REALTORS DO YOU HAVE AN ATTITUDE????

But there are some realtors that are so arrogant and think they can do anything without worrying about other agents, or the other clients.  Those are the realtors you do not want to deal with.

Very true.  I had two closings this week and both of the buyers agents were super to work with.  Even when we had a few hiccups we worked through them like adults not like petulant children who feel the need to throw a tantrum when things don't go their way.

I got to be honest, in 23 years of listing presentations no one ever asked if I get along with other agents. I have been asked to sell for more, take less commission, etc, but never if I play well with others. In todays market it would be nice to be nice to other agents but some agents lack of professionalism makes it hard to be nice all the time. I think you need to be firm and professional, that is most important.

Hi Mary,

It is so true that when you are nice to other agents the transactions tend to run more smoothly.  And there is no reason we shouldn't be working together.  Attitude plays a big part in how successful you are in this business.

Have a great weekend.

Michael A. Caruso

You are so "right on" with this post.  There is nothing worse than trying to work with an agent who is either incompetent or ornery.  I have done both over the years and it is so nice when you have an agent to work with who works with you instead of against you.  I always wonder if they think they are doing right by their client when they are so hard to get along with.  Isn't the goal the same, isn't the objective to sell the property?  Very few sales go through without a few bumps in the road so cooperation is essential to keep everyone happy and informed.  Hopefully those who fit the descriptions here will take note. 

Russ,

That is true, but if we take the high road, maybe they will change. 

Mary, you're of course right. And yes there are some agents that have terrible attitudes, although since the market has changed it dosen't happen as much. Everyone is pretty much on their best behavior.

Cindy,

I'm so glad you had two closings, that is great.  Yes, we need to act like adults, work through the problems and still be friends when it's over.  I know you are a great Realtor.  Thanks for the response.

ABsolutely!  There is nothing positive about working with someone that tries to pull something over or is difficult to deal with.

Dennis,

I have also been asked to list high, cut commission and lots of other things.  We live in a small town and I have been asked how I get along with Realtors several times.  I have also also been asked, "How many of your own listing do you sell?  I will blog about that later.  Thanks for the response.  Have a great weekend!!

Michael,

You have the right attitude!!!  Thanks for the response!

Sandra,

You are right, it makes everything easier if we get along, work the problems out together, and respect each other.  Hey, if one Realtor who has an attitude reads this, maybe it will make one nice Realtors life easier!!

What is so amazing is that the agents I may find easy to work with another brokern or agent will tell me their horror story about.....when it becomes impossible, I take everything to written correspondence - they just won't write down what they will say......

Mary, if an agent doesn't show a property because they don't like the listing agent...who's the Loser...and I mean with a big 'L'?

I'd hate to think that happens. Shame on those buyers agents for such behavior.

I agree how we treat others should always be formost on our minds but it goes both ways.

Chris,

That is true, we all have enough stress, we don't need more!

Maria,

So true, if we all strive to get along, transactions will go so much smoother. Thanks for the response

This is an important aspect of our business.  I want others to know that we can work together instead of against one another in order to finalize the transaction.  I would much rather have a friend in the business.

Mary,

In my 11 years I have never been asked if I get along well with other agents either.  Maybe it's a local thing, but being nice should be universal.  I have had the occasion of an agent or two trying to walk all over me because of it.  At that point I have to respond to them firmly and ask that they do not confuse niceness with weakness.  I only put up with abuse for a short period of time.  I guess it's the Italian.  Long fuse but quick temper. 

Julie,

Most agents are great to work with and things go smoothly, but there are some who have an attitude.  We have to handle them with kid gloves.  Thanks for the response.

I have an agent like this in our area and he had one of my Buyers wanting to go outside and fight because of his attitude.  This was not good.  This was a three million dollar deal.  Go Figure.

Dane,

It happens!  If you are hard to work with your listing will be at the bottom to be shown.  That is just human nature.  I think if we are nice to others they will be nice to us. 

Mary

Since my Mortgage Company is my primary focus and Real Estate is secondary to meI have seen it all. I must say I have had way too many scenarios when the agents have done nothing but treat me and my staff like garbage.  As if we are less than or not even human. I know from when I went through RE school they did teach that we are superior.......in knowledge  and that is really as far as the superiority goes. I wish everyone would just play nice in the sandbox. Since I control your paycheck you may want to rethink your approach to how you treat me. We all have the absolute same objectives, a satisfied consumer with referrals and a paycheck.  Thanks

Latonia,

I agree I would rather be friends.  We should treat everyone with respect, not only in real estate but in all areas of our lives.  Your heart is in the right place.  Have a great week, thanks for the response.

