When your job is heavily tilted toward customer service, you know that you have to deal with all kinds of people -- and you aren't going to like all of them. That's just part of life! But there's a difference between having a slight personality clash with a client or rubbing each other the wrong way every now and then, and a client-agent relationship that is downright toxic. Sometimes it's hard to tell whether a client is going to be a difficult fit or a downright nightmare for you. If you're new to the business or just need a refresher, here are some big red flags that your seller client, in particular, is probably going to be the latter. **They don't understand the market** Let's be clear: By itself, this is not an enormous scarlet flag that should send you running for the hills. However, it's usually one of the first indications that a seller doesn't have the best judgment, doesn't like to let facts get in the way of their opinion, has an ego problem, or some other more serious issue that could be a dealbreaker. **They think quirky renovations increase the home's value** The problem arises when sellers insist that their interesting and not very common taste enhances the value of the house. Not only will some sellers refuse to shape their homes a little more closely to buyers' tastes, but they might also decide to price their home well above neighborhood comps because "it has something none of the neighbors' homes has!" **A job well done is a reason to complain** Unfortunately, you won't be able to identify this seller until after you've done something amazing -- sold their home quickly, and possibly above asking price. Even though they made the decision to accept the offer, they might decide later on that you advised them poorly. **They can't agree -- with each other** Maybe one wants to sell quickly while the other is content to wait. Or one likes the idea of reducing the price and the other thinks it'd be better to just take the house off the market. **They look for reasons to personally dislike people they don't know** If your seller suddenly starts to develop animosity toward the buyer before they ever meet face-to-face at the closing table, watch out. **They think they know better than you do** There's nothing new under the sun, including home sellers who seem to have an idea that they could do your job better than you, in fact, are doing your job. **They micromanage** Maybe they think the listing photos or marketing materials could be better and want to adjust the typeface or ask you to retake the photos. Perhaps they're nitpicking a word choice in the listing description. **They don't want to compromise** Whether it's refusing to budge on the price, not wanting to work with buyers who ask about repair credits or other concessions after the inspection, or throwing a temper tantrum if the appraisal comes in below their contract price, a seller who won't compromise doesn't give you a lot of room to maneuver as the agent. **They don't want to spruce up ... at all** If the seller has the financial means to make necessary repairs but refuses to do it, or won't negotiate on price even though the place is below the standards for most of the market, then you're most likely working with someone unreasonable. **They find fault with everything you do** When a seller can't help but pick apart everything you do to find fault with it, though, that's a good sign that this relationship is probably going to be a lot more trouble and stress than it will be worth for you, financially and otherwise. **You aren't comfortable** Real estate can be a dangerous business, and you won't do yourself any favors by ignoring your gut instinct and hanging around a client who makes you uncomfortable.
