Why are realtors all a bunch of a-holes?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Last week, the wife and I went and scoped out about two dozen properties I'd identified on the Internet as good potential targets for follow-up (most were foreclosures with substantial price reductions, bank-owned, etc.) This past Monday, I called the listing agents on five of them to get additional information. Two never returned my calls, a third told me there was an offer pending and a fourth told me that the place in question had some kind of problem that was going to cost $20k to fix. The final agent called me back late Monday night with good info. I set up an appointment for earlier today (Sunday) to get a showing. I then called back on Friday to confirm. She called me back Saturday evening to confirm the appointment. Good deal (so I think). Here's how my afternoon went:

(11:00) - leave my place to drive down. I have a few other "potentials" I want to check out before meeting this woman at 1:30

(11:45) - phone rings. Goes like this:

Me: Hello?
SARC (Stupid-Ass Realtor Chick): Hi Jeff?
Me: Yes, is this [SARC]?
SARC: Yes, I imagine you're on your way down right now?
Me: Yes, I am.
SARC: Well... Um... There's a little problem with that.
Me: What's the problem?
SARC: Well, I have to cancel our appointment?
Me (annoyed): The one we just confirmed last night?
SARC: Yes, I'm terribly sorry.
Me: What gives?
SARC: I have another couple who's in from out of town to see property. They weren't supposed to get in until tomorrow but they got in a day early and now they're sitting at my office waiting for me.
(long pause)
Me (now seething with rage): Let me get this straight - they set up an appointment with you for tomorrow. You set up an appointment with me for today, and now you're canceling your CONFIRMED appointment with me for today in order that they might have the luxury of not honoring their appoinment with you at the 11th hour?
SARC: I'm terribly sorry.
Me: So what's really going on here is they're paying more money and are worth more commission to you than you stand to net from my potential purchase, right?
SARC (indignant): Excuse me?
Me: You heard me. You stand to make more money off them than me, is that it?
SARC: That's not it at all.
Me: Well, please explain then.
SARC: Well, they're from out of town.
Me: In case you don't recall our discussion earlier, so am I. Hence my reason for wanting to schedule AND confirm this appointment. Twice. To avoid driving an hour and wasting my time.
SARC: I'm terribly sorry, but they flew in from 2,000 miles away and are relocating.
Me: On the wrong day. Now inconveniencing you AND me. That is monumentally inconsiderate to both you AND to me, if true.
SARC: I know. I'm terribly sorry but... I just had to make a judgment call here.
Me: And so it seems you did.
SARC: Maybe you have time to see the property later this afternoon?
Me: As a matter of fact, no I do not. In fact, I set up my schedule for this entire day around this meeting we had scheduled Monday. Our meeting was my last scheduled stop in the area and I have somewhere else I need to be immediately thereafter. [this is true]
SARC: Well why don't you give me a call later today or tomorrow and we can reschedule.
Me: You're kidding, right?
SARC: How do you mean?
Me: You seriously think I'm going to reschedule this?
SARC: You're no longer interested in the property?
Me: More like I'm no longer interested in dealing with YOU as an agent showing me the property, but now that you mention it, even if I go retain a different person to act as my buyer's agent at this point - which I'm going to do - you'd still get a portion of any commission from the sale as a result of your being the listing agent, correct?
SARC: That's how it works, yes.
Me: In that case, fine. I'm no longer interested in the property. In fact, I'm not interested in ANY property that you're the listing agent for. I will make certain to have those excluded from my future searches.
(long pause)
SARC: Well, I'm terribly sorry.
Me: Thank you. I must be going now. Goodbye.

- - - - -

Are they fking all like this? This is literally about the sixth or seventh one I've dealt with over the last few years to look at places and all but one of them has been a c0cksuck1ng pr1ck similar to this in some way, shape or form. WTF does it take to get a real estate agent NOW, in a flippin' RECESSION, that won't be a complete jackass, who will actually return their calls, who will honor their appointment commitments and who gives me something RESEMBLING "service"?!?!

Good news is I have three new potentials from today's searching around. I'll call those guys tomorrow and see what inconsiderate stupidity ensues... This is great entertainment if nothing else.

[widgeon13]

Sad, I'm going through a property sale right now, a most frustrating experience. They all seem to be on a par w/ used car sales people.