Mike,

I live in a small town and that is not an unusual question.  Maybe they have heard Realtors talk about each other, I don't know.  If I was a seller, that would be on my list!  You sound like a nice Italian guy.  You're right being nice should be universal, thanks for the response, have a great week!

Gary,

That is what I am talking about!  Agents like that are few, but if you are going to sell real estate, you need to treat your fellow Realtors with respect.  Thanks for the response. 

Steven,

No one should be treated as an unequal, we are not superior to anyone.  I agree with you totally.  Thanks for the response, and I apologize for those Realtors who treated you and your staff like that.  It makes us all look bad, a few can harm the image of the good. 

Correct Mary a few bad grapes ruin the entire vine in any industry. Thanks for the response,

Being nice to everyone doesn't only work in real estate - try it with everything!!  Life goes much smoother!  Great post.

David,

That is so true!  We should always treat people nice.  Thanks for the response

This is a good blog, Mary.  I hope I'm one of the ones who is easy to work with.  And I do know some difficult ones!

Mary, You are absolutely correct. My motto for 14 years has been "REALTOR(R) friendly REALTORS(R)". I'm a listing broker and depend on other REALTORS(R) showing and selling my listings. My marketing is geared towards my peers. And it works. REALTORS(R) in my market know that I will help them any way I can and they know I will treat them with respect. There are many in my area that will show and sell my listings first if given the choice. My sellers reap the benefit of me being REALTOR(R) friendly.So many folks do not get his. 

I haven't the foggiest idea what you're talking about

All agents are smart, friendly and, oh yeah, return phone calls promptly. 

Actually, some agents substitute "attitude" for knowledge and competence.

You can try to be the best you can be but you cannot control others people thoughts. If they are mean spirited people you wont be able to change them. It's in their DNA..

Great post, Mary!

I had a closing this past week and the selling agent was a joy to work with (first deal I had ever done with him).  Some agents forget that our job is to help the buyer or seller accomplish what THEY want, the agent should not let it become something personal.  A cooperative attitude is always better than an adversarial one.  Professional courtsey and manners go a long way in dealing with other Realtors and clients.

I agree with your dad. We must remember that other agents our who will sell our listing so being thought of as someone who is easy to deal with can only be a positive marketing tool.

Mary, your post is very approprate at this time!  I tell all my sellers that I will market their property to other agents.  I have made good friends over my years in the business and any agent who knows me, knows if I say the listing is PRISTINE, it's PRISTINE, if it needs TLC or carpeting or upgrades they know what to expect when they show it.  I always try to show my appreciation to agents that help make a smooth transaction for all parties.  I will show their listings whenever I can and CONGRATULATE them when I see they have a sale or a new listing.  Everyone likes to be recognized for a job well done! 

It's sad that someone in this field would make themselves hard to work with. This is a very personal business we work in, we need to be able to work with various people at any given time.

Mary!!  Congratulations on the featured blog.  Now you will really be hooked!

Agents with attitudes?  Oh how true!  We've run across a few over the years and I can never understand what the point is in being adversarial versus being willing to work toward a common goal.  I have clients now who have been looking for many months and when a certain local agent has a home that truely does fit their needs they refuse to see it because of the agent.  Unfortunately, it is hurting them in buying a home, but that is what affect that agent had on them prior to working with us.  Anyway good post.

You are so right Mary. Some people think they have to be jerks to represent their clients properly.

Never been asked if I play well with others.  However, it is important.  We would probably all be a little surprised at feedback from other agents.   Plan to let my peers know how much I appreciate them showing my properties.  Thanks for the reminder.

You are so right about the attitude, afterall we are all working for the same thing.  It seems sometimes agents forget that.

I had a brokers assistant yell at me with an "attitude" and eventually
I ended the phone conversation I had with her......

That was definately NOT an attitude I wanted to deal with......

Professionalism is something that SHOULD be part of everyones
life...if they are in ANY profession.

BTW...I LOVED Lenns tounge in cheek comment!!!

