This is a phrase that real estate agents often live by. If an agent is honest and straight forward with their landlords or sellers from the start, he/she often will lose the listing before one secures it, or at minimum, start off on shaky ground.
Truth be told, in good markets and bad, landlords and sellers often have unrealistic expectations for what their property is worth or what they can rent it for.
On the contrary, if an agent acts as a simple "yes man" for their seller or landlord, the listing usually sits and goes cold after a few weeks. Again, the landlord or seller tends to get impatient and the business relationship can quickly go south.
All said, what do I do to help minimize these outcomes? Number one, I always act in good faith with my clients. It always pays to take the high road and provide the best information available. However, it pays to be a bit of a psychologist as well. As my sales manager often reminds me, "All clients are different, one has to adapt."
I agree with this perspective 100%. A good agent is able to observe the situation and act accordingly. Every individual has a different threshold for new information, and chances are, if this information is unfavorable, the recipient will act negatively towards it and you.
Therefore, I try to balance the bad news with a lot of reliable data. I take the extra steps to provide my clients with real time, up to date, rental and sales data that they can easily understand and digest. Sometimes, that's not enough, and I have to wait for another opportunity to share information.
Lastly, there may be a time when the business relationship just doesn't work and it's better to walking away. As in other aspects in life, some relationships just don't work out and one is better served by going in a different direction.
At the end of the day, I want to get the deal done in the most professional manner possible, for all parties involved. I view every situation as a learning experience that I can take to the next transaction, "DAMNED IF I DO, DAMNED IF I DON'T!"
Have a great weekend!
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