Special offer

Negotiating - Keep it in writing!

By
Real Estate Agent with ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County 200509394

Many agents enjoy the "sport of negotiating" parts of a contract with the other agent, then writing up the paperwork after verbally discussing terms, on their clients behalf, or answering with a texted counter offer, "with paperwork to follow."

Example: Agent receives my offer and texts me a counter, expecting me to relay this info to my buyers, and if agreeable to my buyer, I will receive written counter from them .  

mask

No!!!! I do not work that way, not safe for my buyers, not safe for me, or the other agent! 

I tell the agent I will wait for a signed seller counter and present to my buyer when received.   

Buyer will respond in writing.  Real estate 101.  I have made this post public to increase awareness:

  

****If the counter is merely a text or verbal communication and has not come in addendum form, signed by the principals involved, it is not a true counter. 

It bears repeating.

A counter in verbal or text form only, should not be relayed between parties until signatures received.****

 

 

Posted by

Your Coastal Realtor in Oregon

Comments (4)

Mari Armstrong
ArmsLink Realty - Murrells Inlet, SC
Offering You Honesty, Sincerity and Integrity

Great tips. I think we forget some of these tips for the sake of time, which can blow up in our faces later.

My Mama always said, "If you don't have the time to do it RIGHT, when will you ever have the time to do it OVER?"

Apr 09, 2015 01:25 AM
Dawn Waters
The Waters Group LLC - Debary, FL
Connecting People with Places

Amen to this! There are far too many opportunities for things to go sideways when you do verbal negotiating. You never know what the seller is thinking until you have a signature on an offer or a counter. Sellers can often be playing both sides of a deal, especially if they are trying to drive up the price or pit buyers against one another. Thanks for posting!

Apr 09, 2015 04:24 AM
Barbara Le Pine
ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County - Newport, OR
Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!

Mari,

I love your comment about "If you don't have time to do it right, when will you ever have tome to do it OVER?"

I think this post hits too close to home for many agents.

May 18, 2015 04:34 AM
Barbara Le Pine
ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County - Newport, OR
Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!

Dawn,

I have seen agents trying to drive up the price for the seller with verbal tactics, it is what prompted this post originally. Thanks for your comment!

May 18, 2015 04:36 AM