As a buyer or seller, it’s not your job to make your agent happy. It’s the other way around (mostly). Fortunately for agents, making buyers and sellers happy usually makes agents happy. It’s a win-win!
But there are those days. I think most agents have them. Sometime’s it’s just life.
This is a guide to help buyers and sellers know ahead of time, that if you are finding yourself saying any of the following to a licensed real estate agent, you are probably ruining their day.
“We just signed a contract with [insert builder’s name here]!”
If this is news to your agent, presumably they were not with you during the signing of the aforementioned contract with the aforementioned builder. Every time a buyer signs with a builder without a real estate agent, there is a Realtor somewhere that falls down dead. Or at least, has their day ruined.
Why? Not using a Realtor as a buyer makes no sense. Rightly or wrongly, the builder pays your agent’s entire commission. Forgoing a Realtor does not save you money, though the builder is sure to be thanking you behind your back. Builders are usually happy working with Realtors, because Realtors bring them buyers and can help manage the process on the buyer’s end. But I don’t imagine they’re too disappointed either when a buyer declines representation.
“I just bought a car!”
That’s awesome! I hope it was a Winnebago! Because fat chance you’re still buying a house!
Your credit and finances are very sensitive when getting ready to buy a home. Major purchases like furniture, cars, or ANYTHING is the perfect plan for those looking to derail their home transaction.
“I want the seller to fix everything in the inspection report.”
Really? You would tank a deal because breaker box panel is missing a fastener, there’s a rusty dishwasher tray, or there is a hairline crack in the driveway? Okey dokey! We will do what you say. But just know, you ruined our day (and now we are neurotically anxious about the odds of ever closing).
“Can you reduce your commission.”
Day. Ruined.
Can you think of any other profession – ANY AT ALL – where you are routinely asked to take a pay cut by your customers? I don’t think even car salesmen have to put up with it.
Such is the life of a real estate agent.
“My [insert relative] says that we are overpaying.”
I think most agents have experienced when a client’s family member swoops in from nowhere and suddenly decide they can do better than the agent. It’s especially astounding when the family member lives in Oakland. Or Canada. Round Rock, TX and Killeen, TX aren’t even the same markets, let alone Texas and Saskatchewan. Agents love their clients, and by extension, their family members. But sometimes even loved ones can ruin a day.
“We can’t show the home to buyers today because….”
“…because we don’t actually want to sell it”. That is all your agent is going to hear after the “because”. Birthday parties, moving out, house is a mess, family visiting, whatever. When you decline to show your home even once, your agent probably just crossed your house off of their “Closings I Am Looking Forward To” list. (And yes, agents do make those lists). And needless to say, that is a day ruin-er.
“Thanks for the presentation, but we’re going to see what we can get selling it ourselves.”
Totally cool. I get it. Sometimes it works out!
But…
Day = Ruined x 1010.
(Usually after 20 or 30 homes) “Can we just see X more next week?”
There’s only so many homes on the market, unfortunately. And if your agent has shown you even just a few, chances are they have a good idea of what you’re looking for and can narrow it down to the best options. Like, top 10.
If it ain’t there, it ain’t there, and that’s cool.
But you can be sure if you are past the 20-30 homes mark (most buyers look at 10), trust me, hearing that you want to see more is going to ruin your agent’s day.
“But the Zestimate is…”
Usually anything that follows those words are day-ruining. Unless maybe it is one of the following:
“… a joke.”
“…useless in a non-disclosure State”.
“…based on equally useless tax assessments.”
In which case, you are wise beyond your years!
“I know we’re already under contract, but I saw this other house that…”
That is like telling your fiancée “Look, I know I already proposed and we’ve booked the venue, but I saw this other girl that…”. Maybe it is a conversation that needs to be had. But don’t expect it to be a fun one. Maybe even a day ruining one.
And I don’t want to be too negative, so I thought I’d finish with something agents love to hear: