Tracy, the first part of your story you had me convinced lightning can strike the same spot twice. I sometimes think it is about Karma. You just keep doing your best and you can't control what is out of your control. Your very good attitude I have not found in many people. I commend you for having a gentle spirit. Tremendous!!

Persistence will pay off in the end...when one door closes another one opens.  Sometimes it takes time to realize it.

Tracy,
What a wonderful testament to your professionalism and character.  I don't think many agents would have kept in touch after the second incident.  My hat off to you!

I don't know. I KIND OF disagree here.  I'm a pretty nice person and it gets me into trouble.  I am finding that people take advantage and there was NO NEED for them to cut you out of the deal twice.  I find that a tad hard to believe. There is no need to be a doormat.  In fact becoming a doormat is a dangerous thing.  I don't know how it is in NC, but in NY they could easily have done the RIGHT THING and say they had a buyer's agent.  They chose to dump you twice. I would not be working with someone like that a third time. 

I had a time waster client in my first year at first it seemed "easy" - all they wanted was new construction (2 BR condo.) They had a lot of money to put down etc.  After we found a couple of places they brought their parent's in - each SEPARATELY to see three units.  So these three units got three showings. that's 9 showings...for the three they liked and about 20 showings for the ones they rejected. I was patient because I thought we were nearing the end. Then, they lowered the boom that they didn't have the down payment.  Apparently, the parents were putting down the money and someone didn't give a green light. They found a rental and that was that. 

The next year they were back.  This time the young couple had the down payment. But they felt they HAD to show their parent's the units.  They were young but this was getting more than a little old.  Once again - they wouldn't make an offer without 3 separate showings. The wife's mother was a nightmare.  Each showing with her took two hours - she tore everything apart.  9 showings just to narrow down the final three. This time we were literally all over the county! I think we did 34 showings plus the extra six on the final three. My father was seriously ill and the wife was ridiculously demanding - they were literally sucking up all my time. We had the preapproval and everything in place.  I had explained to all concerned what the costs were going to be (the wife had really expensive taste) but when the husband realized the out-of-pocket cost it was going to take to please his wife - he went ballistic - in many ways I didn't blame him - but he KNEW the costs because I had explained it so why the big surprise?  I tired to show them a few things that they could fix up - but this lady was determined that everything had to be shiny new with location, location, location. They rented again - in a ridiculously expensive complex -  costing hubby far more than any purchase would.

If they come back this year....NOOOOOOOOOO WAAAAAAAAY.  Unless they are buying a $ 1 million + unit, I am down to about $5/hour. I'm not even going to discuss the gasoline/auto wear and tear. I wasted far too many hours of my valuable time on them.  Given my father's illness, this cost me dearly because it cut drastically down on prospecting.  I had four similar (though not as extreme)  time suckers clients last summer resulting in a dead loss and far too little prospecting and I paid dearly for it - no sales for many months because I was too willing to go that extra mile or two or three....or 100. I would have had far more business this past year if hadn't let myself get sucked in hoping that the bird in the hand would be productive.  NEVER again. 

Tracy, I think that almost any of us could have written this post at one time or another, and I for one really feel your pain, and your excitement at finally getting a crack at a check from these guys.  I'm getting better at having people sign buyer broker agreements at some point pretty early in the transaction when we decide we like each other and are committed to going steady.  And yes!  Been there!  Done that!  And I've gotten good referrals from people like your clients.  So I'm convinced something good will come of it.  Just make sure they understand that, if they run into someone at the clubhouse who wants a villa, you get your check!

"Many of life's failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
 -- Thomas Edison

Tracy - I remember so many of the client disappointments, but I've learned, too, that many of those same folks can provide solid referrals and future business.  You just never know where that next buyer or seller will come from.

You took the right approach with those clients and you ended up winning. We're not always able to help everyone, but they can end up being a great source of referrals or eventual business down the road. I had one client that I met on my first day of floor (yes, quite awhile ago). It took three years, but I finally closed a transaction with them. They have remained dedicated clients and I expect I will hear more from them down the road.

Tracy - two strikes and a hit something like playing basball or going fishing.

Tracy, I agree with Patricia~ buyer's agreements are good for your buyers so they aren't unprotected when buying a FSBO and they will ensure you are paid. All the best! You are a hard worker.

To all - each situation is different and even though I didn't have the BA on the 1st 2 I kept in touch and got the 3rd listing and a buy side.  My biggest point is you have to have a good feel for your clients.  They even used my mortgage company the 2nd time and have also referred me 2 buyers.  If I had "intervened" and made a big deal out of it I wouldn't have gotten the four transactions in a market segment tht I value highly.