When it comes to real estate, it seems to be getting worse for us Commercial Real Estate Brokers.
Even Residential agents have to deal with buyer/seller clients who try to impress you with their vast knowledge of Real Estate.
The truth is, web sites are making the broker/agent's job that much harder.
When Realtor.com advertises on TV that if you searched for your house on their web site, you won't become a "Not Me!" That sends an definite signal, that a broker/agent is no longer necessary or needed.
The striking thing is: Realtors are supposed to be the reliable expert! And, if you are working with a Realtor, you are supposed to be getting excellent service.
Now, I'm NOT a Realtor. I choose NOT to be because of the monthly and yearly expense that I can't afford and/or don't need. But, it doesn't mean I am NOT capable.
Anyway, recently, I heard from a land owner (who is also a real estate agent), that another real estate agent from another real estate company had approached her about a larger than normal parcel of land she owns. After talking to this other 'agent,' the owner/agent knew that this agent was working with the same client I had approached her about to acquire her land.
Being the upright agent she is, she called me to inform me about the inquiry right away!
Okay. Buyers will sometimes engage other agents to try to get the best deal. It happens.
Not wanting to be confrontational with the client, I had had just about enough of the client's I'm smarter than you attitude. You see, he wanted a property at a prime location that he could buy cheaply. After dealing with this buyer for several months, I thought about my time he wasted with this effortless pursuit.
So, I thought he needed some pay back for running me ragged searching for land that he was never, ever going to buy.
Anyway, I suggested to this client another parcel (which was an airport owned parcel) and pretended I didn't know who/what had the land lease on the parcel. (It's a local developer -- But, I didn't want to tell him that.)
Anyway, since he wanted to buy at a rock bottom-feeder price, I knew the airport was never going to sell this parcel. (The developer has a 99 year lease.)
But, I suggested it to him anyway.
(Side note to non-Las Vegas resident: In 1998, via an act of Congress, McCarran International Airport (Clark County owned) was able to acquire 5,500 acres of BLM land and have full control over the future development of said acres. Thus the creation of the Cooperative Management Agreement (CMA)).
Now, this CMA grants McCarran a deed restriction over certain parcels within a certain area. If you are inside of this CMA Area, McCarran can say whether or not you can/can't develop certain properties, whether they own the land or not.)
Well, the client got mad when I (finally) admitted that the airport owned the parcel and we should find something else.
I understand his anger. But, I had found him two perfectly good parcels outside the CMA that he rejected:
Parcel One was adjacent to a Wal-Mart. He didn't want to be near any Wal-mart at all (I don't understand it either);
Parcel Two was the owner/agent's parcel who called me. It had everything the client wanted/needed but it also came with (former) NV Energy Power Poles that were no longer being used.
(NV Energy would take the poles down with a future development, but NV Energy wants the land owner to pay for the pole removal. (I know, Huh?!))
Well, I can only imagine the poles costing +/-$10,000 to $12,000 to remove. But, still, he didn't want to pay; neither does the current land owner.
Now, I know it was mean of me to get the Client excited about a parcel he could never develop his concept on, but when I learned the Client was willing to go around me and directly to another agent/developer, I wanted to waste some of his time.
Besides, the Client wouldn't accept the truth no matter how it was presented.
He wanted what he wanted and any advice I gave him was countered by his ambition to screw a land owner over out of the equity in the property.
I came to the conclusion, right or wrong, that working with this Client was a waste of time.
It happens:
So, long story short (Too late?): Since he was working with another agent all the while he was working with me, I decided to cut my losses. In poker terms, I folded.
Now, I understand the logic behind clients doing this; But, I don't understand the reason why.
If you are working with two brokers/agents at the same time, both are NOT going to purposely hide any available properties from you -- especially if the client qualifies to make a purchase.
And, since he was perusing the listing sites directly, this made my job extra hard. He was making me jump through hoops that weren't necessary.
Who's to blame for this scenario?
First: I will blame the real estate web sites who make it easy for just anyone to search for properties without an agent.
Second: I will blame myself. It is my fault the client is angry with me.
(It's never the clients fault even if they purposely waste your time.)
So, I accept that the Client is angry with me; the agent who referred the client to me is angry with me; and I am angry with myself for NOT being a better student of buyer/client behavior.
But, I have my sanity and I'm staying honest regardless of any dirty tricks Clients pull.
The moral of the story is: There is no reason to lie when it comes to real estate. I truly don't understand why client/agents would.
Much appreciation to the loyal brokers/agents who Rat on lying, deceitful clients.
To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet
OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8
AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes
Have a nice day!
