About every 1-2 weeks I get a call or email similar to this one I just received today. Sometimes it's a "buyer" with a similar bs hardship, sometimes it's from an agent working with an " investor" or a buyer fishing for somewhere to throw their low ball line and bobber while fishing for suckers. I left out the writers name on purpose.
This was open Sat and Sun 1-4, but I had to attend a funeral in Vienna Saturday, so access was by owner.
"Dear Mr. Pearl,
I stopped by the property at 29 Berlin Pike in Lovettsville yesterday for the Open House. Right now I'd like to schedule a showing too look over the home again.
I am recently coming out of an abusive relationship and trying to start over and put roots down for my family. I am currently only able to offer $150,000 for the home, which I know is much less than the asking price. I feel it is important to be very forthright about this offer. It is the maximum I can afford with the high taxes and cost of insurance that will be part of the monthly payment. The property has been listed for a very long time and the owner was trying to sell this property even longer. And their are new/modern homes being offered in the area for the same asking price. The home needs extensive updating, but has the strong bones I need. Also the $150,000 I can potentially offer is more than twice what the owner was seeking from other potential buyers before the property was listed with an agent. I hope you will contact me."
My interpretation of her email is below.
This one paragraph indicates there is much more to the story if I really wanted to hear it. After reading it, (1) No, I won't be scheduling a showing so she can see it again.(2) Your previous abusive relationship has nothing to do with buying or selling. (3) You can only(maybe) offer $130,000.00 below list price of $280,000.00 (4) $150,000.00 is max you can afford so why are you looking at houses in the mid $200s? (5) Yes, owner is elderly with health problems, can't drive, and is always home, and unable to do a lot of housework. He did try FSBO for a while at $300,000.+ (6). We already got estimates, and the " extensive updating" you are imagining can all be done for under $20,000. which includes all new appliances. (7) You then say there is only the potential that you can offer $150,000. but there is no mention that you have ever met with a lender? Your guess might or might not be close to accurate. (8) You flat out lie and insult the seller and myself by claiming the seller was at one time trying to sell for less than $75,000. before I listed it. (9) Then you throw in another insult hinting we don't know what other properties in the area are listed for and selling for.
Yes, we might be dropping the price again soon, but it sure won't be anything close to $150,000.00, and there is nothing else available at $150,000.00, so there is really no sense in wasting any more time with this fishing trip you're on.
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