Today is a good day--I started the day at a long awaited closing--hooray!  I was the list agent on the deal.  While we were seated at the closing table, the buyer's agent described 2 other offers that the buyer had made previous to ours. In both cases, the list agents of those other properties didn't want to commit anything to writing--so counteroffers were "made" verbally.   The property owners were also misguided--one of the deals fell apart over $5,000, the other over the closing date.  Later, both list agents called the buyer's agent, hoping to resurrect the offers.  Too late!  This market demands that sellers be quick & ready to accept or counter an offer in good faith.  Anything less & the offer is gone--forever.  This proves once again that, if homeowners want to become home sellers, they must be flexible, decisive & accept the new market price.