The other day we were fortunate to have a number of offers on one of our listings. We always let agents know when they are not the only ones writing...and of course, as Sellers Agents, we hope that produces the "highest and best" offers with every agent on their best writing behavior. The house was not a first time buyer's house and the sellers realized that an offer with no home sale contingency would be harder....though not impossible to get for the home they had loved and meticulously maintained as well as upgraded and updated in every way possible.
One of the offers, from Agent Suzy's cousin, Agent Sandy. The price was wonderful...Agent Sandy heard correctly, there were multiple offers....highest and best she was thinking...good job Sandy...the Sellers like that. Next....closing date....well.....a little out there Sandy...not sure the lender will hang on to a rate for that long.....Did you ask when the sellers wanted to close...that may have sharpened your offer. Earnest money....good job Sandy...within 3 days of acceptance and an amount appropriate for the price of the price of the house. Whoops....now it says, this is a home sale contingent offer...I go to MLS and find the Buyer's home....not yet listed.
"Hello...Agent Sandy....Thank you for the offer on our listing on Park Drive....I see it has a home sale contingency and I don't see their home listed, " I said .
"That's right....the Buyers don't want to list their home until they find one they like and have an accepted offer....then they will list it."
"Golly gee Agent Sandy...if your buyers had their home on the market and a good offer, our sellers would be more inclined to give the offer greater consideration."
"Well...my buyers have to have the house they buy in the same elementary school area, and all of the features that the home has that you have listed. Their lender said he had not done any bridge loans for almost 2 years...and he wasn't going to start now."
"Well Agent Sandy...our Sellers have never seen the house you don't have listed and are asking them to take their home off the market in the hopes that it is a great house in good condition, well priced and that it sells quickly....that's a lot of mystery....a lot to hope for when they know nothing about your Buyers' house," we explained.
"Your Sellers just need to a take a Leap of Faith," Agent Sandy responded.
Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS
Oh my, many things require a leap of faith...buying and selling real estate...not so much. I had one the other day who made a seriously low ball offer, my seller responded with a thank you and a baby step toward price reduction just to keep the ball rolling and the response was that the BUYER was offended that they had not come down more and since she is a teacher they should basically 'do the right thing'....ooo kkkkkk
Um yeah.... I am speechless.... do people no longer think before they act? Great post, I hope this really gets it out there....
Yes, I would take the leap of faith just because you called. Ahhh.... I've met some of those Agent Sandies before.
Recently, I had a tenant's agent who said, I usually dont do application fees....
Hah. Just because you don't, doesn't it the landlord wouldn't. It almost seems like he was fairly arrogant when saying that.
Agent Sandy must not be properly trained when it comes to best practices. Thanks for sharing this story with us. More to come
Agent Szndy and Agent Suzy will have to go back to real estate school...wonder if this attitude is fueled by the "it's a buyer's market" attitude....the attitude of the agent...oh yicks !