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Are You Still On the Fence About Buying a House - You Might Get Pushed

By Donna Harris

Real Estate Agent with Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com 0480809

October 24, 2011 11:31 AM

How do Austin Texas Fence-Sitting buyers get off the fence? swimming pool
I push them!!

Just kidding... or am I...??

There are many times when buyers sit on the fence for no good reasons, whatsoever. Those buyers need to be pushed off the fence, abruptly, not gently. It's like when you're going to go swimming and you think the water is too cold, so you try to get in slowly, but when someone pushes you in the water, you realize that was the best thing for you, and that the water isn't as cold as you thought it was.

Great analogy, huh?

I had a buyer a few months ago who loved this house. It was a HUD, and offers had to be made via an online bid. I had all the information needed to enter her offer, but then she decided she didn't want to buy a house right now. Well, she didn't know this, but I had already put her offer in. I didn't mention it to her because I thought we probably wouldn't win the bid, and we didn't...

But then two weeks later, I got the email. You know the one that says, "You have 48 hours to submit the original contract with original signatures..." Ummm, what happened? I called, and it turns out the previous buyer backed out of her contract, and our bid was next in line so we won.

I then had to make a call to my buyer which went something like this:
Me: Hey Carry, how are things?
Carry: Good, thanks. Been really busy.
Me: Well, I was just calling to check to see if you, by chance, still wanted to buy a house?
Carry: *sigh* I'm just not sure, Donna. It's a lot more stressful than I thought it would be.
Me: Well, ummm, remember that HUD house you liked? Ummm, well, it's yours if you want it...
Carry: What? I don't understand, what do you mean?
Me: Well, ummm, you see, you mentioned how much you liked it, and we talked about putting in an offer, and I did. Your bid didn't initially win so I didn't tell you, but now they've come to your offer and if you want to buy a house, we need to meet by tomorrow to sign everything with original signatures so I can mail it to Denver.

After a few seconds of silence, there was a lot of screaming for joy! We met the next morning to sign everything, and she closed in under a month. She needed to be pushed off that fence. I didn't mean to push but sometimes, things happen... for the best... Her and her daughter are in their new house, and they've painted, put in new appliances, and have made it their own.

If you're a fence sitter, a buyer not sure about whether or not you really want to buy a house, think about how you would feel if something fell in your lap. Would you be happy or upset? If you would be happy, jump off the fence before someone pushes you off!!

**Are You Packed Yet?**

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com
austin-texas-homes-for-sale.com

Austin TX Real Estate

and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way.

For real time Austin TX listings,click here.

** Multi-Million Dollar Producer Year after Year **

Copyright© 2011 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Austin TX Home Buyers - Are You Still On the Fence About Buying a House - You Might Get Pushed * was first published on donnahomesblog.com.

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Brenda Mullen

RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX

Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

Donna-That is an incredible story. I have had to have a couple talks with buyers to nudge (push) them a bit, but nothing like that ;)! I am so glad that worked out for your client and you :)!

Oct 24, 2011 04:58 PM

Rosalie Evans

Meritus Group Real Estate - Sioux Falls, SD

The Evans Group, Sioux Falls, SD Homes For Sale

That is awesome that she was so excited to get it. I know I have a few fence sitters that might need the push but I only push so much and then it is up to them!

Oct 24, 2011 05:52 PM

Tim Lorenz

TIM LORENZ - Elite Home Sales Team - Mission Viejo, CA

949 874-2247

Our job is often a chance to help others make the difficult decision.

Oct 24, 2011 06:10 PM

Sandy Acevedo

951-290-8588 - Chino Hills, CA

RE/MAX Masters, Inland Empire Homes for Sale

OK... that is not a push... it is a shove :) Glad that it worked out!

Oct 24, 2011 06:13 PM

Praful Thakkar

LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA

Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Donna, it's not a push - it's something that is so right for them and you are helping them take the right decision - that's it. They'll remember you once they own the home, believe me.

Oct 24, 2011 06:42 PM

Gita Bantwal

RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA

REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Donna, Congratulations on the featured post. I am glad it worked out .

Oct 24, 2011 11:01 PM

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional

Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL

Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Down here in Florida homes are flying off the market once again and I love it!

