Puzzled much? Welcome to Real Estate

Here's a story.

Bear with me, I promise it has a happy ending. Kind of. Rhetorically, speaking. But it comes with lessons! So it's worth a read, no?

Disclaimer: This story is inspired from true events. Specifically, mine. Have I changed the names? Absolutely!

So, it starts with a client, let's call her Axel. I connected with her through social media (I know, right), or rather she approached me to discuss all matters related real estate. That conversation, I must admit, went superbly well. Not because I was able to relay all required information effectively (*years of experience*), but also owing to the fact that she was simply amenable to listening and speaking equally.

If there is anything my work in the service industry over the past several years has taught me, it's this. That service is a two-way street. It's like a jigsaw puzzle. The needs and wants of the client all amalgamate into the possibilities the solution provider has. Not all fit in. Oh no, no. Just one right fit is enough. And if one is experienced enough, it gets easy with time to complete the puzzle.

That's how we were. A jigsaw puzzle all solved and done over a mere ten minute conversation. Needless to say, that eventually led to a formal meeting, where all the necessary paperwork was done to begin looking for the right house for my new buyer client.

And so it began. Visiting houses from houses to even bigger houses. Some liked. Some apparently atrocious. Some loved. Some unfortunately not even entered. I searched and showed. I answered she questioned. It was the same real estate buyer dance like any other, and was hopeful in concluding this routine with an outstanding transaction at our hands.

Or so I thought.

That search. That dance. It went on for quite a bit. By a bit, I mean over two months.

That's a long enough time for me to start wondering if strategic changes needed to be made in our plan. And I had one. Always do. Because if there is one job of a real estate agent that is unbelievably understated, barely acknowledged in fact, is that we carry the burden of separating emotions from reasonable perspective, a very important detail which sometimes buyers tend to lack. We know it. I knew it. And it was about time that a fresh perspective was shining through the windows of our house hunting adventure.

But like I said.

So I thought.

Axel had plans. Grand plans that involved, or rather, did not involve me. There I was, relooking into possible properties that could grow the real estate portfolio of my client. Just then, a message zoomed through my phone. From Axel.

It went, "Hi. I'd like to cancel our buyer representation agreement."

That's it. Just that. No explanation. No warning.

My first thought? Let's just say shock barely hit the tip of the iceberg. It was a mixture of feelings. But driven as I always was through action, I chose to reply with an email looking to clarify the matter, in the hope that any lax in services is brought to attention and remedied immediately.

Lord, did I have it all wrong!

It wasn't a lax in services.

It wasn't a fault in how we were progressing with her portfolio.

It wasn't because of lack of proper advice.

No mam, no.

It was simply because her friend, her best friend supposedly, was recently licensed as a real estate agent. That friendship, being deep as it was, had convinced Axel to conveniently seek my services till the time being her friend could lawfully represent her in her real estate transaction.

In a nutshell, my entire hard work, hustle, guidance of over two months with Axel was only so her best friend could reap the final results. Financially. Professionally. In every way you can think of.

If I was ever shocked in life, that was truly a time. Shocked how people were so effortlessly callous. Shocked how people saw right in wrong. Shocked at how unbelievably cruel the mind can brew such mischief.

Did I try to reason with Axel? At how unfair it all was? Yes! Of course I did. It wasn't a desperation plea, but a rightful explanation that my endless efforts with her had to be dignified with.

But then on second thought, there was nothing dignified in how easily she chose to make her plans clear, without blinking, without breaking. And that I realized, was all I needed to hear.

So then began a conversation. A different one which I never expected in a million years to have with Axel. How to end it. It was all a back and forth between three people. Me. Her. And my broker of record.

End result? The agreement still remains intact.

Because an agreement, is, as the word itself suggests, is simply an agreement. Mutually signed by both parties. And since its initiation was mutual, so must its ending be.

Simply because Axel chose to not honor it for her own selfish gains, did not imply the other party, meaning my brokerage, had to comply with.

And there it still remains. That agreement. Still very much signed. Still very much in place. Tucked away in my cabinet. A proof of a budding relationship that I felt would bring a home to Axel. Which she eventually will materialize for herself, I am certain. She is comfortably awaiting its expiration, and reeling to begin her search again.

Just not with me.

And that's okay. No, truly, it's okay.

You know why? Because I value my time, my worth, my experience and what I bring to the table. And that table is always filled. With clients who do appreciate it. With trusting souls who choose me to manage their house decisions. With never ending support from my peers and seniors.

I have pieces of puzzles waiting to see them through. And a hustler that I am, I am already on it. They will be completed. Those people who put faith in me, will see their dreams come true.

And the ones who didn't believe in me.

Well. Those puzzles were only ever that. A puzzle.