Jessica, are you willing to take less?

Real estate agents have a normal pick-up line they recite in order to handle this objection. It goes something like this: "Mr(s) Seller, will you take less from me?" I guess it's a good thing that I'm not trying to pick you up and I'm not attempting to do a "Wham! Bam! Thank you ma'am!" on you either.

Now, I apologize if that statement offends your sensibilities, but we call'em like we see'emaround here.

And that's exactly how we view those worn-out sales techniques. They're nothing but regurgitated pick-up lines that are designed to throw you off guard (Wham!), get you to pay exactly what they're asking (Bam!), and get back out the door as quickly as they possibly can (Thank you ma'am!). They've gotten what they want and now it's time to go.

Maybe they'll call you in the morning - maybe they won't.

Either way, you were taken for a ride. I can't say what I really want to say - that would most definetely offend your sensibilities, regardless of how true it really is.

That isn't how I operate.

I'm not going to try flipping the table on you. I'm not going to make you justify your question by asking you a loaded one in return. It isn't my habit to try and scare potential clients into believing that they're going to miss out on some important marketing technique if they aren't willing to pay me top dollar. Instead, I'm going to tell you exactly what I think about you asking me if I am willing to take less.

I'm a business woman.

That means everything but my soul, my marriage, my kids, my family, my honor and my ethics is negotiable. Oh yeah, my dogs also - I won't give them up either. Everything else, I'm pretty much willing to discuss and negotiate.

Let me make you this promise:

You won't ever offend my sensibilities by asking me if I will or won't take less. I'm not easily offended. So, I won't be pretending that the mere mention of such blasphemies will burn my precious, such-and-such-percent-commission-charging ears. I won't fall out of my chair and struggle to stick my fingers all the way into my eardrums as I beg you to stop uttering such horrible, horrible words.

I don't play that game.

Often, Realtors® have a reputation of being nothing more than "For Sale"-sign-wielding bloodsuckers that make their livings preying on others - I understand that. And, openly discussing commissions and whether or not they are negotiable with potential clients may be the garlic that keeps many real estate agents away - I'm not a vampire and it doesn't frighten me in the least. There isn't any need to hide commission negotiations behind a veil of dark, shadowy secrecy like some creature of the night. I prefer to cast some light on the subject and get everything out in the open - the bright, sunny open.

So, let's discuss it.

After we reach a win-win agreement, we'll sink our teeth into the job of getting your home sold. We'll work day (see, I told you I wasn't a vampire) and night to get you and your family where you need to go - when you need to be there.