| There are many reasons to fire an abusive client. If | | | | who has no boundaries whatsoever and makes you |
| someone is constantly bullying you, belittling you, | | | | uncomfortable with their personal questions or remarks |
| criticizing your work or expressing doubts about your | | | | or their ceaseless phone calls at all hours of the day |
| ethics, it is time to let them go. What you are being | | | | and night. |
| paid is not enough for the stress that an abusive client | | | | There is a legend floating around about the abusive |
| places on your emotional health and on your business. | | | | difficult-client-who-became-a-loyal-lifelong-customer. It's |
| There is a difference between the difficult client and | | | | just that – a legend. If it was actually true, it would |
| the abusive client and sometimes it's hard to see | | | | have become a cliché long ago. Abusive people |
| where the line is drawn. A difficult client can be | | | | don't miraculously stop being abusive, gift their agents |
| someone who requires more hand-holding than others | | | | with million-dollar checks or leave them estates in their |
| or someone who rubs you the wrong way or | | | | will. They will continue using you as their doormat, not |
| someone who is extremely exacting in their | | | | treat you like a trusted colleague. |
| requirements. However, if they respect your clearly | | | | The stress generated by an abusive client far outstrips |
| stated boundaries, these clients do not generally fall | | | | the benefit of the commission you may or may not |
| into the category of “abusive”. | | | | get (these kinds of clients often find excuses to leave |
| Abusive clients take “difficult” and ramp it up to | | | | you hanging after you've spent hours working on their |
| a full-on offensive. There's the person who threatens | | | | increasingly impossible demands). If you're dreading to |
| to sue you whenever you tell him that what he wants | | | | meet with them again, if you're finding that they |
| is impossible. There's the person who laces his | | | | interrupt the flow of the real estate search to cut up |
| disapprobation with your morals and methods with | | | | your character or criticize your methods, if you just |
| profanity and insults. There's the person who | | | | can't stand being in their presence because you know |
| expresses doubt in your moral fiber and frequently | | | | that they're going to doubt your expertise, question |
| comments on the outrageous sums you, as a | | | | your ethics and generally make you feel bad about |
| Realtor® must be making (often accompanied by | | | | yourself and your business…. CUT THEM LOOSE. |
| complaints about your work ethics). There's the person | | | | |