Dear Ms. Demeanor: A delicate problem with my broker

By Jamie Lauren Sutton | October 19, 2011 - 1:26PM

Dear Ms. Demeanor,

Our real estate broker seems like a decent guy and came highly recommended. I wish I could say the same for his breath. I am worried it will turn off potential buyers at the open house.

Help me with his halitosis!

Signed,

Breathless

Dear Breathless,

That is a tricky one. Bad breath can be a sign of poor hygiene, poor health, or a combination of both; consequently it is not an easy topic to broach with anyone but your closest family and friends.

Will he take Altoids or gum if offered? Maybe if you keep offering, he will take the hint as well as the candy. Is your broker the junior member of a team or is he 'the guy'? An anonymous tip-off to his superiors may be just the impetus they need to say something. No doubt they have been suffering much longer than you have.

Good luck with the broker, the breath, and the bids,

Ms. Demeanor

Ms. Demeanor is channeled by a longtime Manhattan vertical dweller and real-estate voyeur who writes under the pen name Jamie Lauren Sutton. She is here to commiserate, calm and correct. Please email your quandaries to [email protected] and put "Dear Ms. Demeanor" in the subject line.

See all of Ms. Demeanor's advice here.

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