1. help ya Harry - A person who looks at houses on behalf of a relative or friend. This is a regular mistake that buyer's make in my opinion. The interested buyer should be looking for themselves. Aunt Susie or Budy Brad will never know what it is exactly you want. Most Realtors are helping serious buyers & sellers. A serious buyer does the searching themselves with a Realtor of their choice.
2. Joking Jared - A Seller who wants to overlist to see what the market will bare will only grab an incompetent listing agent or agent who quite frankly, doesn't care about your goal. Instead, the listing agent will use your home as a lead generator - sign calls. Your game will be met by the listing agents game, pretty simple. Do it right, or don't do it all, that's my motto.
3. Commission focused Carl. This is the buyer or seller who DEMANDS to not pay full price when it comes to commission. When they purchase their home they seek the agent who is willing to "rebate." The productive, knowledgeable and successful agents don't slash their commission in half for anyone. When you buy a home focus on finding a home and let the agent do his or her job. If you think full service is expensive, try closing with a bottom feeder who says YES to everything you say.
4. Controlling Kathy is the unfortunate individual who feels nothing is done right unless she completely overseas all facets of the listing. If you think your agent is incompetent, don't hire them. If you do, let them focus on doing you a good job. Constantly poking, prodding and making demands makes everyones involvement hell.
5. Inspector Ingrid - Ingrid is the individual who installed boat docks back in the 70's for a living and now thinks they know everything about home construction. This follows the same lines as number 4 above. If you don't think you have the right inspector, don't hire them.
6. Lawyer Larry - This is by far my least favorite. I adore educated buyers and sellers more than you know. The more educated a consumer is, the better off everyone is in the transaction. Unfortunately, some folks watch too much Judge Judy and think they are legal pro's when it comes to real estate.
7. High Expectations Hillary - has a credit score of 127 but frequently tells Realtors, Banks, Lenders and neighbors that she has "so-so credit." No reason to be cute about your credit. We always find out, so just be honest so you don't waste anyone's time. And yes, those charge offs, tax evasions, judgments, broken leases and late child support payments do count.
8. Low Balling Lawanda - if a house is listed for 150k and the comparable sales are 157k than you got yourself, in most cases, a reasonable seller. You "starting" at $120,000 dollars is an insult, a waste of time and quite frankly, foolish. Sellers have feelings and sure as heck don't want to be insulted by buyers. Remember, Realtors do much more (or they should) than just get you a good deal. You still have to pay for what you want in this world. A buyer's market doesn't increase a sellers equity, it shrinks it.
9. I'm Calling my Lawyer Cliff - You certainly have that right and are always encouraged to obtain legal counsel, that's my obligatory introduction to numero 9 here. Making threats, pounding your fist and pretending to sue needs to be founded, reasonable and sensible - in my opinion. If a buyer needs 3 days more to close and you threaten to sue and get whacko than guess what? Just how much is that attorney going to get accomplished in 72 hours? No client of mine has ever issued the "attorney alarm" not once.
10. I'll get approved later Winthorpe - Sometimes you just know. You know if pestering a buyer for an approval letter is better left undone, but rarely. If you are a consumer reading this know that there is a saying in Real Estate that goes.. "buyers are liars." I know that's offensive, and over all a not so nice of a generalization. It would be dishonest of me to say I haven't agreed with that sentiment once in awhile. It is very unfortunate to say, but many buyers will lie about their credit, situation, job status, time frame and everything else. Why do they do this? Because they want access to a home. They know if they say they are 9 months away from buying that almost no agent would be willing to unlock the door. So they play games. If you are serious, get pre approved. If not, just say so.
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All these people make me feel tired, Greg! Or maybe I am tired of all these people.
This is a great list Greg. I have met every one of them in my career. Shirley is right we are all tired of them. I hope this will be a wake up coll to some who need it.
Greg,
You have assembled yourself quite a list here and all of them are out there.
You make some great points here Greg.
And you had me laughing with names like "Low-Balling Lawanda!!!
I am SO glad I'm subscribed to your blog.
Oh,no, I know some of these people! Thanks for the humor.
Maybe the FBI should post this list at the Post Office. Oops those are closing down, I forgot. I had a Realtor show an "as is" short sale of mine yesterday. Crazy overly picky buyers that can destroy the perfect house let alone a short sale. You need to do a corresponding Realtor list. Realtors who show houses that their insane buyer will never buy, and Realtors who let their "clients" waste their time and who are not in control.
Morning Greg, Funny list. May we expect a comparable list of " Realtor Personalities" ? Well done !
I like Joe's idea to post this list in the post office next to the "Ten Most Wanted."
Good ones Greg!! The worst is when you're dealing with numerous personalities in one transaction - Ugh!
I love it. This is one great post for sure. Right on the money as usual.
I'm with Bill let's see your list of REALTOR personalities! This was a fun read as they're all out there - still....
