I agree with you. Nice POST.

Thanks Maria!

Mike- Trying to enforce a contract with someone who isn't willing to work with me is something I'm just not willing to do. It takes too much time and aggravation on both sides. I'd rather work with clients where we can have a great relationship.

Jennifer,

Yep!

Mike - Great post!  I totally agree with you!  I want my clients to want to work with me. 

Absolutely, Candy.  And thanks for the compliment!

MIke,

I agree the same for what you wrote, great blog and great thoughts, keep the good work, now I have you handy :)

Ray Saenz

I've never heard that saying Mike, but it's good advice. Where was it six months ago? (long story!)

Ray,

I'm honored that you read my stuff.  Thanks.

Joey,

I hadn't made that saying up six months ago, but I feel your pain...

Mike, Just like everything else, there are more than one side to this "issue."

If they are trying to cancel just so that they can get out of paying a commission then you can't let them walk. Too many times buyers and sellers get together to try to avoid paying the commission. They think they can "split the difference."

On the other hand, if it is only an issue of non-compatibility then you are absolutely right. Let themk walk.

Bill roberts

Mike, We never had that situation, but if it came up  we certainly would not want to box anyone into a realtionship they did not want..

Ginger

Bill,

You are right, we don't part while under contract, or after locating the house.

We are talking "non-compatibility" here. 

Ginger,

Thanks for commenting.

I want clients that trust me and I trust them not to go behind my back after I have been working with them. I do not want the fight. Great post.

Amen.  And also a reason to fire the unreasonable sellers who give you heartburn!

Hi Mike, great post.  I have a couple of different feelings about this, even though I'm not a Real Estate Agent.  I guess it depends on why you are trying to enforce, or not enforce the contract.

On one side, there are buyers agents that will say to the buyer "call me when you find a house and I'll take you in to see it", and then expect a commission for showing them 1 house, that the agent didn't even find them!  I've had this happen three times to buyers in my 8 years of doing loans.  But, because the buyer signed a contract and the agent won't let them out of the contract, they can't work with another buyer's agent that would give them better service, and the agent with bad service gets paid. I think in this kind of case the buyer should have an "out".  

On the other side I've seen the opposite happen as well, the agent shows them a TON of houses, meets with them on Saturday's and Sunday's, missing family outings to find the buyer a house, and then finds out that the buyer is closing on a house the original buyers agent showed to them, but is using a different buyers agent.  In this case, I think the agent should absolutely enforce the contract, because it isn't fair.  This happened to a friend of mine who is an agent.  She must have shown that buyer 75 houses, worked with them for 6 months or more, and the SELLER was refusing to pay her because the BUYER wanted their FRIEND who was an agent to get paid??

I'm kind of 50/50 on this one.

-Shawna- 

In all contracts--with Buyers and Sellers--I write in a clause "Either party may terminate this agreement at any time in writing." Clients love it, and it puts them at ease!

Mike,

I agree with you 100% - why work with someone who doesn't want to work with you?  Even if you enforce the contract they are likely to tell everyone about their experience. 

Shawna,

I can understand the will to seek a commission one has earned. 

It helps with the 50/50 to include, "Until a suitable property is located..." 

Darleen,

Yes.  And see the above phrase.

Leigh,

There's that angle, too.

Rita,

Yes, word of mouth will tear you down as fast as it will build you up.

I totally agree...Let them off the hook so that they'll see that you weren't as bad as they thought.

Take care & good luck to you!

Hi Mike,
If a client wants out, I want him out.  I don't believe anything good will come out of a relationship with bad blood.  

Armando,

That is taking the strategy to the next level! 

Cynthia,

Thanks for commenting.

I agree with you, obviously.