Aaaand...we have not come to an agreement

The builder's agent says the builder told her that he would be building at less than cost if he took our offer. When we removed a couple of things and added a little cash he still didn't like it. Beloved was annoyed when it sounded like they were asking for more cash and more items removed and told the agent that having done builder's tax returns he wasn't convinced it was as close to the bone as all that. And that's where things are at the moment since Beloved was driving when the agent called and used that as the reason he couldn't talk further. That was probably wise since driving while talking on the phone and being really annoyed doesn't seem very safe.

One of the strangest things about our time here so far has been that when Beloved gets annoyed the situation abruptly changes in our favor. He has been trying very hard to express his displeasure in reasonable words and tones, and usually succeeds, but somehow people seem to be much more willing to work with him afterwards when they were stonewalling before. The irony of the whole thing is that Beloved has always had a temper and has been learning to control it the entire time I've known him. All this sudden positive reinforcement is startling to both of us and worrisome to him.

I wonder if the take-away from this is that it is OK to let people see that you are displeased and have a temper as long as the temper is clearly leashed?