Great list Bill. Being a Realtor is as much a lesson in psychology as it sales or real estate expertise. As the songs says, people are strange. Good post and best of luck to you.
Hey, Bill! You forgot "Pop-up Pete." That's the guy who calls you out of the blue and absolutely has to see a property right now. In our thirty years of practice, only one of many of these Petes has actually bought. We now try to schedule them for a day or two later. If they are unwilling to wait, we usually won't go out with them because our time is valuable to us.
Thats a good post! I love those personality types!
Bill-
I love number 9's obligatory introduction.
I think I've met most of these guys throughout my career, Bill. I still don't understand why someone would be willing to buy a home that they haven't personally seen themselves. There are special cases where it seems the only way. But, generally, I believe it's better to see the property you're purchasing before you actually purchase it.
though you presented a lighter laugh side to this....it's all true. How many times do we cross paths with the malcontents of the world, the unrealistic and the insane :)
Why does everyone keep calling me BILL?!?!?!?
It has been my experiance with #1 that it's a Mom who wants her kid to move closer to her. They usually call on my signs and want to take a look. If I do get the phone number of the lucky child each and every time they have said "Im not moving".
HAHAHAHA! Yes, I've made 1-10's acquaintance. And their kissin' cousins:
Tire Kicker Tom who calls weekly to ask you the price of SOMETHING then tell you it's too high, forget it, click.
Broker Betty went to REAL ESTATE SCHOOL. In another state. In the 80s! She knows your market better than you!
Hey Greg. Nice job on the list. I think I have either met or spoken to each one of them at least once or more when I was sitting in a subdivision sales office. I think my favorite there was help ya Harry and it always turned out that the relative did not want to move.
Greg,
I think I am going to use your list of names to make labels for my files, and categorize them accordingly. Ha! All of the characters have hit the nail on the head. Great post!
Brilliant post!! Funny 'cause it's true!!
I've had #1 once -- ONCE! #3 gets the "YES" when the low-ball offers come through too! Oh the comparisons! Love the names . . . thanks Bill Greg!
Greg, you forgot Lookie Lou, who just likes looking at houses and will never buy.
I don't know, that's a good question, Bill. LOL
Anyway, these should be posted at our office, not the post office. Thanks Bill.
Greg
I've met them all as well. No area of the country is safe.
Greg, darn good post. I have never had a prospect who was supposedly looking for someone else, turn into a sale.
Hi Bill.
HI-larious! This is great...mainly because I think I have met each of these at least once if not multiple times in my career! Awesome post and well said! Love the names! Thanks!
Jeani
How about Engineer Edward who overanalyzes everything?? Great blog post Greg Bill.
Earth to Houston - If you are a buyer or seller of real estate in Houston, Tx and don't call Greg Nino to represent you, you will miss this best adventure and best service of your life. When it comes to real estate, he's got it goin' on. And did I mention he is seriously funny? And will make your entire transaction fun and memorable? CALL HIM NOW!
Greg - You did it again! Great stuff and congrats on the feature!
VB
Greg - Great list, and so true.....but I have to say (while hanging my head in shame) that at various stages of my life, I have been #3, #4, #8, and #9.
What can I say? I grew up in New Jersey and I'm neurotic and paranoid (but fun at dinner parties!)
Over the years my husband and I have raised the firing of Realtors to an art form ..... when incompetence meets neurosis ugly things happen. Which is why I promised myself when I got into this business that I would become the type of Realtor that I always wanted to work with.
Then I met prospects who reminded me too much of myself in Bulldog mode. Yikes!
Anyway.....great list. PLEASE don't hang it up in the Post Office as I don't want anybody turning me in.
Thanks.
That's brilliant, Greg!
Solid work. These characters are all looking for a starring role in your future business or lack thereof. Worthy of a bookmark!
Hi Bill, All this time I thought your name was Greg!
Great post and list. I guess we Realtors have all come in contact with these people at one time or another unfortunately. It makes us appreciate the quick easy deals more we have now and again.
Patricia aulson/portsmouth nh real estate
Fabulous! You know your stuff. THANKS FOR SHARING!
Good job. I know most of these folks.
Thanks for bringing them back to the front of my brain.
Ginger
Greg,
Great list. I think they are all related to me.
You've obviosly hacked my client list! Great post. Dustin
Bill
Oh wow. Are you sure there aren't any more?
Unfortunately, I think most of us have met one or more of these characters. Of course, they may have also find some professionals characters as well.
Please do another post with realtor personalities!! I loved this one.
Great list. There are all types of people in a real estate transaction and I think you nailed just about everyone of them.
I've talked with some of those "Help Ya Harry" types. I often wonder if the relative who's being "helped" really needs, or wants, this type of assistance. :)
Greg - A great list here ! I agree with the comment above, as a Realtor personality list would be a good post too (and very funny) : )