Who doesn’t complain about the real estate industry and all the crap we have to deal with on a daily basis? But today is not one of those days, today is a day to look around and realize that there are professionals out there that make our business a good one. People that go out of their way to do their job right and to be pleasant.We are dealing with 3 Realtors right now with 3 different transactions that are a real pleasure to work with. We have never worked with them before because our markets have never crossed, but you better believe we will refer business their way!
You know those transactions where the cooperating agent is unaccommodating and makes things so difficult you want to pull your hair out! From making it impossible to schedule inspections and appraisals, not providing documentation, not returning phone calls, never meeting deadlines…….the list is endless. Not this time – 3 different agents on top of their business, ready like we are and always thankful that we have the same business ethic.
One particular guy tells me, “Ines, you are Terrific!”, every time I speak to him – talk about making my day!
So my question is this – Do you think The Real Estate Industry is better now? Do you think that the down market has eliminated the lazy real estate agent that wanted easy money? Has there really been a clean-out process in our industry where the weaker real estate agent has had to leave the industry?
Of course there are plenty of apathetic ones left, but I’m encountering great people around me and it feels great!
(and on a side note: don’t forget to compliment people that do their job well)
Ines
March 11, 2008 at 9:10 pm
ooops! can I say CRAP?
Mariana
March 11, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I am noticing that people are nicer. No longer are real estate agent EGOS getting in the middle of a transaction. I like the “thinning of hte herd” and I am also having great experiences.
Kristal Kraft
March 11, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Ines, Actually “crap” is a word that has a copyright on it by Carnac of Connecticut. Seeing how you are using it, I think she might allow it.
You are so right about complimenting folks when they are a pleasure to deal with. It certainly makes for a smoother transaction when you have cooperation.
I’ve had both. I can tell you when an agent give me a parcel of aggravation, I go out of my way to not cross their path again. Considering what a small world we live in, that could be bad for business…their business that is.
Should I care?
Ines
March 11, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Mariana – maybe there will be a day in the future where all will smell like roses and we will all get along……with no regrets and great smiles and of course, a mojito in hand! 🙂
Kristal – Of course that’s a Carnac word!! What was I thinking?
I also go out of my way to avoid the aggravating agent, sad but true, and to think there are still many of them.
Larry Yatkowsky
March 11, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Ines “Did I heard C word!”
up here we still have many with a dangerous comprehension of English. I spend more time helping them correct their agreements only because I don’t want to be sued. It’s painful but yah gotta do what yah gotta do.
Strange part is the Seller’s never figure out the extra effort that you put out to make the deal work for them. A ‘thanks’ or an ‘attaboy’ would be nice. The commish isn’t everything. Like any good dog I like to get a warm fuzzy too.
Toby Boyce
March 11, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Now, I wasn’t in the business during the “good times” so I don’t know how things used to be. But in 18 months, here is what I’ve figured out. Giving some nice compliments early, getting a “nice repoire’ with all the people involved make for a much nicer deal.
My problem is with agents that will still think of affiliates as second-class citizens. We are all people, stop being jerks.
Sarah Cooper
March 12, 2008 at 4:00 am
Ines, have I told you lately that you make my day? 🙂
Blue Ridge Georgia Land For Sale
March 12, 2008 at 5:24 am
I saw a blog one day that all the realtors in a town got together and decided to get these foreclosed homes sold they all came together as one and went to tour the homes together and made notes and they all got busy trying to get them off the market. They all said they came from this experience not feeling that they were the competition and enjoy the process to get it done. Sometime good things come from bad. They also got to know each other capabilities and style and will work together in future better.
Mack in Atlanta
March 12, 2008 at 5:55 am
You are talking about the lost art form of negotiating. We have all had the experience of being in a transaction with an agent that thought they needed to be adversarial. Guess what, you really don’t need to be. Protect your client but don’t be a jerk in doing it.
