Special offer

Here's My Offer... (written on a sheet of notebook paper)

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Compass 0524642

Today at 10:00 this morning is the deadline to submit your "bid" on one of our offices foreclosures. At 9:49 a man walked in breathing heavy as he had just ran from his vehicle to make sure he crossed the threshold of our front door. He literally stuck his head in my office and said.. "I'm here, it's before ten!"

 

I had no idea who this man was.

 

He then proceeds to hand me a hand written offer that he calls legal and binding. He wrote it up on a piece of notebook paper that he had yanked out of a spiral notebook. He then asked me to sign it to prove that it was submitted BEFORE TEN. (didn't happen)

 

Here's what you should know.

1. No offer will be accepted on any property (that I'm aware of) that's sumbitted in this manner. Not in this solar system anyways.

2. I've NEVER seen a cash offer be accepted without proof of funds.

3. No bank foreclosure will accept this type of offer. You have to sign addendum's, contracts and office disclosures.

4. Your offer must be submitted online with or without an agent. Probably best to use an agent so you can understand the process/mkt conditions/negotiating strategy and so much more.

5. IF you REALLY, REALLY want a property do things correctly.

 

This buyer assumed that I would process his sheet of paper and provide  him a response by today. He had hoped that I could secure the property for him.

I didn't write up an offer on his behalf. He came storming in without an appointment, without the proper paperwork, without having seen the property and without the slightest idea on how the process worked. Well, I take that back... he said his banker told him to offer 1k above the list price to "ensure he got the property."


My departing words to him were that he should enlist the help of an agent for the purchase and a banker who is wise enough to stick to what they know ... and that's BANKING. You would think a banker would have advised this man how a foreclosure bidding war works before shipping him down the primrose path so to speak.  

Posted by
Greg Nino
Realtor
RE/MAX Compass 
Direct & Text 7 days a wk: 832-298-8555 
 
 
Realtor since 2004
Mediator & Arbitrator for the TX Assoc. of Realtors
Member of the Professional Standards Committee for the TX Assoc. of Realtors
Arbitrator for the Comptroller's office for the State of TX for Arbitration of Property Tax Values

 Member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame & Platinum Club

 

The information contained in this blog is believed to be reliable and while every effort is made to assure that the information is as accurate as possible, the author of this blog, and its comments disclaim any implied warranty or representation about it's accuracy, completeness or appropriateness for any particular purpose. All information is copywritten and the property of Greg Nino.  

Comments(20)

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

Wow.  That's all I have to say about that.  

Jan 23, 2012 03:37 AM
Loreena and Michael Yeo
3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX
Real Estate Agents

Consumers think they know. They have a ways to learn, dont they?

Jan 23, 2012 03:39 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

That's just scary.  Another infomercial strikes again.....

Jan 23, 2012 03:40 AM
Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

Loreena,

 

You know, If I was going to spend a big chunk of cash on something that I had never done before I'd at least spend 5 minutes on Google researching how to follow through appropriately.

Jan 23, 2012 03:41 AM
Nathan Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Davenport, FL
Your Central Florida Real Estate Expert
He must have been watching flip this house or something last night. That's just ridiculous. He needs an agent to work with bad, but he's so far off par that I'm not even sure I'd want to work with him.
Jan 23, 2012 03:49 AM
Ralph Janisch ABR CRS Broker
Janisch & Co. - Conroe, TX
Selling Northwest Houston to good people like you!

Too many folks watch midnight TV.... they don't realize that the real world does not work they way it's portrayed on TV infomericals.

Jan 23, 2012 03:55 AM
Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Coastal Properties - Destin, FL
Your Real Estate Resource!

That guy was actually another referral from me. You blew it!

Jan 23, 2012 04:02 AM
Justin Dibbs
Fairway Independent Mortgage - Ashburn, VA
Mortgage Advisor

SERIOUSLY?!  Dude, that is one of the funniest stores I've heardin the last 12 months.  Classic.

Jan 23, 2012 04:30 AM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Did his name happen to be Carlton Sheets?

Jan 23, 2012 04:59 AM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Curse you Sardi! That was going to be my comment... and, once again, you've stolen my idea and claim it as your own!!!

Jan 23, 2012 05:32 AM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

That's awesome. I wonder what makes someone not only act like a fool, but think that it's acceptable to do business that way!

Jan 23, 2012 05:32 AM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Sorry Craig.  As I say, "If you can't be great, at least copy it."

Jan 23, 2012 06:00 AM
Brenda Mullen
RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX
Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

Soooo, an offer on a sticky note no good either?  What if it's 10k above asking price?  Come on, give a guy a break. Hahahahahaha...

Well, I hope you were nice :)!

Jan 23, 2012 08:23 AM
Sussie Sutton
David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX
David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

He probably stormed a phone call into a bankers office to see how best to win a bid. The answer bid 1K over the asking price... the banker most likely got the same bums rush you did and did not even know that he was going to do what he did to you!

Jan 23, 2012 10:48 AM
Linda K. Mayer
License # 01767321 - La Verne, CA
Realtor, SRES, SoCAL, A REALTOR YOU CAN TRUST

Greg, that's just crazy!  I can't believe that in this day and age he didn't know how to properly submit an offer or at the very least ask a professional how to do it!

Jan 23, 2012 11:22 AM
Liz Wallace
Century 21 Sherlock Homes - Rockville Centre, NY
Broker C21 Sherlock Homes, Rockville Centre, LI, N

At least it wasn't written on a cocktail napkin from Spit on The Floor Saloon.

Jan 23, 2012 11:25 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Sadly in Indiana, if it is written down on paper and the buyer and seller sign it it is binding.  Not recommended of course, but legal.  Even with a fully executed purchase agreement the banks addendums have to be signed.  So a purchase agreement doesn't make a whole lot of difference, again in Indiana.

Jan 24, 2012 09:43 AM
Kathy Schowe
California Lifestyle Realty - La Quinta, CA
La Quinta, California 760-333-8886

I have encountered a few of these completely clueless buyers... it blows me away.  Really.  Kathy

Jan 24, 2012 11:05 AM
LaNita Cates
REMAX of Joliet - Joliet, IL

This is too funny! I once rec'd a call from a buyer that I had never met that wanted me to submit 7 offers on properties and it was to all be done via fax.

Jan 25, 2012 06:46 AM
Doreen McPherson
Homesmart ~ Scottsdale ~ Tempe - Tempe, AZ
Phoenix Arizona Real Estate ~

Was it a valid offer?  Probably.  Was it going to work in that situation, probably not.  I'm sure your listing, like all REO's, had detailed instructions on the only way an offer could/would be submitted and accepted for that listing.  It is a funny story, though.  :-)

Jan 25, 2012 10:32 PM