Melissa Krchnak
By Melissa Krchnak
You’re really lucky if this hasn’t gone down with a friend before:
Friend: Melissa, can you answer this mildly vague real estate question? *insert excitement*
Melissa: Of course, Friend. I’m happy to help with all of your real estate needs.
Friend: Awesome! So, we’re buying this house and our agent said… *insert face palm*
Have you ever had that go down? And, you know what killed me? The next time I saw them:
Friend: Hey, Friend 2, have you met our REALTOR®, Melissa? *your REALTOR®, Melissa?!?!?!*
That’s right. I’m happy to accept the title as *their* REALTOR® even though I — and I really do blame myself — missed the boat on helping them with their purchase.
You want to know a dirty, little secret? I didn’t think they were financially ready to purchase. That was such a valuable lesson. Not only did I learn I needed to get better at my follow-up/touches/dripping, I learned that I shouldn’t judge or assume anything about my clients (or my friends), including what I believe they can or cannot afford.
If you’ve yet to have a friend use someone else, please heed this lesson and learn from my mistake. I’m glad I was able to help my friend with her purchase. I just wish I would’ve been one of the REALTORS® getting paid at the end of the day.
Melissa Krchnak is the assistant team leader for Keller Williams Realty in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Connect with her at kwrancho.com.
Comments 6
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Last week I got the old “what do you think our house is worth?” …ok well I want to use you since you have referred so much business to me but we are going to sell privately because your fee cuts into our equity”
I don’t think it is a good idea to use a friend for your Realtor. In the end you may not be friends any longer.
Wow, that seems a little tough for you, Melissa. It also happened to me 6 years ago when I was in the Real Estate Industry. It’s a little bit different though. I was the first and only agent who helped my friend purchased their house… at the end of the day, they went directly to the developer’s office and claimed that they don’t have an agent. They might be thinking that they will get a huge discount on their purchase (but that didn’t happen). That also served as a life lesson for me. Now, even that I’m involved in one of the reputable construction companies in springfield mo, I’m doing everything not to let that kind of situation happen again. It’s really tough to be a sales person.:)
I read your comments; I would not letter this incident bother you.
Just remember next time. Along the way a lot of us has made that mistake if the truth be known,
Wil Lewis
Ryan, I would get purposeful about learning scripts to show your value. You’re worth every penny of your commission, they just don’t get it yet. Jo Anne, any friend that would turn into an ugly situation, probably shouldn’t be my real friend anyway. I have had situations where it gets heated and yet at the end of the transaction my clients always see that I’m there to bring the value and appreciate the process. Anj, it definitely wasn’t easy and yet it was a lesson that needed to be learned. Since then, I’ve been religious in my follow-up.