Special offer

Make an offer, not a suggestion to purchase

By
Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties Licensed in Connecticut

When you are ready to purchase a house in the greater New Milford CT area, we will be making an offer, not a suggestion that maybe you might be interested in purchasing a home.

Scenario #1
New Milford CT real estate

You see a house you like and you want to buy it. You ask me to call the agent and find out a few things.

  • why are they selling?
  • what price are the willing to take?

And if those questions come back with the answers you are looking for, perhaps you will just throw out a verbal offer and that will be that.

That just won't work. I might be able to find out why they are selling through
other channels. If the listing agent is worth their salt they will not be talking all over town about financial difficulties or divorce, or anything else. And they certainly won't be telling me what their clients bottom line is!

I will be pouring through records that are available to me to see if the current owners are in any type of situation that is on public records. Next I will be doing a buyers market analysis to give you an idea who what I think the house is worth in today's market.

But without the proper type of offer to purchase, the listing agent will be telling me to come back with a real offer, not a suggestion that perhaps my buyer might want to buy the house.

Scenario #2

You see a house you like and want to buy it. The house is listed for $300,000 but you want to try and get it for $200,000. You want me to call the agent and throw that number out to them, nothing in writing, no deposit check to back up your offer, no proof of funds, no mortgage pre approval.

I can guarantee that the listing agent, when they stop laughing (or swearing), will tell me to come back with the following:

  • put it in writing
  • prove that you are capable of purchasing the house
  • put your money where your mouth is and put down a deposit, binder, whatever you prefer to call it

Scenario #3

This is how it should go, if indeed you are serious about purchasing the house. Even if your offer is low, presenting a complete offer to purchase like this shows intent on your part and will hopefully open a dialog of communication between buyer and seller.

You see a house you like and want to buy it. I provide you with all information I can gather on the house, including any foreclosure status, a buyers market analysis of the home, etc. We get together and write up an offer to purchase on a form called "Purchase Agreement". With your offer I will include:

  • your mortgage pre approval or proof of funds
  • a copy of your deposit check
  • all signed disclosures

When I present your offer to purchase to the listing agent it will be a true offer, not a suggestion that perhaps, just maybe, you might like to buy this home.

Suggesting you want to buy the house is like a seller suggesting perhaps maybe they might want to sell. No one takes either scenario seriously.

It is indeed a buyers market, however this doesn't mean if you are driving the buyer bus you should ignore the rules of the road and try to mow over every seller out there! If you want to purchase the house, make an offer! Don't try to pretend that you are not really interested, but maybe you might do them a favor and take it off their hands.

If you want to buy it, make an offer, not a suggestion!

Posted by

Andrea Swiedler, Realtor, Southern Litchfield County Real Estate

2017 President, Greater New Milford Board of Realtors

2017 Connecticut Magazine 5 Star Realtor

 

 Search homes for sale in Litchfield County, CT.

 

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Litchfield County Regional Office,375 Danbury Rd, New Milford, CT 06776

 

© Andrea Swiedler 2009 - 2017

 Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. - Mark Twain

Judith Parker
ProStead Realty - Charlotte, NC
CRS, GRI, CMRS, Charlotte, NC

Hi Andrea, I also just suggested.  I have had all of those scenarios and am like you.  I only deal with real offers, no possibilities and etc.  Great post!

Oct 02, 2011 05:24 AM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Gay, a suggestion to buy or to sell just doesn't cut it! Thank you.

Chuck, verbal is meaningless, seriously.

Nancy, sellers to need something tangible to respond to. I like your response, and I don't know why anyone bothers to ask.

Judith, thank you. I am surprised, as we get deeper into this market I see more suggestions from both sellers and buyers.

Oct 02, 2011 06:08 AM
Amy Robinson
London Pierce Real Estate - Scottsdale, AZ
Realtor, Scottsdale Arizona Homes For Sale

Hi Andrea,  Great blog and I agree!  You are a really great writer.

