Even after 27 years as a licensed real estate agent in the state of Washington, I experienced a "first" recently. It just goes to prove every day and every transaction (and every agent) is different.
Here is the course of events:
* We received an offer on one of our listings. Very low offer
* We counter-offered
* We received a counter to our counter that is lower than the original offer! Did you read that whole sentence? We received a counter to our counter that was lower than the original offer.
We figure the buyer is just playing games and ignore the counter to the counter.
Several days go by and the agent calls to see why we haven't responded to the counters counter.
I say: "Well, we were confused because the counter was lower than the original offer so we figured your buyer isn't serious".
Buyers agent says: "Well, we still want you to counter".
Me: "But why? So, you can come back even lower?"
Buyers agent: "Well, the buyer just wants to get the best price possible because she has a child"
At that point I just about lost it. Why would an agent tell me her buyer has a child when we are talking price? Now, if she would have given me some justification for the lower price... like there are 55 condos on the market and there is a 27 month supply and blah, blah, blah maybe I would have listened. But, how can someone justify a price because they have a child? This agent clearly missed the negotiating class!
Now, don't get me wrong. I understand the thinking. She has a child to support and she is a single mother and she needs her payment to be as low as possible. But, to justify a price because you have a child is telling me you want my seller to subsidize the child. On the other hand, my seller could ask a higher price because he has a car payment. It's just NOT relevant.
So, my suggestion is this: If you have a child and want to make a low offer on a home, have your agent come up with some pertinent, market related, reason to justify the price. The seller just might consider it.
Remember: Information is FREE. Knowledge, Experience & Integrity Are Priceless
For current Wenatchee real estate news, info and trends contact the TOP Team:
Carol Williams TopTeamCarol@gmail.com
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Have a wonderful week-end!
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Hi Carol,
Thats actually a very funny yet serious story! The real estate market here in North Jersey is certainly one where when a listing gets an offer, it is almost certainly lower than list however negotiating the offer needs to be supported with intellect!
Fortunately we are seeing the less experienced and part time agents dropping off the charts. Hopefully we can re-gain our well deserved professional name as Realtors!