If you have ever been a boss in Corporate America before, chances are that you have had the privilege of sitting down and having the “it just isn’t working out” conversation with one of your employees.
Or maybe you have even been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of one of these conversations (a wise man once told me that you hadn’t lived until you had been fired from a job) and from time to time still think back on the big event.
In Corporate America, the actual meeting or conversation of a boss firing an employee can happen in a variety of ways: from The Apprentice style board room meeting with a big “You’re Fired!” at the end or maybe just a quiet conversation with a truly sad goodbye. No matter what the style is, one thing is usually certain — the message has been communicated.
But in the field of real estate, getting fired by a client is different than being fired by a boss – much different.
You see, when you get fired in the world of real estate the client usually doesn’t tell you that you have been fired, they just solve their problem with some other solution. This usually involves going to one of your competitors and getting their need met by someone they feel can better meet their need.
So if you are a Realtor and your client fires you – guess what? Chances are that the client is still going to buy or sell a house. Ok, so there are buyer broker agreements and listing agreements to help a little bit in the case of a Realtor and a client but what if you are a loan officer? Or maybe an escrow officer? Or an appraiser?
The point is this: if you are in the position where you have clients and work in the field of Real Estate, don’t expect a “things just aren’t working out…” type of conversation, chances are you will just hear less and less from your client until ultimately you don’t hear from them at all.
How do I know all this? I am in the middle of getting fired by a client of course.
She just won’t tell me.
About the Author: Justin McHood is a mortgage broker with VanDyk Mortgage Corporation. You can find him at Arizona Mortgage Team, on the Zillow’s Mortgages Unzipped Blog, and at most East Valley Friday Nights gatherings. He’s the one in the blue shirt.
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Real estate is one tough business to do. You'll never know what type of customer you will have. Having a good self control is one good tool.
This is highly competitive world; you have to be on your toes always. Competition nowadays, especially at the recession time is so much that you never know when your competitor drop there prices and take away your business.
It happens, but honestly sometimes it is much better to get fired by a client. Having to fire them is even worse, especially if you are firing a needy emotional client with a sense of entitlement. There are few things that irritate me as quickly as someone with an air of entitlement.
-Tyler
in real estate there is no limit for earnings, if we have self control dont scare for anything(fired) just go on ..
I have been fired many different ways. I also have had to fire clients and have had them fire me. It never is fun
It is essential to develop a “thick skin” if you work in any area of sales, including the real estate industry. Anytime a business relationship dissolves, take a few minutes to conduct a root cause analysis…What did I do right? What did I do wrong? Then, take the information you discover and use it to improve your business.
I love this post! It's really important these days to be extremely careful who you take on as a client. If you don't set realistic expectations and educate your client exactly what Justin points out will happen.
I have a cancellation agreement policy that works both ways if I at anytime feeling like firing them I can same with them it's only fair
It's an art to end the relationship before it becomes a real problem.
Hi Justin. Commissioned jobs are no different than a widget at a retail store. If the consumer doesn't like it, it's always exchangeable.
@Tyler,
Agreed. Getting fired in itself inherently good or bad — it can be either one… or both!
@Mike,
I have been fired and done firing many times — and when you say “it is never fun”, that has been my experience as well… right up until the actual event! After the event (or non event) my experience has been that hindsight almost always told me that the good that came out of it far outweighed the bad.
@Bruce,
I 100% agree with your “thick skin” idea.
@gdallaire
Good point — it is an art to end a relationship… business or otherwise.
@robertworthington
Good point! I hadn't thought of it that way… thanks for pointing that out.
Justin
Real estate forced me to developed the thick-skin over the past 18 years, but when I mention “getting fired” to my wife she still gets pretty upset!
But parting ways can actually make you realize how much energy that client was sucking out of you… and spring you to become much more productive.
Eh – given current market conditions I've been trying really hard to avoid getting fired or doing the firing.
But in the field of real estate, getting fired by a client is different than being fired by a boss – much different.
yes of course
A good broker is a broker who knows what the client's wishes. but in others it sometimes complacent broker and client's can break up without the slightest notice.
if I became a client's I want the best for me
So true. I wish many clients were up front and honest. To many clients play the victim card.
It's been my experience that you get “fired” a lot more often by so-called clients who simply get advised by cohorts and coworkers to use someone else. That, or perhaps they weren't completely up front about their true ability to buy in the first place.
We also spend a lot of time working the numbers – if you meet “x” amount of people, you should generate “y” amount of actual closings.
The number one word in real estate is “next!” Otherwise you'll dwell too long on the “what ifs” and “whys” on something you may have had zero control over.
Navy Chief, Navy Pride