Special offer

The seller has declined your offer...

By
Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

"The seller has declined your offer, with no counter."

That's the message I received from a recent offer my clients and I had written.  Now that's not the first time I've been told that... but it is it the first time, in my extensive career, that I've heard that phrase attached to a "full-price" offer with 20% down.

That's right... the offer was full-price, the buyers were putting 20% down... it was a quick close.  The first thought that crossed my mind, other than a couple of choice words, was that they must have had another offer, that we didn't know about.. and must have accepted that other offer.

Nope... no other offer, the listing agent says he doesn't understand... he's just as frustrated as I am.  And that, my friends, is pretty darn frustrated.  My clients simply refuse (and I don't blame them) to write an above-list-price offer... so we move on.

I hope that they find a buyer who's willing to pay above list price, or bring them a cash offer.  The property is still listed, and at the same price.  We received no guidance from the listing agent as to what they're looking for... I'm not sure he knows.

Personally, if I were the listing agent, this is a client I'd be firing.

- 13

Posted by

 ALAN MAY, Realtor®   
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty, 2934 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Office: 847.869.7300      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com

Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate
Licensed in Illinois

   

Comments(137)

John DL Arendsen
CREST "BACKYARD' HOMES, ON THE LEVEL General & Manufactured Home Contractor, TAG Real Estate Sales & Investments - Leucadia, CA
Crest Backyard Homes "ADU" dealer & RE Developer

Sounds like a clear cut case of sellers remorse. I thought a seller was compelled to sell whence recieveing a full price offer.

May 26, 2012 11:26 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous
Know the feeling! The only difference was that my offer was FULL PRICE & CASH! Even so, it is tough to collect the EARNED commission without the closing. Liens anyone? Hope I'm still alive when he decides to sell again.
May 26, 2012 11:32 AM
#120
Anonymous
Anonymous

In the Texas Listing Agreement, that almost sounds like 'Earned and Payable'.

May 26, 2012 12:59 PM
#121
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Karen Anne - true enough.

Brenda - more than crazy.

John - I don't know... it's still on the market for the same price.

Anonymous commenter #121 - they can always complain about the closing date.

Anonymous commenter #122 - almost only counts in hand grenades and horse shoes.

May 26, 2012 02:11 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Brian - our contracts are constructed a little differently.

May 27, 2012 01:42 AM
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

Alan - I've been there. I think the sellers get nervous because they don't know where to go. Unfortunately, there are some who just won't share their thoughts on the matter.

May 27, 2012 07:52 AM
Dave Halpern
Dave Halpern Real Estate Agent, Inc., Louisville, KY (502) 664-7827 - Louisville, KY
Louisville Short Sale Expert

Wait a week and submit a new offer, but LOWER the offer price. That will make the first offer look better. They may counter at full asking price.

May 27, 2012 10:35 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Carla - I have some thoughts I'd be willing to share with the sellers.

Dave - nah... we've already moved on.

May 27, 2012 01:25 PM
Anonymous
Anonymous

can you please update us if this property ever does sell?  very curious situation  I once had a client reject an offer with no counter (and it was NOT full price) because he felt insulted by the price.  The selling agent was taken aback by no counter, but I explained that the seller had health issues and this might have been a bad day for him (not mental health, BTW, physical) and that she might resubmit in a week or two. She did and he signed and it settled. 

May 29, 2012 12:12 AM
#127
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Anonymous Commenter #129 - I'll do my best...

May 29, 2012 01:58 AM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Wow! I have no suggestions. I have no speculations as to what could be happening. After 100+ comments I doubt if there is anything new that I could add. I am just as perplexed as everyone else.

May 29, 2012 02:05 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

John - "perplexed" is the new "confidence"  (What?)

jim ford - buh bye, spammy spamster.

May 29, 2012 11:30 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Alan, Just bring your full price offers along with 20% down and you can purchase any one of my listings! Promise!
Margaret 

Jun 10, 2012 08:00 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Margaret - I promise you... when I bring you an offer... it'll make it all the way to settlement.

UPDATE:  Here it is a full three months later... my clients have already closed on the condo they purchased INSTEAD of this one... and the one that declined our offer is still "active" and available.  Big surprise, eh?

Aug 07, 2012 04:03 AM
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

And did they ever raise the price of the property if they wouldn't take your offer?  That is so, so strange.  Maybe they knew the buyers and for some reason didn't want to sell to them?  That is one of the strangest things I've ever heard. -Kasey

Oct 07, 2012 03:45 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Kasey - I can't imagine that was the case, since the buyer was from out of town... but who knows.

Oct 07, 2012 11:51 PM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

This is a strange one. The Sellers must have an ulterior motive and don't really want to sell.

Nov 01, 2012 03:41 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Wayne - and the property, as of this date, is STILL available!

Nov 01, 2012 11:30 PM
Matt Robinson
Professional Investors Guild - Pensacola, FL
www.professionalinvestorsguild.com

Wow, that is very strange indeed.  You wonder why they would even list it, if full price and 20% down isn't good enough?  Sounds like a waste of time for the listing agent.

May 07, 2013 03:33 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Matt - it was surely a waste of my time.

May 07, 2013 04:04 AM