I've thought about the reasons why I tolerate the often-craptastic universe of real estate as part of my chosen professions.  There's the cancelled transactions right before closing, the shady behavior of agents with the 'scarcity mindset', the endless parade of showings that end with the buyers finding a house off the market that a friend introduces them to, lawyers threatening to kill deals, the list of negatives goes on and on.  However, at the end of the day, this is such a sensitive and emotional arrangement - the changing hands of homes, memories, hopes, finances, and the places where the height measurements of children are notched into door trim.  Houses are so much like people in my mind - so many hours of manual labor, design planning, and time spent living life within them, so at the end of the day I just can't say "NO MORE" to trying to make happy endings out of the potential stress tests of real estate deals.  Having my own home on the market has really brought into focus both the sensitivities of the situation and the positive change that the sale can bring about for both buyers and sellers.  Representing a buyer, especially one that is looking to buy a 'fixer' that has significant issues that need to be reflected in the purchase price, is not about scamming the best price no matter what the cost.  It's not about pushing a reality check in front of a seller to make them cave to your demands.  Using that approach just isn't necessary.  Homes that need work are often the result of owner situations that aren't easy to just ignore - and conveying the value of a home in need of love and renovation to a seller is a delicate operation.  I try to counsel buyers on how to approach the sellers in a way that conveys the realities behind our offers in a way that is respectful of their home and the sellers themselves.  Sometimes even the best intentions need to get put aside, perhaps in cases of a hostile seller, or a market that forces the buyers to overlook the 'issues' they will be addressing when pricing, due to competition from others that might not be so picky or planning to spend as much money on renovations.  At the end of the day, though, a real estate transaction is about both sides of the table walking away feeling good about what just happened.  A seller can move on to a new phase of life, a buyer can likewise begin anew.  Every house that is purchased can find new life in the hands of the right owner, and hopefully the next chapter after a sale is one of excitement for all parties involved.