Overcompetitive Habits Agents Must Avoid

By John Salkowski

John Salkowski believes that anything worthwhile in life and business starts with being “Inspired By The Grind.”

Have you ever felt frustrated by another agent trying to “win at all costs”? I’ve been there, and it’s more common than you might think. In real estate, being competitive is normal and often necessary, but there’s a big difference between healthy competition and overcompetitiveness.

Here’s what I’ve learned about the difference between being competitive and being overcompetitive, and why it matters for your reputation and success in real estate.

What healthy competition looks like. Being competitive is healthy. It motivates me to do my best and win deals while staying ethical and moral. Healthy competition drives us to succeed in this industry, and it’s about winning without hurting others or compromising professional relationships.

When competition turns over competitive. Overcompetitiveness is toxic. It’s when an agent wants to win at all costs, even if it means being unethical or stepping on another agent. I experienced this firsthand.

An agent reached out to me about some buyers in my community. I looked up the street she mentioned, and there was only one active listing. The listing agent and the buyer agent were from different companies. These sellers had hired one agent to list their home and another to help them buy one.

The buyers saw my property with the agent who had a signed buyer agency agreement, and they loved it. That agent contacted me to provide background on their listing, including the home-sale contingency and whether I would accept it.

Then I received an email from the listing agent who had never shown the property, saying she wanted to submit an offer on behalf of the buyers for my home. This undercut the buyer agency and tried to take over the deal. From my experience, this agent was overcompetitive to the point of being toxic. Her reputation is now ruined with the other agent and me.

The consequences of overcompetitiveness. Over competitiveness is about wanting to win at all costs. That approach is unhealthy and damaging. You don’t want to be that way because it can ruin your reputation and relationships. Healthy competition, on the other hand, means striving to win while acting ethically and morally.

Going into 2026, my advice is simple: be competitive, not overcompetitive. Always do the right thing. Take the high road, be ethical, and be moral. Good karma will come back to you when you do the right thing, but it won’t when you don’t.

If you’ve experienced something similar or have questions, reach out at (610) 709-5147 or email john@jrsrealtygroup.com. There’s never any obligation or cost, just an opportunity to learn and make a difference today.