Special offer

Responding To A Low Ball Offer!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 311291

 How do you respond to a low ball offer?

 

After being in RE for a while, there are many responses to this question. Some rude and condescending, some were not presented to the sellers and some rejected immediately by the listing agent.

No that is not the way it is done.

All offers in writing have to be presented. And it is the seller who makes the decision.

Recently we received a written offer along with a laundry list of reasons why the buyer's offer was so low and a note that this offer was not meant as an insult.

You cannot insult me with an offer!

 

low ball margaret rome

 

In writing we responded: 

 

"The sellers appreciate the buyer’s offer. And you could never insult me or the sellers with a 'low ball ' offer.  

With this home being on the market only 2 days... the sellers are not willing to consider at this time.

 

(Take a look at the home that sold on 123 Main Street 2 months ago for 30% higher than this one. It  was without a basement, without the two extra baths, located on a busy street,  a smaller lot and much smaller square footage.)

 We really appreciate the time you and the buyers spent at the house and the time you took to share how you arrived at your pricing. At this time these numbers do not work for the sellers.

Thank you so much for such a quick response and look forward to a future transaction with you."

 

How would you respond?

 

 

Margaret Rome

Posted by

Margaret Rome
HomeRome Realty
Broker/Owner/Realtor®

Baltimore, Maryland


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Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Sheri Sperry - MCNE® Some negotiate with a sledge hammer and some with a feather. I think the irate agent was using the former. BTW I really enjoyed taking and obtaining the MCNE designation.

Apr 26, 2019 02:21 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®

Yes!  I had a wonderful experience as well (MCNE). I enjoy meeting new agents and networking. 

Apr 28, 2019 07:56 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Grant Schneider Testing...maybe. This is a very professional agent who put his buyers terms in writing and accepted the way I responded. The communications will always be kept open. 

Apr 26, 2019 02:24 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Nicole Nark When an offer comes in, I tell the other agent they have done their job submitting the offer. Now it is my job to present it and then work together. Thanks for stopping by.

Apr 26, 2019 02:25 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Sheila Anderson Love your comment.

Apr 26, 2019 02:26 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Michael Jacobs Yes"......-most written offers reflect some thought and all should be responded to in a professional manner. "

Apr 26, 2019 02:28 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Nina Hollander I say the low ball is not the insult. It is all the others who have seen your home either on line or in person who did not make an offer!

Apr 26, 2019 02:30 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Of course you would have Hannah Williams !

Apr 26, 2019 02:30 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Pat Champion We as professionals have to educate our sellers and also set the tone for negotiations.

Apr 26, 2019 02:32 PM
Allyson Hoffman
RE/MAX Properties Northwest - Park Ridge, IL
Making Today's Dreams Tomorrow's Reality!

I always tell the sellers that it doesn't matter where buyers start, but only where they end.  And, the only way to find that out is to engage the other party in a discussion.  Like you, I thank them, regardless of the initial price/terms and love it when they tell me how they arrived at their number -- priceless info when structuring a convincing response designed to see where they ultimately, or really, stand.  Thanks, Margaret ... great topic!

Apr 26, 2019 06:32 PM
Jeanne Gregory
RE/MAX Southwest - Sugar Land, TX
The most important home I sell is YOURS!

An low ball offer is always better than no offer at all.  This reponse is so much better than WTF?  Although that's usually our first mental response. 

Apr 26, 2019 06:53 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I love the way you responded to that lowball offer, Margaret.  My sellers have responded similarly.

Apr 27, 2019 03:19 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS Margaret, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!  

Apr 27, 2019 03:19 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

We always respond in a manner similar to yours. After all, you never know, they may look at more houses and realize their offer was not fair. We've had buyers come back.  

Apr 27, 2019 07:39 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Allyson Hoffman It does not matter where you start...it's where you finish. That would have been a great title!

Apr 27, 2019 10:00 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Jeanne Gregory Best comment so far!

'This response is so much better than WTF?  Although that's usually our first mental response.'

Apr 27, 2019 10:01 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Myrl Jeffcoat I know you would have your sellers respond this way.

Apr 27, 2019 10:05 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Thank you Myrl Jeffcoat for the feature in the OFC!

Apr 27, 2019 10:06 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD They may come back thinking...it didn't hurt to try. 

Apr 27, 2019 10:07 AM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

I really appreciated your example of how you respond to a low ball offer.

You gave both sides dignity and information on why the offer was not acceptable.

Thanks

May 10, 2019 02:57 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

John Wiley Always good to see you. This response does give both sides dignity and information about why it was not accepted.

May 10, 2019 05:09 PM