Narcissistic real estate agents?

narcissistic real estate agents
When real estate agents are narcissistic

A common criticism of real estate agents is that they are manipulative and often focused on their own needs rather the home buyer or seller. Could it be that real estate agents are narcissists? Samuel Lopez De Victoria, Ph.D. describes a narcissist in the World of Psychology blog (psychcentral.com/blog) as someone who is preoccupied with “self, personal preferences, aspirations, needs, success, and how he/she is perceived by others.”  How can you tell when you are dealing with narcissistic real estate agents?

In an industry that relies on self promotion, it’s not as easy as you might think to spot narcissistic real estate agents.  They initially don’t often come across as manipulative or self centered. Dr. Lopez De Victoria describes. Extreme narcissists as being able to portray themselves in many ways to attract others to get what they want.  They will seem likeable  and be the “nice person.” They may often seem to be the “proper diplomatic” person.  They often appear to care about you, but it is not authentic empathy.  And of course, they are often a charming person.

Dr. Lopez De Victoria says that having some amount of narcissism is normal and even healthy. So even though most agents are not extreme narcissists, it does not address the remorse expressed by some about the agents they chose. Even though industry experts recommend interviewing several agents before buying or listing a home, the majority of home buyers and sellers do not. According to the National Association of Realtors® 2014 Highlights of the Profile of Buyers and Sellers (realtor.rog), 70% of home sellers and about 66% of home buyers only contacted one agent before listing or buying a home. Regardless of the remorse expressed by home buyers and sellers about their agent, maybe they would have chosen to work with other agents if given the chance.

Although interviewing several agents before you buy or sell a home won’t eliminate all remorse over your choice of agent, it can certainly increase the probability of your satisfaction. If you choose to interview several agents, you might consider having a conversation about their experience, knowledge, and expertise. Additionally, knowledge about the local neighborhood market and surrounding neighborhoods is extremely important because market trends are hyper-local. You should also talk about the agent’s specialized experience, if your buying or selling situation is unique.

You should also ask about the agent’s limitations. This is an area where some agents get themselves into trouble is by not knowing, or are unwilling to disclose their limitations to potential buyers or sellers. By discussing the agent’s limitations, you can understand what the agent can and cannot do as well as know when the agent will refer you to other professionals for advice; this can also frame your expectations.

To get some insight into the agent’s way of thinking and service, you might consider asking atypical questions too! Surely an agent is more than happy to talk about their accomplishments, number of sales, and even name drop a past client or two; but what about the listings that didn’t sell? Have they been fired by a client?

The ratio of expired to sold listings can be telling; is the agent focused on servicing your listing or is it a “numbers game” for them? If an agent is open to sharing those figures, ask for reasons why the listings didn’t sell; was it about price or the marketing? If an agent has a history of being fired, it could be a possible indication of issues with the quality of service, including over-promising and not meeting expectations.

Original published at https://dankrell.com/blog/2014/11/14/narcissistic-real-estate-agents/

© Dan Krell
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Disclaimer. This article is not intended to provide nor should it be relied upon for legal and financial advice. Readers should not rely solely on the information contained herein, as it does not purport to be comprehensive or render specific advice. Readers should consult with an attorney regarding local real estate laws and customs as they vary by state and jurisdiction. Using this article without permission is a violation of copyright laws.

Rude home buyers take note

rude home buyersHas increasing incidents of rudeness become tolerated, or is there an epidemic of narcissism? Rude home buyers are growing in numbers. Regardless, home buyers and their agents should be respectful of the home seller and their property.  After all, they are “guests” while viewing the home.

Rude home buyers take note

Although the majority of home buyers and real estate agents adhere to the “golden rule” and are polite and courteous, it’s not uncommon for a few to be bad-mannered and disrespectful. Of course, it’s alright for you to be honest about your feelings towards a home; and home sellers appreciate honest feedback. However, if the home is not to your taste or is not in the condition you expect; there is no need to lay on the insults as you peruse the home – rather, be honest to yourself and your agent, do the polite thing and excuse yourself. Don’t waste your time and energy walking through a home that is not for you.

Contrary to belief, “insulting” is not a negotiation tactic; there is a difference between being outright aggressive and assertive. Insulting the seller and their home can be counterproductive; there is a difference between being offensive about living conditions versus stating objective and factual information about the home’s condition. Rather than offering a lower price for a home based on your opinion of the home owner, a lower price makes more sense if you can make a case that the home needs updating and/or repairs.

Although most home buyers view homes with their real estate agent, many ride home buyers attend open houses alone. If you view homes with your agent, they may remind you of etiquette and behavioral expectations. However, if your agent acts disrespectful toward the seller and/or their property, it is not an excuse for you to follow suit.

Home sellers deserve respect

Being respectful of home sellers and their properties is not only expected, it is a good strategy. If you’re unsure about a situation, ask your agent how to act/respond. However, here are some general etiquette tips while viewing homes (alone or with your agent): Be respectful of the occupants by adhering to showing instructions; don’t show up unexpected and demand to see the home; if you cannot keep an appointment, make sure the occupant is notified; be respectful of the property; follow showing instructions in the home seller’s absence, such as requests to remove shoes; in the case of potentially dangerous situations, such as a gas odor, a tripped security alarm, unexpected power failure, etc – alert your agent and/or the proper authorities immediately; if you bring children with you – always keep an eye on your children; never eat in the home, as it could leave a mess in the home; leave the home as you entered it by locking all exterior doors and shutting off the lights as necessary; criticism is best left for a later time – your comment s may be overheard by others; if the home is not to your liking – politely excuse yourself from the home.

Rude home buyers often sabotage their transaction

Remember that even though you are rightly focused on your housing needs, you are a guest while viewing others’ homes. And although there is no expectation for you to offer positive feedback – there is an expectation for you to be respectful of the owners and occupants of the home. At some point the roles may be reversed and you will be the home seller expecting others to respect you and your home.

Original published at https://dankrell.com/blog/2013/01/31/rude-and-narcissistic-home-buyers-take-note-home-sellers-need-respect-too/

by Dan Krell
Google+

This article is not intended to provide nor should it be relied upon for legal and financial advice. Using this article without permission is a violation of copyright laws. Copyright © 2013 Dan Krell.