Did your mother ever tell you that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar? She was right, and when it comes to real estate sales, agents are best served by following mother's advice.
Other agents are your best friends in real estate sales, but for some reason, many agents either forget this fact or never seem to grasp the concept. Being nice to everyone is the way to get what you want (within reason).
When a co-oping agent does not understand your point of view, or asks to negotiate the commission split (not a reason for you to be upset, by the way), or presents a low-ball offer, or becomes upset, or sends you a nasty email, or threatens to tell her broker on you, or says your listing is over-priced, or insists their client keeps the earnest money, or "steals" your client, or does not follow proper protocol, or well... you get the idea, DO NOT LOSE YOUR COOL.
These are not reasons to throw stones in their general direction (or directly at them). These are opportunities to win that agent over, and get your way.
To do so:
1) Take a deep breath.
2) Take a ten-minute break to your "happy place".
3) Seek counsel to ensure that you are not in the wrong. If you are, then apologize and be nice.
4) Create a response that is not inflammatory. Diffuse the situation; do not exasperate it.
5) Communicate your position with poise, clarity, and calmness.
When you act calm and rational, it is difficult for the other party to remain upset. So long as you do not become obsequious, or condescending.
Then again, some people are just difficult to deal with. Try your best to be nice (it's always the best policy), but do not let anyone take advantage of you, your client, or the situation. Never become a push-over, but remain nice!
1 comments:
This is great advice Peter. In fact similar steps are taught to police officers when they're learning about diffusing a hostile situation.
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