This last week we had a client that closed on their new construction home. I wasn’t happy with the situation at all because the home was still not completely finished on the day of closing, but the buyers needed to get closed and move in.
Normally, closing on a new construction home would be a very happy day. The look and feel of everything being brand new in the home is an incredible feeling, but closing on a home that still has construction materials laying around the garage, tile that hasn’t been installed on the fireplace, mirrors not hung in the bathrooms, and missing pull-knobs on the cabinets just gives you more of a sick-to-your-stomach feeling. It certainly didn’t make for a happy buyer.
This situation was made even worse because of the builder and the listing agent’s insistence that it was everyone else’s fault and not theirs. Every time I would have a conversation with either of them, they had an excuse. And 100% of the time, it was someone else’s fault. The wrong materials were ordered, the plumber didn’t show up on time, we had some miscommunication with the electrician, I’m waiting on the county inspector to call me back. It was one excuse after another and it was exhausting to speak with either of them about these things.
I can’t stand to work with people like this or even be around them. A blamer refuses to admit they have ever done anything wrong. In a blamer’s mind, they honestly believe this to be true. They will always consider themselves a victim, and no matter what really happened, if something goes wrong it is always someone else’s fault. So they will not apologize, for anything, because they consider themselves blameless in every situation.
If by rare chance they do apologize, it will always be a backhanded apology. Somehow the blamer will turn it around on you and make you feel guilty for their mistake. Ex: I’m sorry you’re mad at me, but it’s your fault for starting it.
This can especially be prominent in the workplace, as a blamer will always take credit when things are going good, and will always blame everyone around them, but themselves, when things are going bad. I can’t stand being around people like this.
I wish I could say that everything always runs smoothly with my real estate business, but unfortunately, it does not. There are many moving parts and pieces to a real estate transaction and typically there are ten to fifteen different people involved. One thing I can say though is that when something goes wrong, I take responsibility for it. Sometimes I even take full credit when it was completely out of my control. That’s how I would want to be treated when I’m paying someone to help me with a home sale or anything else in life.