Oct 02, 2011 06:36 AM
Holly Weatherwax
Associate Broker, Momentum Realty - Reston, VA
A Great Real Estate Experience

Awesome post, Andrea! Very, very good buyer advice.

Oct 02, 2011 06:49 AM
Daniel H. Fisher
www.FisherHermanRealty.com (704) 617-3544 - Charlotte, NC
MCRP - Charlotte Real Estate, NC or SC

Making a strong offer to purchase can be time consuming...but why would a person consume another persons time if they were not serious anyway?

Oct 02, 2011 07:32 AM
Dawn Crawley
Dawn Crawley Realty - Pinehurst, NC
Find Pinehurst Homes

Doesn't it seem like we are being asked to do the first 2 more frequently these days. Very nice post.

Oct 02, 2011 09:27 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Interesting to think people still believe a verbal is okeedokee. I haven't run into this for years.  If they're not truly serious buyers we should know that, right?  And if they're just playing with us....well.  Bye Bye. 

 

Featured in BananaTude


Oct 02, 2011 09:58 AM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Amy, thank you, I appreciate that!

Holly, if only they would listen, LOL. Thank you!

Daniel, if you want to be taken seriously, if the custom is written, then take the time. Buying a house is serious business in the first place.

Dawn, it does and it is not good. Thank you.

Hi Anna Banana, why thank you! I am surprised myself. Get serious please! And thank you!

Oct 02, 2011 11:38 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Andrea you mean to tell me that they are just not going to volunteer all that information, and take a third of the price for a house? 

Buyers need to ask themselves one simple question would the do what they are asking for if they were on the other side?

Oct 02, 2011 12:34 PM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

George, things change when you are on the other side. When people want to sell they need to see some effort on the part of the buyer for it to work.

Oct 02, 2011 12:49 PM
Ellie McIntire
Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate - Ellicott City, MD
Luxury service in Central Maryland

Ahhh. the old verbal offer. Put it in writing. A great post.

Oct 02, 2011 02:33 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

And it is ok to insult me with an offer. Just put it in writing with all the details and POF etc. Thanks to Ellie for the reblog.

Good post!

Margaret

Oct 02, 2011 03:00 PM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Andrea, enjoyed reading this post and suggested.... always put it in writing if you are a serious buyer.

Oct 02, 2011 03:00 PM
Ann Hayden 636-399-7544
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri - Des Peres, MO
SelectAnn.com

Andrea,

AMEN!  No one buys a house without putting the offer in writing!

Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO

Oct 02, 2011 04:52 PM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Ellie, those verbal offers aren't worth the paper they are printed on... (sorry, couldn't help myself)

Margaret, thank you! Insult me if you must, but only in writing for sure!

Rebecca, it has to be in writing, with all the trimmings. Otherwise it is nothing.

Ann, thank you! It really is a growing problem, or a huge misconception, but it is not acceptable!

Oct 02, 2011 10:44 PM
Blatt + Cutino
Coldwell Banker Realty - Monterey, CA
Broker-Associate 831/206-8070*Call today*

Thanks for writing what I have been thinking.  Memorable post.

Oct 03, 2011 01:18 AM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Buyers.......they just need the proper guidance so that the home buying experience doesn't resemble a game of truth or dare.  That's right Andrea, just keep it rea.

Oct 03, 2011 01:50 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Well said Andrea!  Why oh why do people just want to "throw a number out there?"

Oct 04, 2011 12:39 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Very good information for home buyers. Many do not understand the process.

Enjoy the activities of the fall season and be sure to have your camera in hand to capture those special moments.

IMG_6016 Dahlia Show at Brookside Gardens

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs

Oct 04, 2011 12:47 AM
Ann Hayden 636-399-7544
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri - Des Peres, MO
SelectAnn.com

Andrea,

I think Infomercials about buying property need to have a reality check in them.....

Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO

 

Oct 04, 2011 12:54 PM