Waiting for a better offer? Not always the best thing to do!

Just like in my house where the dogs listen to Gabby (my 10 year old cat) or they end up getting their nose popped...  Okay, I can't really pop my seller on the nose.  But I have to admit, the thought did cross my mind. Please understand, I speak from knowledge, education and experience when i advise you on how to respond to an offer Mr. Seller.

And to protect the guilty I'm taking some "liberties" with this story, but I think you will get the jest of it.

 

A family of 6 children come to our office to sell the "old family place" and are ready to list that day.  The talk we have seems to go well.  All the siblings live out of state and not in the same state with each other.  One sibling is "appointed" by all to be the spokesperson for the family. 

We deal with the many problems with this property (like getting the tenant out, the legal way of course), clean up (the tenants were slobs wtih pets with potty training issues) the mess, work on the grounds and get the house ready for market.  We put a "as is" price on the house because it's in serious need of some neglected maintenance and updating.  We get, not one, but two offers right away.  We encourage Mr. Spokesperson to accept the higher offer.  But even though we tell them just "how the market is" they are so encouraged that we got two offers right away they take neither and expect more offers will come flooding in. 

Now...  years later the house still sits, (listing price below that offer we encouraged them to take) the family is still paying taxes and heating bills and no more offers have been made.  And they can't seem to understand why those "investors" are not willing to offer the same amount they did a year ago... when property values were higher than they are now.

The moral of this story...when your agent who knows the market says "You should seriously consider taking this offer, I don't think it would appraise for any more than that", you could end up getting your nose popped if you say no.  We agents don't just "make up" the prices we say we think your house will sell for, we use other sold homes in the area.  And we also have to take into consideration that your property is in need of repair and updates when no others that sold in that subdivision were in the same condition.  So don't regret years later after spending another $12,000 in taxes, insurance and bills that you didn't take the offer we advised you to take.  Getting two offers right out of gate does not guarantee a sale.  It simply means that a couple of agents are looking out for their investors and watching new listings and making offers where they find opportunity.  And you can't expect a buyer to not move on to other investments while you wait for a better offer.

Enjoy your St. Paddy's Day this weekend.  I hope you have something grand planned.  I do.

 

706-485-9668

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Tammy Lankford, Broker/Owner

 

Broker License # 169695  Lane Realty License # H-11420

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