Consider This your Written Offer !

You did what you could do. Maybe ask the agent to let you speak with the seller??? Seems the sellers are caught up in the emotion of fantasy vs reality

Do you have a form in PA that the seller can put in writing a list of parameters that would allow you to re-write the offer? I guess in the end...no matter how big an ass the other agent is...if your buyer is willing and able to pay that price...write an offer.

I see this from time to time.  The seller is in denial as to the value and wants a buyer to overpay.  They get frustrated and threaten to rent the property to express their anger.  When I run into this, I tell the seller's agent that my buyers will be there when the seller is ready to be realistic.  If the selling agent is particularly aggressive, I'll tell them the offer price drops 1% every week they wait.

I actually had that happen and, because the buyer really liked the property, we decided to put in ANOTHER offer at a higher price. At that point the sellers actually countered. Sellers are a strange bunch. But they should also be educated in how the process works. In my case I pursuaded the buyer to leave his ego at the door and make that second offer. That then got the ball rolling.

My mentor continuially reminded me that it was a huge mistake to make an enemy of another agent because you could never tell when you'd need that agent's help to sell one of her listings. This agent sounds like she could use charm school, but I think (unfortunately) if your client really wants the house, you'll have to put your pride in your pocket and approach the agent with a much more concilliatory attitude.  You're initial approach may have put her on the defensive.  Your job is to get your client the home she wans.  Go get it!  Good luck!!

In our state, we have to present all offers, even verbal ones.  You can't sign a verbal offer, so I would've said, "Well, if they accept this counter, what are they to sign to make it enforceable?"

Hannah -- and we sometimes wonder why the public has the opinion of real estate agents they do, when they deal with agents like that, who don't even know how to do their job properly?  I really like Bryan's approach in a situation like this.

I agree with Hella.  And, I would talk to the agent's broker if you get no further response from her in a reasonable period of time.  After all, it is the brokerage's listing, not the agent's.

It is getting more common now to discuss offers rather than formally submit them.  Until something is in writing and signed it means absolutely nothing.  Also, the fact that it stills shows for sale and they are trying to rent it is also common.  They want to see what comes first.  Your buyers will find the right property - next!

I would be inclined to re-write the offer is my buyer so chose to, but i would also be talking to a certain Broker about the attitude.

Hannah

Some people want to sell and some want to talk about. Sounds like a talker to me.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Hi Hannah ~ That stinks.  Our job is to try to bring buyer and seller together - not act as an impediment.  I'm with you on comps - appraisals are a challenge right now - though in my market it's because properties are getting bid up dramatically. We also do counters verbally so don't have the same issue you've got.  Good luck!!

Liz

Hannah, that rotten. Having unresponsive agents and even clients makes for no business. Maybe an offer less than the asking but with the contingency that buyers will not pay more than appraised value, regardless of the amount of money they may be putting down. That places the deal back to the sellers and them acknowledging that an independent person (appraiser) will set the final value.