Oct 25, 2011 12:58 AM

Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT

Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Donna, that's great for the buyer. How ironic, that the fence sitter that I wrote about last week got theirs the same way as a back-up call from HUD asking the same questions.

Oct 25, 2011 01:13 AM

Michael Setunsky

Woodbridge, VA

Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Donna, weren't you taking a big chance? What if they didn't want it any longer? Glad it worked out for you and your buyer.

Oct 25, 2011 01:44 AM

Neal Bloom

Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL

Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

You know what really makes me laugh? I recently sold a condo to a buyer in a matter of hours. So far...everything is going so good and so fast the buyer thinks something is wrong..I guess there is a premise that if things are moving fast and easy that there should be hold ups...I'm very happy but wh do buyers complain when things go bad and when things go good...can't they be happy ever?

Oct 25, 2011 01:59 AM

Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573

MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME

Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Splinters from that fence sitting can fester. Get that real estate buyer moving with higher powered marketing, tractor beaming them toward the real estate long closing table with all the high back cushy leather expensive chairs surrounding it. I like video as the number one way to show and tell, using the property eye candy imagery with audio sound business advice to buy while bank rates are obscenely low.

Oct 25, 2011 02:10 AM

Chuck Carstensen

RE/MAX Results - Elk River, MN

Minnesota/Wisconsin Real Estate Expert

That is very interesting that they decided to buy it once they new they had it. I think the disappointment of not getting the house can keep some people from buying. Good idea submitting the offer with the HUD home too.

Oct 25, 2011 02:25 AM

Mark Welsh

Kirkland, WA

You have some great thoughts on this post. I never understand what some people think when they don’t giver consideration to other points of view. I guess I should have know by now that there are so many different thought out there.

Oct 25, 2011 02:57 AM

Bob Zorechak - ABR, GRI, e-PRO

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan - Morristown, NJ

Sells Homes in Morris/Somerset/Hunterdon Cos., NJ

I am glad everything worked out in the end. Just curious, have you ever had this type of scenario backfire on you with the buyers becoming upset?

Oct 25, 2011 04:26 AM

Amanda Christiansen

Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN

Christiansen Group Realty

Wow Donna! I'm glad everything worked out for you and your buyers. I would have hated to see the backlash if the buyer decided they didn't want it.

Clearly you knew your buyer and had the confidence that you were doing the right thing.

Oct 25, 2011 04:52 AM

Donna Harris

Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX

Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

Thank you for all the comments. A few people have asked about backfiring and what if she didn't want it. Easy, this can't happen in a regular sale because everything has the be signed by the buyer. This was an online bidding situation, which required no signatures. If she decided she didn't want it, you just call/email them and say no, or just don't turn in the paperwork within 48 hours. No money has been exchanged, there is no "contract".

When a buyer decides not to buy a house when there is a contract, in Texas we have a thing called the Termination Option. The buyer has the option to terminate the contract for whatever reason within a negotiated period of time for a negotiated amount of money, traditionally about $100.

In either situation, the buyer would not be "forced" to buy a house she didn't want. It was her choice to move forward.

Oct 25, 2011 06:27 AM

Joe Kenny

Realty Executive Midwest - Darien, IL

Better Than Your Average Joe

I'm really starting to think that the more we know about this business the worse off we are at times. We , myself included, are often worried what someone will think or say. Guess what the people with the negative thoughts don't pay my mortgage. Donna, if I ever move to Texas you are my agent, Period. Nice job

Oct 25, 2011 08:11 AM

Tamara Inzunza

Realty One Group Capital - Alexandria, VA

Close-In Alexandria and Arlington Living

Donna, remind me never to go on the playground with you, you just might push me down the slide...LOL! Love comment #31 about splinters on the fence.

Oct 25, 2011 08:11 AM

Larry Lawfer

YourStories Realty Group - Newton, MA

"I listen for a living." It's all about you.

Good for you for getting this one right, it could just as easily gone the other direction and you may have gotten the gold star for that blog as well. A good story is a good story. I am glad it worked out for you. Offers without any downpayment are not considered here, did you put up the money for the offer? Did you use hers? Just wondering

Oct 25, 2011 08:52 AM

Lou Ludwig

Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL

Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Donna

Great post, the buyers who sitting on the fence need a little professional help to get over the fence.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Oct 25, 2011 09:12 AM