Our Sellers Are Electing NOT to Respond to Your Offer.....

Unfortunately, some buyer's agents need to come to realize that properly representing their client involves providing professional advice and guidance, even if its not what he wants to hear. A good buyer's agent should be more than a "messenger boy"!

It is really important for a serious buyer to have an educated agent representing him/her. Yes, the agent is the messenger. Hopefully the agent told the buyer what would get him in the ballpark. The choice to write an also-ran offer was the buyer's.

Yes, had that happen last weekend too. Did a 2 day open house extravaganza, you know, ads, balloons, cookies, ponies, well ok, no ponies. Got 5 offers, 4 at or above, and one $30K under ask. Had the same conversation with the agent. How is the same agent selling in Ca and Wi?

Hi Sally, perhaps this agent has been conditioned by an agent that we make a lot of offers to up here and is just skeptical everytime he hears of multiple offers.  There is an agent who handles a lot of reo properties and is directed by the banks to do some questionable things.

Many of these properties have been on the market for 6 months or more yet every time we make an offer, it comes back immediately as having multiple offers and that we should submit another offer to try to beat these "other offers", my agent hints that he thinks its just a fraud, and after a while we start to look at every agent who comes back with this response a little skeptically.

Well luckily for you and your seller, you really did have lots of extra offers and this one agent and buyer really dont matter.

listing agent called me regarding an offer from a "professional negotiator" today...below low ball offer...I told the agent not to respond..it will drive Mr. Professional nuts...it certainly did

Some agents are desperate enough to keep clients that make lowball offers. Selling one home a year is desperation.

We have had several very distressed buyers lately who chose not to follow our advice as to the offer price and lost out on the home they really wanted.  Highest and best means just that and with the inventory in certain areas shrinking, the bargain basement deals are a thing of the past.  The good news is that when the buyers found the second home they really liked, they listened and their offers were accepted.

Too many buyers do not keep up with market trends, listen to poorly informed friends and relatives, etc. and think every house is a fire sale. Not here.

Usually the knowledge of multiple offers wakes a buyer up to put in their best offer.

Tim was that a comment that seems a bit of topic or an advertisment?

Well, this blog certainly opened a can of worms!  Firstly, you assume the buyer's agent didn't do his job in advising his buyer to present his highest and best offer.  Nothing you have indicated confirms that he didn't.   Buyers today are as often as smug in thinking they know all about real estate and how to buy.  They hear and read all kinds of things, on air, tv, from friends and relatives, in newspapers, magazines and on-line.  They sift out what supports their position and ignore the rest, often including their agent's advice.  Since you don't know what discourse occurred between buyer and his agent, I feel rather uncomfortable that you would slam the agent, and check on his production, then make derogatory comments about him in a public forum, despite not revealing his name.  "No response IS a response..."  That is a poor statement to make and poor business etiquette.  Regardless of how you feel about the offer, it is up to you to take the high road and conduct yourself in a dignified manner.  And to guide your seller to as well, because it will reflect on you.  

Most of us have been on both sides of this proposition at one time or other.  In neither event is it pleasurable or desirable, but it can be unavoidable.  It's not what happens that is really important, but how we react to it.

I recall having to present an offer from a particularly recalcitrant buyer that I felt was an insult to the seller.  He proudly told me that he knew that we had to present all offers.  I respectfully let him know that I didn't have to write all offers, but I would in this instance.  I knew the listing agent well, and when I called to let him know I had an offer, I warned him to take his flak jacket with him.  He laughed and said not to worry, he'll be ready and prime his seller.  I also told him that I wanted an answer in writing, as my buyer was skeptical of agents in general.  He dropped off the offer in person, and couldn't stop laughing.  I opened the offer and written across it in great big letters was:  "READ, LAUGHED AT, AND REJECTED!" and signed by the owner.  I called my buyer and told him, then made an appointment to see him in the morning.  The listing agent and I went for a beer (I bought, obviously).  Two days later that same buyer had an accepted offer in his hand, after renegotiating with a seller who was comfortable in his own skin, and had a sense of humor as well.

The listing agent and I have been the best of friends for many years now, and still laugh at the 'insulting offer' that spawned our friendship.

Beauty (and value) are in the eye of the beholder, so apparently to the buyer it was only worth the lower amount.  Great thing about real estate is you just reject the offer and move on...no harm, no foul.  I'm glad your sellers received an offer they were satisfied with.