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Do I HAVE to Sell my Home?

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX First

What if you put your home on the market and then change your mind about selling.  Do you still have to sell your home EVEN if you get an offer that matches everything EXACTLY as you asked (date, asking price, inclusions, exclusions)? The answer is... NO! No you do not, but the general public does not know this. 

Case in point is a good friend and client of ours.  They are interested in a gorgeous condo that has been renovated top to bottom.  They would like to put in an offer conditional on the sale of their home.  The Seller will not accept a conditional offer as they have just done a major price reduction and feel a conditional sale may scare away a firm sale.  I have explained to our client that we can prepare their home for sale (declutter, freshen the home up, rearrange furniture/stage it) and then list it.  While their home is on the market, if someone else puts an offer in on the condo they want to buy, then we just take their home off the market.  Seems simple doesn't it?

The problem is (and everyone seems to think this)... if they get an offer that matches exactly what they were asking, but the home they want sold before they could put in an offer, they MUST accept the offer on their current home.  NO you do NOT have to sell your home, under any circumstance, if you do not want to or if you change your mind.  It is akin to getting married - you have arranged the caterer, everyone is sitting in the seats watching the ceremony but until you say "I do" you are not married.  If I know my client is sincere about selling and the property they want is no longer available, ultimately we want what is best for our client.

Don't let this common misunderstanding stop you from pursuing a property you are interested in. If you have any questions regarding buying or selling real estate, please don't hesitate to ask us, The Jay Magnussen Real Estate Team. We are here to help and welcome all of your questions.

Comments (1)

Jim Courtney
OklaHomes Realty, Claremore Oklahoma - Claremore, OK
CRS, GRI, AHWD

Excellent point! I have fielded these very same questions in the recent past. The scenario came down to the actual wording of the listing agreement. Good info for buyers and seller alike! :)

May 31, 2011 06:56 AM