I wonder in this market environment of REO's and Short sales where we tend to "forgive" contract dates or leave them off totally due to the bank will respond when the bank will respond, has made us tolerant and/or slack in honoring contract dates with "regular" sales.

Not that I get too many "regular" sales these days, but when I do, I conduct business as I was once trained and honor all dates stipulated on the contract.

I do get the home inspections done in 10 days, I do put a date on the counter offer as to when the buyer/seller needs to respond.

There may be strategy behind it or not................but in the end there is somebody on the other side waiting for an answer and want to know why they have not responded by the date given.

Now in some cases there may be a situation where the date given is impossible............However in this high tech world we live in a response can usually be given in the allotted time given or at least a response of some kind.

So at the very least be respectful to the people who are waiting, as none of us like to wait........it is almost like passing up your due date for giving birth!

Mostly be respectful of all parties and communicate ................. most recently I had submitted an offer to a seller and gave 24 hours to respond..............it took 3 days and the house was still being shown.  Now If I were the buyer I would have walked............but my buyers wanted the home very badly so they stuck it out.

However, I have to tell you this worked in my favor in the end..............as no other offers came in and then I knew just where I stood as the buyers agent............I knew I was the only game in town for the home and the ball was in my court from here on out.  So the listing agent did not do the sellers any favors..........

As always remember the golden rule!