[KFC911]

There you go...denigrating used car sales people with your analagy . Jeff, good riddance, and move on, what else are ya gonna do? I'd be PO'd too...

[URY914]

You remembered the entire conversation, word for word?

[onewhippedpuppy]

They're one very small step above a used car salesman. Unfortunately anyone off of the street can qualify to be a realtor after a few short training classes. The end result is a bunch of uneducated morons that know nothing about real estate representing themselves as real estate "professionals". I've dealt with 5 realtors thus far in my life, every single one of them has been stupid, dishonest, and hesitant to work with me (low offers, etc). I always show up to look at a house armed with more information than they are. Should that happen?

If I EVER find an honest, professional, hard-working realtor, they will have my business for life.

[gprsh924]

Originally Posted by URY914

You remembered the entire conversation, word for word?

He records all his calls.

[legion]

Good for you Jeff.

In situations like that I almost always accept people's explanations at face value and it only later occurs to me what is going on.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by URY914

You remembered the entire conversation, word for word?

I don't find that hard to believe at all, I have never had a good experience with a realtor, ever, they are worse than drummers

Last time, the alcoholic SARC showed me a hose that had 13 pages of deficiencies, and was uninhabitable due to toxic mold, no I was not looking for a fixer upper that needed to be bulldozed. Wanted a 3/2 with a 2 car garage. First house she tried to show me did not have a garage, I did not get out of the car. We looked at a dozen houses in one day(probably all her listings) only one that was decent enough for a second look, was sold the day before we looked at it and she showed it to me anyway. I hold realtors in the lowest esteem and feel the instances when they would be useful must be a vanishingly small number. Big money for doing nothing, hence it attracts a lot of do nothing losers.

[legion]

Aren't a lot of realtor "sales classes" really about teaching them how to get people to buy homes they really don't want?

Seems like they role play emotional appeals or psuedo-logic arguments in these classes...

"Wouldn't you love to come home from work to this?"

"They aren't making any more land, better buy now before you are priced out of the market."

Who puts on these classes? The NAR?

[rcm]

In the process of buying selling two houses right now. Turds is what comes to mind with realtors. Right now they have to work for thier dough, not a like few years ago when people were in bidding wars over million dollar properties. They are slugs with out a doubt.

[jhynesrockmtn]

My ex is a realtor and I've been in and out of real estate for years as a buyer and investor. It's like anything else, you can find a good one but it's hard. It's easy to get into the business so a lot of idiots give it a try. Most don't know nearly enough. They are always about the money and trying to figure out motivation is a pain. If you're looking at multiple properties, the only way to go is either find a good buyers agent or get your license and hang it at a cheap office and do your own deals. The problem with a buyers agent if your looking at a lot of potential houses is they will tire of you quickly if you don't buy fairly early in the process. Time is money and if they spend multiple days/half days with you it's a waste for them. My ex would stick with people but she had clients wanting to look at 20-30 houses and in the end didn't pull the trigger. This market makes that a bit moot because most of them are starving in this market. If my ex didn't end up with most of the cash in our divorce I'd be buying right now. Some good deals to be had out there.

[Laneco]

We have been absolutely appalled at the horrendous quality of human being who chooses to label themselves as an "agent." The worst is when you are selling a property... We had one SARC show up 40 minutes late for her appointment at a rental we were owner-selling. Her clients made it on time but spoke absolutely no english. My spanish is pretty poor. We waited and waited. Finally she shows up with three little kids in tow ages 4 to about 7 or 8. She had on a stretchy green shirt with very fresh food stains all down the front. She stomps into the house with her clients. Kids are running amuck. Two of them decide to climb the little tree in front of the house and snap off a good sized branch. I straighten the kid out... The kid promptly runs over to the renter's car and starts hitting it the broken stick. I shoo them back to their car where they proceed to dismantle the interior of the SARC vehicle. Then SARC comes out and wants to make sure that I will pay her 6% commission....

Here's the deal. Most of these people are clowns. But some of them are pretty terrific. We have an agent here in town that we've been using for years. We deal only through him even if he is not the listing agent. Doug knows that if we are walking into a property, we have already checked comps, schools, our financing, and done our own drive-by. If the inside is as advertised, we are going to buy it. Period.

