A Bad Argument to Make with a Counter Offer

So I presented a lowball offer on a property I have listed that is priced according to current market conditions.  It doesn't bother me.  And I prepared my seller for it with a simple statement, "If you wanted to make an offer on a house, would you start with full price offer?"

In a slow market, the property had only been on the market for a little over a week before this "show stopper" came across my desk.  Not surprising.  It's amazing what can happen when your client prices their home correctly.  So my client and I leafed through the offer.  I was proud that the seller understood that buyers agents almost always ask for more than they expect to get.  So my seller generously countered from his list price, just seller side of "split the difference" with this very low offer.

Fifteen minutes later, the buyer's agent called back with the dumbest argument ever to accompany a counteroffer that the agent knows is ridiculously low. 

"My buyers have seen many homes in the neighborhood better than this, with more upgrades and in better condition , listed for less."  Better condition than two week old carpet, paint and one year old appliances?  Mind you...our competition are short sales and REOs with "deferred maintenance issues."  And the listed for less, I knew a home she coudl have been referring to, because my seller priced himself just above that lowest priced short sale listing.

My seller looked at the comps I brought one last time, and said, "No.  My counter is it.  If they found something better for less, why are the writing an offfer on my house anyway?"

I was tasked with calling the bluff.  "My client is sticking to his coutner offer, which judging from the comps and the condition of the home is more than fair.  I'm not sure which homes you are referring to that are listed for less and offer a more upgraded, better conditioned home, but it does puzzle us why your clients chose to write on this house with something like that out there."

LESSON TO BUYERS' AGENTS:  Don't lie to me.  If you have a client that is lowballing, for the sake of loweballing, don't make up a reason why.  It's enough to say, "It's not a win, if it's not a win for everyone."

As a postscript, these buyers were through the house one more time after that counter.  We'll see what happens.