By Coco Claymen-Cook
I've said it before; I'll probably say it again. Life is just too short to deal with difficult people. Yes, 
there are levels of difficult and if you find yourself with nothing but difficult clients its time to ask yourself what are you doing to attract them. But every once in a while we all get a client who is not a good match for us. I have come to think of these clients as "tests" sent by the universe to make sure that I am really walking my talk.
I know my business, I have been in the real estate industry for many years and I am confidant that I understand the global market as well as my niche market. So when a client comes to me and wants to do things in a way that I know won't work - Like inflating the price of their home and then lowering it to a more reasonable price point after 60 days - it is my job to stand by my expertise and educate the perspective client as to why this will not be financially desirable for them. If the client refuses to be educated this is my opportunity to stand in my truth and let the client seek another realtor.
It's never easy turning away a perspective client, tests never are easy. But it is much easier than wasting time and money doing something that I know will not be successful. In the end every time I have passed this test there has been a better client just over the horizon, one who was appreciative of my expertise.
My business is predominately referrals. 99% are awesome people to work with. The 1% who are not so much fun and they are even harder to "fire" because they are a referral.
That is something that I love about this business, we can choose who we want to work with!
Hi Coco,
Difficult clients are never any fun and when I signed up for this gig, they told me it would be fun! Stand your ground, Coco, and do the right thing; you'll pass the test w/flyng colors every time.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Coco, this is so true. We choose to work in this business because we really love it and we are able to pick the people that we want to work with. We can proudly say that we have never regretted making the choice to turn away clients that we knew would be difficult to work with or that had unrealistic expectations. Like you we have found that a better client always is there to take their place.
Have a great holiday season!
Hi Coco,
Great post! Don't you always have that "hunch" about difficult clients? (And always regret it when you don't listen to it???) 99% of my customers are friends, past customers and referrals, and it always seems that it's the referrals where you don't establish the relationship on your own that seem to be more prone to be that 1%.
Happy Holidays! Lisa