fact to both buyers and maybe obtaining a signed waiver and release of their fiduciary duty (please check all of this information with your broker or individual counsel because state law differs from state to state).

I hope Agent John covered himself when he released (fired) Betty as his client. The fact that she revoked the offer did not revoke his fiduciary duty of loyalty to her as her agent.

I hope he sent her a letter indicating that he can no longer represent her as her agent. The fact that he is representing another buyer on the purchase of the same property could create problems for him with Betty if she chose to create them and he did not officially (in writing) withdraw his representation (especially since she appears to enjoy interpreting the law for herself and has the makings of a troublemaker).

In my opinion, more real estate agents are going to have problems because of a broad misunderstanding regarding their legal obligations and fiduciary duties as agents.

The main point I'm driving home, is that Real Estate Agents need to cover their butts when dealing with these troublesome clients.

Lisa

 

Jul 07, 2008 07:29 AM
Jim Quinn
Century 21 - Anaheim, CA
North Orange County Real Estate

Barnes RE, I like that attitude! Wow.

Ray, it's true that we need to learn to deal with difficult people but sometimes they are not worth dealing.

Kevin, someone who pretends that they know the laws is a sign of problems. Agent John stay clear of it and I myself would do the same and send them to agents who are desperate for business. Sometimes it is better to just say ‘no'.

Valerie, sorry to hear that you had the same experience. It is sometimes best to move on.

Lisa, nicely put and well said. Great advice.

Jul 08, 2008 06:28 PM