Fire them! It is not worth the aggravation when you have zero communications. Tell their “Other” agent that they either lower the price to the market or you have better thing to do than waste time and money. Throw in the red head line too; you will scare the crap out of her. If you can say it with an Irish accent she may believe you had a taste of the good stuff and there is nothing that frightens anyone more than a red headed Irish woman on the warpath, after a few hours in the Pub! I believe there is a government warning to that effect posted somewhere.

I agree - fire them.  I fired one of my listings 3 days ago because of the refusal to lower their price and mow their lawn.  It's the homes owners job to SELL their home by being reasonable and cooporative.  It's MY job their market their home.  If I know I'm wasting time, I tell them "I'm not the REALTOR for them".  Life's too short to go around flustered all the time.  Good luck!

FIRE THEM! You are wasting your time, let someone else deal with them! No one should have to put up with that.

Weigh it out, aggravation or working with workable people. You know what to do. It is hard and I think we try to make it work alot longer than we should. Sounds like there is more than one reason that other agent referred them to you. I would pull the plug. Just can't work like that.

The Other Red-Head says:  "Fire Them"!  Post haste.  The other Agent referred them to you for a reason.

Mary, you're always kind with your comments.

I completely agree with Gary. GET OUT! Your job is to sell their home. When they don't listen and cooperate with you, the professional, they are tying your hands. They are hurting your abilities instead of working with you. When their home does not sell, they will blame their REALTOR. You can do 1000 good things, but that one thing can hurt your name. Protect yourself and get out and let them know why in a professional way.

Wow. Everyone agrees that a client like that is not worth having. Regardless of the possible commission, they are setting you up for failure. Keep us posted!

Ronda, I am in agreement with the group here.  

FIRE THEM!

And do it before they ask you to dress in a chicken suit and hand out flyers on the corner!  (Which DID happen to me... those sellers got FIRE!)

From the picture you painted, there is nothing you or any body else could do to sell a house that's $20,000 over priced, amd a has the smell of dog crap when you walk in. Your not going to get it sold this way why waste your time. Look for some body who really wants help

Ok Gary C. spill, you got asked to dress in a chicken suit and hand out flyers? This has to be good, but you may have to post it on Veldas blog since she is asking for funny stories. Come on, this is interesting in a humiliating way. lol.

(using my best Donald Trump voice) "Fire Them!" now.

Actually, I am not sure I'd fire them, I just wanted to do that Trump thing ;)

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Seller,

I have on several occassions attempted to contact you via phone and have been unable to accomplish this and I'm not getting return calls from the multiple messages that I have left requesting that you call me so we can discuss the results of the marketing of your home and how we can proceed.

(Referral Agent Name Here) who referred me to you stated that I should relay any communications through her. I'm not sure as to why I need to do this, if you requested this or if it was her idea but I feel that I am not going to be able to meet your needs if you are unhappy with my services and are not willing to communicate with us as needed on a regular basis.

If I am not going to be able to speak with you and you are truly unhappy with my services than I feel it best that you perhaps locate an agent who you are more comfortable communicating with. I would be happy to refer you to someone if you so desire.

Nonetheless, I feel that given the circumstances that I will be unable to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.

Attached with this letter is the Status Change that will allow us to withdraw your listing and release you from any obligation to our brokerage. I will not be charging you and withdrawal fee as I would prefer to simply remove myself from this impossible situation.

Please sign and return the Status Change form at your earliest convenience and we will part ways.

I wish you the best of luck with the sale of your home and may your new business prosper greatly!

Anxiously awaiting the form,

Ronda Kaufman

I think that should just about be a great way to accomplish your task and I'm not even going to ask for any fees for that great copy I just wrote for ya! :)

i.e. FIRE THEM SUCKAS! LOL

Scott, you get an A+ for diplomacy. Would you like to be my on-call ghost writer?

Out of curiosity, what's the point of writing a letter and getting them to sign a Status Change form?  They probably won't "have time" for that, either!

Why not go to your seller's restaurant, ask to meet with them privately(in their office so as not to make a seen or create an impression of one), telling them it will take only a minute.

When you get to their office, don't say a word.  Just pull out their contract, and rip it up in front of them.  Then wish them the best of luck and walk out!  Your actions will have a much greater impact.

Ronda

Give them a present and dump them, so you found presents in the kitchen ? and they work 15 hours in a restaurant! Yummy.

I never use info boxes, why? because if you give the drive by's all the information up front ,it leaves them with no questions to ask and to call you.

bon appetite :)

We need to complete the paperwork here on PEI if we fire a client.  Although ripping it up in front of them would be way more fun, it is really the broker's listing, not ours, so we would need to take the proper steps to release it.  

Put the referral agent on call blocking,  when the sellers call you give them the good news about reducing the price.  If they still won't budge, politely decline the listing.  I love redheads with fire in their eyes.   Good luck.

Realtor, Columbus Ga

I think the referring agent is interfering. Perhaps talk to her first. Tell her what is going on. E-mail her and the clients the current homes for sale on the market and comps. If she wants to be the go between, that should be OK, less headache for you. And you can talk straight with her without hurting buyers feelings. I always try to salvage first. Problem solve. Maybe she is a red head too.

I too have a listing that has pets inside. It requires me to arrive early if possible or to let them view the  yard while I go in and check it out. Most of the time OK, no presents. I go the extra mile.

Don't make any moves upset. Hope it all works out.

Nice Letter, Scott!

Is the referring agent getting paid?  How much money have you invested in this seller?  How can you fire a seller if they aren't responding to you to begin with?  Poor lonely dog....

Every body has an opinion on what you should, and only you know what is the right way for you to handle the situation, as the nike commercial says just do it.

Letthem pay for the EXTRA'S, they weren't included in your marketing plan and they have to pay for the extra's and when they refuse FIRE THEM if they don't refuse and wish to pay for the EXTRA'S.... you win!

IT COULD BE A WIN-WIN....

I think everybody just likes to say "fire them" makes us all feel good. We wish we could fire them. But not our listing or our gain or loss.

I wish I could fire all of my problem clients, but that would probably leave me at zero. Think before you act.

THEN FIRE THEM.