This past week was one of those character-building ones that threw my world a bit off balance. Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m a tough cookie who lives by the Taylor Swift motto, “Shake it Off.” But this week? Whew! It had me eyeing my shovel and maybe drafting an alibi.

Real estate is a funny business, and I don’t mean the “haha” kind. It’s more of a “what in the world just happened?” kind of funny. Personally, I’ve always believed that Buyer’s Agents and Seller’s Agents should work together to keep things smooth and positive—no surprises. After all, we share the same goal: a happy, successful transfer of ownership. But for things to flow seamlessly, good communication is a must. Withholding or delaying information? That’s a fast track to chaos!

I’ve been working with an agent to get one of my listings across the finish line, and let’s just say she really tested the limits of my patience. Her communications? Rude, condescending, and downright nasty. Picture this: a newbie agent giving me a full lecture on Real Estate 101 (thanks for the tips, kid!), pushing me to a place I’d never been—mentally grabbing my shovel and calculating where to start digging.

As I sat there fuming, ready to deliver a verbal smackdown, I suddenly realized the best move was to say nothing at all. With a few more years (and battles) under my belt, I had to lift my chin, square my shoulders, and remember who I was.

Her last message finally shared a piece of information that, if I’d had it four weeks ago, would’ve given me (and my client) a much clearer picture of what to expect. All I wanted was clear communication and a cooperative approach, but this agent just couldn’t deliver. After a brief in-person interaction this morning, I realized the real issue: she’s oblivious. Oblivious to social graces, human kindness, and basic empathy.

So, instead of the verbal smackdown I had brewing, I said nothing, because sometimes, silence really is the best comeback.

Building good relationships with fellow agents is a crucial part of real estate. Agents already have a shaky reputation in the public’s mind, so why make it worse by alienating each other?

Kindness costs nothing, but its value is absolutely immeasurable.