Special offer

Timely Responses to Contract Offers

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Beam & Branch Realty TREC #547752

Timely Responses to Contract Offers

 

In the real estate business, timing is everything.  From finding the perfect home with your clients, putting together the offer and then submitting the offer takes time, effort and strategy.  There are hours of work behind every offer.

 

The phrase, "Time is of the essence" is often heard in our industry and for good reason.  We have deadlines, option period, feasibility time lines, finance deadlines and more. In Texas, there is no place on our 1-4 Family Contracts to place a time to respond by.  This information would have to either be written in under Special Provisions or we have an HAR (Houston Association of REALTORS) form that can be presented called:

Evidence of EM

This form is a great tool to use when presenting an offer to an agent.  Our market has been quite brisk to this form to insure that an offer has been presented.  It can be a great help to agents who are presenting multiple offers as well.

 

Timing is important in real estate.  Insuring that your offer has been presented and has been seen by a Seller is assuring to the potential buyers. Of course it doesn't mean the Seller is accepting the offer yet can let the Buyer know that at least the offer has been presented.

 

Ask your agent to present your offer with an acknowlegement of receipt.  So very important in our business and insures your offer has been seen.  It can make a difference!

Posted by

Comments(7)

Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Good morning, Paula --- so many buyers wonder if there offer has been seen by the seller so this form hopefully serves to reassure them of the fact.   I'm surprised that there is no "expiration" or "response" date on your standard offer forms --- it's always interesting to see how our business is practiced in different areas.

Oct 12, 2015 02:23 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

I know Michael Jacobs , I would love to see this added to our contracts.

Oct 12, 2015 02:25 AM
DEANNA C. SMITH CERTIFIED MOBILE NOTARY
Certified Mobile Notary Signing Agent - Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Highest Ranked Certified Mobile Notary in Virginia

You are so right, timing is crucial in real estate.   And from a lender's point of view, the new TRID regulations make that statement even more appropriate.   Clients, Realtors and Lenders alike will have to watch timing and deadlines all the way to closing.

Oct 12, 2015 02:32 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Absolutely Deanna Early !  I however, am still amazed when I send an offer to an agent and have to hound them to find out if they even received it.  Also, thank you for the email!  Happy to follow you and have you following me!  Glad to have you here in the Rain!

Oct 12, 2015 02:35 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

This is so important on our Offers here in Ontario, Canada it is #1 on our printed forms.  Fascinating to me how each market is so incredibly different.

Oct 12, 2015 04:38 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Susan Emo I absolutely love that your contracts have this.  I am going to send this to my MLS folks.  Thank you.

Oct 12, 2015 09:01 AM
Susan Emo

And should the Seller wish to Counter the offer, they simply cross out Buyer, write in Seller and change the date to when THEY need the Buyer to respond by.


Keeps it all quite civilized :)

Oct 12, 2015 09:44 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Paula. Timing is everything and sellers and their agents need to be responsive.

Oct 12, 2015 10:28 PM