So find someone you like and deal with them exclusively. It will save you a great deal of grief in the long run.

angela

[Moses]

There is a fancy gated community near where I live called Blackhawk. When I was home shopping I told my realtor that I had NO INTEREST in living in Blackhawk, yet he persisted in showing me homes there. During our third outing together I noticed he was driving straight for the gates of Blackhawk. I told him to stop and turn around, there was a change in plans. "What change?" He asked. I told him I needed a new realtor.

My next realtor was no better. I told him I was pre-approved for a loan of $500,000 and could not consider properties any more expensive than that. The first house he shows me looks fantastic. I was furious when he told me it was listed for $790,000. I told him to write an offer for $500,000 but he refused. Said he wouldn't insult the owner with such a low offer.

I drove back to the house by myself and made the offer directly to the homeowner. They accepted. My realtor (who refused to even write the offer) insisted on full commission and he got it. He said he could kill the deal if I balked on his commission.

[Heel n Toe]

Jeff, you should find out who that bimbo's boss is and send them your transcript.

That's really pi$$-poor service. We've never had anything but top notch experiences with real estate agents. I can't imagine asking to see a few houses with 3 BR, 2 Baths, a fireplace, and a garage and being shown even one house that didn't meet all 4 criteria.

[Zeke]

Jeff, I thought you were going to lighten up after you told me that my comments about Judge Jackie Glass were harsh!! Clearly the real estate lady (let's refrain from giving her the status of "Realtor") did not have a good alternative plan. Most would have sent out an assistant or colleague to cover the appointment if they had any smarts.


Let's face it, most of us here are a bit brighter. The people in the service world don't get it, they're not that bright. Well, most. Used car salespeople are a good example. No difference with used houses, IMO.

You're never going to be anyone other than yourself.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by Moses

There is a fancy gated community near where I live called Blackhawk. When I was home shopping I told my realtor that I had NO INTEREST in living in Blackhawk, yet he persisted in showing me homes there. During our third outing together I noticed he was driving straight for the gates of Blackhawk. I told him to stop and turn around, there was a change in plans. "What change?" He asked. I told him I needed a new realtor.

My next realtor was no better. I told him I was pre-approved for a loan of $500,000 and could not consider properties any more expensive than that. The first house he shows me looks fantastic. I was furious when he told me it was listed for $790,000. I told him to write an offer for $500,000 but he refused. Said he wouldn't insult the owner with such a low offer.

I drove back to the house by myself and made the offer directly to the homeowner. They accepted. My realtor (who refused to even write the offer) insisted on full commission and he got it. He said he could kill the deal if I balked on his commission.

Should've called the guy's broker and then the state- refusing to present an offer is illegal. Big time illegal.

I agree with the general sentiments. The problem is, most RE agents lack basic sales skills. They are generally weak, and when you're armed with facts that's why they all get scared.

THey lack basic understanding skills of negotiation.

2nd- they usually gang up on either the buyer or seller, and determine who's most likely to take the offer - if they think you'll pay more then you get beat up.

It's all who provides the least path of resistance.

PS- obviously I'm in the biz, and Jeff's conversation is NOTHING compared to what I've said to a few. Had a few burst out in tears after I'm done with them- they think the bank's rules don't matter if there's a deal on the line.

PS they are all lazy.

rjp

[T77911S]

98% of them are sleeze. put your house on the market "for sale by owner" and you will find out quick how much they lie. "um, i have someone interested in your house, by the way, would you like to list it with me?"
i dont trust anyone that stands to make money off the sale of something that does not belong to them. they are also the ones that tell you you "need" them to sell your house.

[RANDY P]

a RE Agent is someone licensed to sell RE. A REALTOR (registered trademark) is one who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS

Know your douchebags.

rjp

[competentone]

Reading your "transcript" of the conversation (with a bias most probably in your favor), it sounds more like you are the one being pretty unreasonable.

At the very least, your transcript makes you sound quite unprofessional. Your "seething with rage" emotion over the cancellation says a lot about you.

I don't know what sort of business you are in, but shifting one's schedule -- and sometimes canceling appointments (which involves putting one person in front of another) is a constant factor in many businesses.

It can sometimes be frustrating, but not anything one should fly into a rage over -- or be calling people "a**holes" over.

Get a grip.

[competentone]

Originally Posted by T77911S

...put your house on the market "for sale by owner" ...

Yea, try that and learn the sort of "crap" you have to put up with from potential buyers!

Sell virtually anything yourself, and you will quickly learn that professional sales people have to work hard to earn their fees.