We are in the real estate business right?
We have to love people dont we?
Do We have to love All People?
The Longer we are in the business Are you More Likely to Dislike People?
Many of us say "I am a people person", but are you really?
Do you actually like taking buyers out showing them 50 houses and them letting you know they were not really serious?
Does this make you a people person?
Do you actually like when a seller tells you to list his or her home for $50,000 more then it is worth?
Does this make you a people person?
Do you actually like when you receive an online inquiry with a name Mickey Mouse or Joe Blow?
Does this make you a people person?
Do you actually like when your seller takes the key out of the lockbox and the way you find out is an angry realtor trying to show the condo calls you?
Does this make you a people person?
Do you actually like when someone rear ends you at the stop light, and they end up wanting to rent a property?
Does this make you a people person?
Do you like when you get a call from your seller to tell you that some agent stole 2 pieces of jewelry when the home has not been shown in over a month? Makes you go hmmmmmmm.
Does this make you a people person?
You know the great thing about being in real estate is that you get to choose who you want to work for and with. I consider myself to be genuine, and to sincerely love people. Like many, however I have had a few instances where clients have used abusive language or has done something either unethical or illegal where I basically have fired them.
I choose to work with people that appreciate my efforts. I am honest with people, and fight for everything I can.
I have a closing tomorrow where I got the bank to agree to pay for the roof repair of $3,200, and reduced there title charges by ovr $600, and there mortgage closing costs by $400. I do the right thing.
Do you do the right thing for your clients? Are you really a people person or are you just faking it?
David Serle
Vice President/Managing Broker
RE/MAX Services
561-912-3500 Office
561-912-3502 Direct
561-756-3104 Mobile
Sorry to tell you this David but Mickey Mouse and Joe Blow are already MY clients. :)
I love people in general but I don't love em all!
I don't think you have to be a people person to be a good realtor!!!
I don't think you have to be a people person to love what you do, and to do it well.
We provide a service. We have to be professional, and we have to look after our client's best interests. We may or may not like the ACTIONS of some people, but we all have bad days (some worse than others). People, for the most part, want to do the right thing, and want things go smoothly. When things are not going that way, they may be going through something we have no idea about. It's our job to remain professional, and still do the right thing for our clients.
I ALWAYS go above and beyond the call of duty, get my clients the best deals, get them discounts, get them reduced legal fees, and arrange it so that they are not paying anything more out of their pockets; but this is what we are supposed to do. It's our responsibility to look after our clients' best interests; so if we're not doing those things every day, I don't think we're doing our jobs very well.
Yes, I really DO like people. As a species. But that doesn't mean I have to like every single individual. One very major advantage to owning an office is that we can pick and choose who we want to work with.
We really like people but we reserve the right to like some more than others. Unfortunately, in this business, we do meet some folks who are just plain unlikeable!
I think being a people person helps but that's just a part of what we do. Understanding law, contracts, procedure, protocol, etc sure helps us be well rounded "technicians" of our trade but the human element, mainly that of our clients, should be understood and applied well. After all, we're all different and that's what might draw our clients to us, our "uniqueness" if you will. But we as professional business owners have the right to pre-qualify our potential clients to see if we want to work with them at all. Once we've got that mutual handshake going, yes they get all the benefits of my "people skills". And yes, I've shown a bazillion homes to tire kickers early in my career, been rear-ended twice in a month coming home from the office. Great thought provoking post. I do agree with you, doing the right thing in our biz should be the first order of business.
Thank you all for your comments. You are absolutely right Kathy and Sylvie. You definitely do not have to be a people person to be a good real estate agent, but you have to be passionate about people. You have to be passionate about real estate. The point of this post was to Do the right thing for your clients and try to have more patience with people. We get mad and angry with a lot of those situations I mentioned above, but that is because our tolerance for people is low. We also get to choose who we want to work with so choose wisely.
Wayne, hey I have those clients too. I never knew there were 744 Mickey Mouse's and 482 Joe Blows.
Leslie, Bruce and Mary thank you for your comments. I do not love all people as well. There are many I do not love, My Uncle Booby, my Aunt Susie. Oh I can't choose my family oh well I guess I am stuck with them.
Marvin, thank you very much for your comment. You are right on the money. I just believe I get to choose who I want to work with and for. If you get a difficult client that is okay, but if you get an abusive client fire him or her. It is not worth it. We are fortunate to do what we love to do and that is sell real estate
At the end of most first meetings with a new clients I say "they were really nice people. I like them." And that makes so much difference because I really want to do the best job I can for those nice people that I like. It just makes my job more pleasant. When clients treat me well I want to go the extra mile for them. But I must say that even with the few clients that have treated me badly, I still did my best. Why? Because of pride in myself. Oh, I have fired a few clients but I have always done the best I could for them up to the point I didn't think it was going to work. I want to be the best I can be even if others aren't the best they can be.
Robin, thank you for your comment. That is what it is all about being nice and treating others the way you like to be treated. Thanks again.
Sometimes it hard to be a people person when working with the general public. Expectations are built by us and we sometimes miss the mark.