As a real estate agent, I always remind myself who I'm working for. I have to do what's best for my client. If that means your client gets upset or loses money, so be it. It's not my job to make sure both sides are happy with the deal. It's my job to get the best deal for my client.
Broker Bryant says it better than I can so I'm just going to reblog his post.
Hi folks. Let's talk a little bit about professional courtesy. I hear this term quite a bit on AR and in my business. Usually, it goes something like this:
You get my point. Anyway, let me see if I can shed some light on this professional courtesy "thingie". First, I want to say, that anyone who has ever worked a deal with me will tell you that I am very professional in all that I do. I treat my peers with respect. I am always willing to help "newbies" in anyway I can and if I say I'm going to do something, I do it.
But, and it's a big but, sometimes what you are expecting me to do, as a "professional courtesy", is completely against what my customer/client is telling me to do or not do. Last time I checked, I work for my customer/clients NOT my peers.
My job, as a listing broker, is to look out for my Sellers and do everything I can to get their property sold in a reasonable amount of time and for a reasonable price. Sometimes, that may require my Seller and I to "sit on" your Buyer's offer. We may even choose to ignore it completely. We can do that. We may even use your offer to negotiate a better deal with another Buyer. We can do that too.
And you know what? I don't have to tell you I'm doing it. There is nothing unprofessional about that. Your Buyer is NOT my concern. What may seem like my lack of action or response, from your perspective, may very well be a negotiating strategy from my Seller's perspective. Don't jump to conclusions about my professionalism or lack of.
I completely agree that we should all work together and that we do not have to work in a disrespectful manner. We should be professionals in all we do. If you want to be a professional then please remember who you are working for and who is paying you. Your "professional courtesy" could very well jeopardize your customer/client's position. How professional is that? What say you?
Bryant Tutas
Broker/Owner
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker
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I agree and use tactics for my client no matter which side I represent. If you "sit on" my buyers to use as negotiating tool, make it quick as I'll never give you a lot of time - 24 hours to get back is sufficient, at times less. My buyer really does not care about your seller as there are many homes in every market to choose from. Your seller may not be worth the bother and we will go find someone that is more motivated to sell. So, if your tactics cause us to move on and another buyer is a long time in coming--
Tim,
A very good blog. Very smart. Just remember who you work with, and stop thinking what others would think about you and what NAR would say.
John, you made me laugh. I have finally put under contract a property, where i waited way beyond the times allowed, and I just kept my fingers crossed. Of course there are so many houses on the market, but I can't care less about the market. The house we put finally under contract and it is now pending, is for $60K, and the next identical is $164,900. And for that I waited (LOL)
Zealously representing a client is ethics at the highest. Honesty doesn't mean full unnecessary or unreasonable disclosure. I hope to do business with my fellow agents again and again, but as Bryant said, I don't work for them. Integrity is doing the right thing, not the popular thing. Good post, thanks for rebloging it.
Dan
Point blank....it's all about using your best efforts to protect the client.