I Don't Need No Stinkin' Doctors!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
I Don't Need No Stinkin' Doctors!
Recently, I had a client who said she was serious about selling. Her husband was in Texas. She had bypass surgery this year due to heart problems. It was my assumption she would do the things necessary to get her property sold. You know what happens when you make assumptions?
The property was on the market with another agent and expired. According to this seller, the real estate agent was remiss in their duties and the property did not sell. I explained that this market is 'a price war and a beauty contest'. The property must be aggressively priced and show exceedingly well. The seller promised she would do what was necessary to attract a buyer.
During the first week I asked the seller to obtain an appraisal and complete a few staging suggestions. She refused. Calmly and compassionately I tried to make my point with an analogy. "If your doctor asked you to take some heart medicine to help with your recovery, what would you do?" I asked. She replied, "I don't need no stinkin' doctors telling me what to do. I never took the medicine the last heart doctor gave me", she shouted. The last heart doctor, I thought. How many doctors did she have?
Fortunately, I studied psychology at the University of Connecticut. During my senior year I spent one evening each week at a local mental health institution learning how to rehabilitate or comfort mentally challenged patients. I was sure with more patience, more analogies, and more stories; I could help this lady get her house sold. I was wrong.
After 120 days the listing expired again. In retrospect, the lesson I learned was that some people feel they don't need any stinkin' doctors, dentists, lawyers, realtors, accountants, therapists, counselors, clergy, paramedics, firemen, policemen, lifeguards, nurses, morticians, veterinarians, dieticians, chiropractors, professors, mechanics, guides, scuba instructors, etc. Stay away from these folks.
Recently, I had a client who said she was serious about selling. Her husband was in Texas. She had bypass surgery this year due to heart problems. It was my assumption she would do the things necessary to get her property sold. You know what happens when you make assumptions?
The property was on the market with another agent and expired. According to this seller, the real estate agent was remiss in their duties and the property did not sell. I explained that this market is 'a price war and a beauty contest'. The property must be aggressively priced and show exceedingly well. The seller promised she would do what was necessary to attract a buyer.
During the first week I asked the seller to obtain an appraisal and complete a few staging suggestions. She refused. Calmly and compassionately I tried to make my point with an analogy. "If your doctor asked you to take some heart medicine to help with your recovery, what would you do?" I asked. She replied, "I don't need no stinkin' doctors telling me what to do. I never took the medicine the last heart doctor gave me", she shouted. The last heart doctor, I thought. How many doctors did she have?
Fortunately, I studied psychology at the University of Connecticut. During my senior year I spent one evening each week at a local mental health institution learning how to rehabilitate or comfort mentally challenged patients. I was sure with more patience, more analogies, and more stories; I could help this lady get her house sold. I was wrong.
After 120 days the listing expired again. In retrospect, the lesson I learned was that some people feel they don't need any stinkin' doctors, dentists, lawyers, realtors, accountants, therapists, counselors, clergy, paramedics, firemen, policemen, lifeguards, nurses, morticians, veterinarians, dieticians, chiropractors, professors, mechanics, guides, scuba instructors, etc. Stay away from these folks.