=-D

Attitude is everything in the service industry.  We must put on a professional and attentive persona.

I too loved Lenn's comment.  Substituting "attitude" for knowledge and confidence is like not knowing the difference between being assertive and being aggressive.  Some people think they need to be a bully to get what they desire.  Fortunately the majority of agents I have worked with have been professional and courteous.  Most of us are service oriented people pleasers at heart.  <g> 

Hi Mary - oh if only all agents would read this post and recognize themselves in that 'attitude' description.  But, that's just a dream I guess.

I've had other agents tell me in multiple offer situations that they'd rather work with me than so-and-so, and I've had them call me up and tell me there's another offer in, did my buyers want to make an offer because they'd rather work with me.  This has happened enough times that I began making that part of my listing presentations - sellers should know how we treat each other, and I let them know some examples of good and less-than-good professional behavior, no names of course.

Lenn is so right that some 'substitute attitude for knowledge and experience'.  Unfortunately, probably like many others, I know a few of those people, and we certainly run into them here on AR, too.  You can read it in their posts, and you know that's just how they treat others as well.

No matter what side of the tranaction we all need each for the roles we play.

Ann

I agree with you and I just wrote a blog on the same subject...Are other realtors your competitors or your clients?

In my blog I wrote   One of the items included on my 24/7 marketing plan and the one I´m going to discuss in this blog  is how important it is to network with other realtors in the community. Instead of viewing other realtors as my competition, I view them as my clients.  I need to market to them, just like I would to a potential buyer or seller. 

Agents as you mentioned are remembered and it will come back to haunt them and they are out there.

Barbara,

You are great to work with, but you know who the difficult agents are!  You are not one of those!!!

Bryant,

You run your business like I do, that is what makes a good Realtor!  If they don't like you they will show your listings last, or not at all!  Thanks for the response.

Lenn,

They are out there, few but some!  It's like they are on a power trip!  It's not just when we are dealing with them that they are rude, they get up in the morning and plaster a frown on their face!!!!  Thanks for the response!

Robert,

I never thought of that, you could be right.  If that is true I'm glad my forefathers were kind hearted!  Thanks for the blog, have a wonderful week.

Eileen,

Thanks for the response and you are 100% right!  I just love it when I work with an agent who is great to work with, I bet you are a kind Realtor!

Rusty,

Thanks for the response, daddy taught us well, we learned by his example.  Have a great day!

Diane,

You run your business like I do.  Other agents are important to me!  We all depend on each other to get the job done.  Thanks, for the response.  Have a great week!!

Christy,

You are so right!  And, no matter what field we are in, treating people nice is the thing to do!  Thanks for the response.

Barbara,

I have gotten so much response from this blog!  I guess that is why they featured it. 

Joyce and Terry,

I have even had clients tell me that they did not want a particular agent showing their home!  It is hard work convincing them to remember that our goal is to get the home sold!  Thanks for the response and have a wonderful week!

Wayne,

They think they are on a power trip!  All I want is to make my buyer and seller happy, make the deal go through!!  Most Realtors feel the same way, being a jerk will hurt your business!  Thanks for the response.

This is so true! I listed my place with an agent who had a bad rep and it never sold.  He earns no respect from his counterparts.  It sold with another agent just fine.

That's a great idea, you get what you give in life.   It does not hurt us to tell other Realtors we appreciate them.  Thanks for the response.

Kathy,

Thanks for the response, we should have a good attitude in all areas of our life.  We are all on the same page, we need each other!

Alexander,

Yelling and screaming is not professional, that assistant is doing the Realtor more harm than good!  No one wants to be screamed at, we need to all work together for the same cause, to get the job done for our buyers and sellers.

I guess your flying high today with this feature blog!  Congrats, now get to work on your e-PRO and forget blogging for awhile.

Joe,

That is true, in all areas of our lives.  Thanks for the blog, have a great week!

Chrystina,

I agree, you have to know the difference between assertive and aggressive.  Fortunately, Realtors with an attitude are few and far between, but they are out there!  Thanks for the response.

Christine,

That is what I am talking about!  The other agents played well in the sand box and it was to your advantage.  Thanks for the response

Ann,

You run your business like I do.  After being asked several times if I get along with others, I made it a part of my listing presentation!   It is important to get along, that's life, we have to get along if we want to succeed!  You are a great Realtor, thanks for the response.

