 There
comes a time in many a life when one considers throwing
it all away and going into real estate. It's one of
those jobs that's there waiting for you if the bottom
falls out of your middle class life. After a career
malfunction, a messy divorce or a mild breakdown, there's
always real estate.
That's not to say that it isn't
an honourable profession. It is — it's just that
houses are such personal objects they carry a lot of
freight. It isn't easy to deal with people who hope
to change their lives by changing the place they live.
It wears you down. Eventually, every agent finds a formula
that balances income and effort, empathy with clients
against the need for one's own sanity.
TYPECASTING
As a buyer or seller of property it's important that
you understand with whom you are dealing. Here are three
of the more easily identified types. Watch for them
the next time you buy or sell — it will make both
your lives easier.
The Lister: This agent doesn't
actually care if he or she sells your house, what they
want is the listing. Once you've signed on the dotted
line and the homestead's been plugged into the Multiple
Listings, the Lister moves on to the next victim —
uh, client. Let someone else sell the hovel, the Lister
is happy to settle for a share of the commission. The
Lister will insist on a huge sign on your lawn with
their name on it. It won't help you sell the house,
but it will help them get more listings. At least they'll
let you list it at almost any price you like —
good for your self esteem.
The Demander: The reverse
of the Lister, this agent loves your house to bits —
the layout, the incredible things you've done to it.
And that bathroom! Why, a place like this will sell
in a second — and at a top price. Just to make
certain, it's better to list it at about what the market's
selling for these days — $10,000 below is even
better.
You sign, an open house is arranged,
people troop through but there's no offer. Why is that,
you ask? Well, the kitchen is a little dingy and everyone
wants four bedrooms now. The downstairs toilet looks
great as a kitty corner but that doesn't appeal to everyone.
Perhaps if you ripped it out and put in a new one. Or
dropped the price...
The Closer: This agent is
a combination of the Lister and Demander and is ideal
for a quick sale as long as you're not especially wedded
to getting a good price. The Closer goes on and on about
how many houses he or she has sold. They're 10 time
winners of the President's Table award, whatever that
might be. They want the listing and ask only that you
be "realistic" about the price. Before the ink is dry
on the contract they'll begin an aggressive campaign
on you to lower it. Lucky for you, the Closer is equally
feisty with anyone who shows the slightest interest
in your property and will go to almost any lengths to
get an offer out of them, even if it's thousands less
than what you're ready to accept. Once the offer's in,
the tension becomes so palpable that you'll do almost
anything to stop it. The buyer is left to assume there
will be serious legal consequences if they don't follow
through on the purchase. The closing is curt and business-like.
Everyone is close to tears of frustration. The agent
would like to have a drink to celebrate but there's
another appointment to get to so, well, goodbye.
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PERSONAL FINANCE
