Should Buyer and Seller Agents BOTH Present an Offer to the Seller?

Celeste,

Occassionally I present a buyer's offer, most of the time I do not.   I always extend the offer to present to listing agent and then take their lead.  Last summer a seller required it!    In an offer presentation,  I'm here ONLY to present -- never to negotiate.   My goal is to walk thru a clean straightforward offer and then answer questions pertaining to the offer.   Nothing more ...   It can make a difference!

I have no problem with the other agent being there, if my seller is local. Harder to do if they live 1,000 miles away, which is not uncommon here. But the selling agent needs to understand that once the offer is present, he/she will not be in on my discussion with the sellers. As far as I know, he/she has no right to listen in on what needs to be a confidential conversation. In our area, most of us know each other so well that we trust each other to present the offers that we are given by buyers agents. But if they want to make sure, I have no problem with that. Then they can exit, stage right.

Sally I am not involved in the negotiations, but if I were representing a Seller I would not want the Buyers Agent anywhere near my Seller.  It just does not seem like a good idea to me, and has more potential for blowing things up then doing any good.

I think having both parties meet in person is no longer necessary with today's technology.  With that said, I do make it a practice to inform and educate the other agent involved about how we came to our price as well as some other "background" information that that may be relevant to the transaction in order to prive the most clarity.

In my market buyers agents periodically request to present their offer to the seller.  The listing agent is always present.  The selling agent presents the offer, the seller asks questions, then the selling agent leaves. 

The problems that I have experiences is when the selling agent presents an extremely low offer and does not provide substantial comparable properties.  Many sellers are extremely uncomfortable.  The personality of the agent presenting has always been a determining factor.  If the presenting agent does not seem sincere, honest or informed, the offer will ultimately get rejected.

This shows a lot of the pros and cons. Interesting piece. The conceptt of presentation in person has gone a lot by the wayside with technology I have noticed.

It would be very unusual around here for both agents to present to the seller, and I can also see how having all parties could be good and bad, depending.

As a listing agent, I wouldn't allow it and would advise my seller accordingly.

As a buyer agent, if my offer is clean, complete, impressive and typo free then there's no need for me to perform a dog and pony to the listing agent/seller.

Good stuff, thanks for sharing it.

Hi Sally...When a began as an agent in Northern Virginia it was the norm for us to present the contract to the seller and listing agent.  We would answer any questions either one had and then leave unless we were asked to stay.  By staying, I meant in another room as the seller(s) and listing agent discussed the offer.  It was never considered an issue.

I have not done this in years.  I'm sure it is primarily because we now have buyer representation although in the scenario I mentioned it would not really make much of a difference.  When I began working at Lake Anna in 1995 many of the properties belonged to out of area owners so we did things by fax and phone.  Still do a great deal of business that way.

Kate

I am not sure there is a black and white answer to this one. There are too many personality types and that is going to impact the success or failure. I have clients that this would work well for, and I have clients that I would never even attempt this. I would say we need to look at every deal closely, look at the agent(some may be ok some not) and decide then.

Sometimes I wish I had been there. One instance comes to mind when the listing agent had an offer too and told the seller they didn't need to come back for highest and best in this multiple offer situation because her's was the best offer and the other buyers weren't coming up. You learn from experience who will bend the rules and sometimes being there will keep them straight.

Sally, this is an interesting post.  I have not had this in my career yet -- I see where the seller could feel ganged up on with this approach.  I always like to talk with any agent I send an offer to before the offer is submitted to get a feel for them, and of course more info on the property.  Best to you in 2011!

Woo Hoo ,

Congratulations on the feature and I have enjoyed all the comments and experiences expressed here. It is quite clear the real estate industry practices have evolved.

Sally -- I have never done this or been faced with it.  However, if I was, it would be up to my sellers to allow this and the agent could present only.  Bringing the buyers in would, in my book, be a BIG  no-no.  Sellers and buyers can meet up all right --- at the closing.

Sally - I present my offer to the listing agent and let them present it to their seller just as I have buyer's agents present their offer to me and I present it to my seller if I am on that end of the deal. That is pretty common practice around here.

Sally, I really think it makes a difference if the buyer agent is a good presenter and negotiator.  I had one high stakes sale where one agent emailed me the contract and the other insisted on presenting it personally.  The one who showed up had a huge advantage and her buyers (who were out front waiting in her very nice car) were able to throw on the couple of initials we needed to ratify.  Until fairly lately, it was the custom here for the buyer's agent to be present at the contract presentation.  I normally give agents the option to present if they want to. 

I love it when everyone is there for an offer it can create a great bond and a feeling for a seller to want to make it work for a buyer. (That can backfire also) Lately though I've only been offering on vacant short sales and foreclosures. I wish it was the ways of 2007 again where I got to do that every time.

Great post Celeste!

I have been involved in this situation twice, representing the seller each time.

The seller wondered why the other side wasted everyone's time. The offer speaks for itself.