Dick,

You caught me again!!  I am working on my e-Pro!!!  Thanks for the response!!

It is really to bad when fellow Realtors can't be professional to one and other.  It really leaves a bad impression on you every time you deal with on that isn't the most pleasant to work with. Great Post

It is so much nicer when you have an agreeable Realtor to work with on the other side!

Mary, I agree with you and your Dad. Be nice and it does reflect well on you. Some agents just don't get it.

OMG!  Mary That was excellent!!!  I strive to develop a positive relationship with other agents right off the bat.  It is soooooooo incredibly important!  I did RE in NYand now in Fl, I do have somewhat of a straight-up personality but my Momma always told me that I need to have a "way about me" and the honey/vinegar line too.  I have practiced that repeatedly in my business.  When an agent calls and is interested in showing one of my listings, I make a big deal about how much I appreciate them showing it, I try to get them to laugh and say to them "hey, the next time we talk you might even have a contract for me, wouldn't that be wonderful!!!"  Being nice helps with buyers, sellers, home inspectors, appraisers, closers and develops positive relationships with other agents that you may very well need to cover your back someday!  The other day I had a manager from another company sing my praises to one of his agents, that made my day and helped that agent hold me in a position of trust and respect.  It is so worth it!

Amen to that, Mary.......

I have been praying for the assistant for a LONG time.... I hope she changes... I have a sneeking feeling she is changing...and that is a good thing.....

;-)

Bronson,

I like your name, it is different.  Thanks for the response.  Most Realtors are great to work for, there are just some that don't get it, being nice is not being weak.

Richard,

I agree, it will come back to them, what goes around comes around.  Thanks for the response.  Have a great week!

Emily,

Thanks for the response.  Everyone benefits when the transaction runs smoothly, and Realtors get the respect they deserve.  But one bad apple and sooooooo on. 

Frank,

Thanks for the response.  Everything we do reflects our character, some have it, some don't.  But it sure makes the transaction go smoother if everyone works together. 

Sara,

I think we could be great friends, I like your bubbly personality.  I too thank Realtors for showing my listings, I call Realtors, even from other companies, to make sure they know I have a new listing, or to remind them of one that has been on the market.  Your mom is wise, like my dad was.  Thanks for the response

Alexander,

Keep up the prayers, God can change anyone!  You know, I have a friend who worked for another company, and I called her to tell her I had a new listing.  She said, I don't have a buyer, I have had a bad year.  My response was, "I'm going to pray you have a good year."  She did, and funny thing, so did I.  Thanks for the response.

WOW SO MUCH RESPONSE!  Yes   I agree it makes business sense to be nice to other realtors and i agree with being firm if needed!  Great post and super feedback everyone!

Tom-

Amen, Mary.......

"Pray for those who desiptefully use you......"

Thanks for the reminder...hehehehehe

=-)

Tom,

I couldn't believe the response, I think we have all worked with a Realtor that needs an attitude adjustment!  Being nice to everyone is the key.  Thanks for the response.  Have a great week!

Alexander,

I'm glad to know you are a Bible reader, I am too!!  I love your website, very unusual, have a great week.

Wow what a powerful message. We all can relate!

Gary and Melynda,

Thank God Realtors with an attitude are few and far between, but they are out there.  Thanks for the response.

Yes, and also those Realtors who think because you are new to the business, they can tell you what you should/should not do for your client!  Can't stand those bossy folks!

On the flipside, I have worked with some of the best agents.  After the transaction, I missed talking to them! 

It's in every business/everywhere in life...the good, the bad and the ugly.  Sometimes, you just get a taste of them all!! It's how you respond to that individual that makes all the difference.

...from the mouths' of rookies:)

~Yvette 

Yvette,

Thanks for the response.  Being a new Realtor is hard, I remember when I started.  Good luck to you!

We have a few in my town that are that way because they insist on selling their own listings. What a disservice to their seller.  I found out the hard way by bringing them an offer and had the misfortune of being berrated for 6 weeks until it closed - including several profanity strewm voicemessages that were COMPLETELY uncalled for.  Now if I have a choice to show their property or not, I won't.

Connie,

I agree, insisting on selling your own listings is a disservice to the seller, I blogged about it, "Realtors, How Do You Advertise Your Listings?"   Thanks for the response!  Have a great week!