I heard a story recently about an agent that was negotiating an inspection and the buyer was asking for the gutters on the home to be cleaned. The seller was opposed to it. Once the selling agent explained that the buyers son had fallen off a roof while cleaning gutters the seller could see things from the buyers eyes and was OK with getting the gutters cleaned. This may be over simplified but having pleasant conversation with the coop agent can help in getting your view seen.
toby & sadie
March 12, 2008 at 6:40 am
life is so much better when you smile and leave the ego at home. I love allowing the ego agent to giive me what I want – thinking they ‘won’.
Greg Cremia
March 12, 2008 at 7:46 am
I wish the market was cleaning up the agent pool but it isn’t around here. We just did a deal with a part time egomaniac that had to arrange all the inspections so she could be there for her seller. She didn’t show up for anything and complicated everything to the point where the appraiser had to make 4 trips to the house to get in. It cost her sellers $20,000 in a low appraisal. It does pay to be nice.
Toronto realtor
March 12, 2008 at 8:17 am
Ines you are very negative about real estate agents and the whole industry. I’ve been working in this business for more than 6 years and I can tell you that competition between agents is very tough nowadays. I can’t even take a week off because of the rush in our office. It could easily happen that one of my colleges will take my position as soon as such a possibility appears. Now I am working hard on adding different kinds of applications which could offer better comfort and clear information to all people who are somehow involved in the business.(calculators etc.) You can check what I’ve done if you visit my real estate Toronto webpage.
Ines
March 12, 2008 at 9:06 am
Good feedback everyone – thanks!
Larry – we have the language issue here as well with Spanish-speaking agents, but our board has now come up with contracts in Spanish, not bad huh? We translate for our customers that don’t speak English, I’m still waiting for that transaction where the contract is supplied in Spanish and the seller objects.
OH……and everyone likes a good scratch behind the ears!
Toby – I’m with you – there is no room for Jerks
Hi Sarah! as a matter of fact you have and thank you!! 🙂
Mack – it’s funny what a little communication can accomplish isn’t it?
Toby – I have a huge ego when it comes to certain things (my kids for example) – but those of us that have the ego, need to learn where to check it in because we end up causing more damage than good.
Now, learning to play with other’s ego…..now THAT’s a game! 😉
Greg – OUCH!! – you may not think it’s cleaning, but it is….just wait a couple more months.
Ines
March 12, 2008 at 10:28 am
Toronto Realtor – did you read the post?? Or are you just plain spamming Agent Genius?
Toronto Realtor
March 12, 2008 at 11:22 am
Hello Ines,
I’m sorry. You came down so hard on agents in the first part of your post that I didn’t realise you came not to bury Caeser but to praise him.
I’m glad you’ve found some realtors you like. That’s what we try to be too!
Suzy
March 12, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I have definitely noticed that people are leaving their egos at the door in favor of actually making money, which is really refreshing.
https://www.allaroundktown.com
Ines
March 12, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Toronto Realtor – I’m glad you came back to actually read – I’m on your side remember, I’m a Realtor myself.
Suzy – and let’s hope it continues! We should have an official “ego check-in area” at every listing.
Ponte Vedra Beach Real Estate
March 15, 2008 at 10:18 am
It is so funny that the agent on the other side can make the transaction seem easy or hard. They should teach how to negotiate while maintaining common professional courtesy in real estate school.
I have had closings where everybody was laughing from the moment they walked in and other closings where the buyers & sellers wouldn’t even be in the same room. Most of this had to do with how the other agent treated and explained the sales process to their clients.
If you create an us vs. them mentality then it will be a rocky purchase. But if you can explain to your cient that they can still get what they want but we just need to phrase it and explain it in terms the other party will understand then it will go a long way towards making the transaction a smoother, more relaxed process.
Ines
March 18, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Ponte Vedra – sorry I missed your comment. I think you have something there – to think that it is as easy as setting the tone for the transaction from the beginning, we would make more of an effort to make those first negotiating tweaks a little smoother.
the “us vs. them” mentality can ruin it from the get go.