Special offer

What I Can't Tell You . . .

By
Industry Observer with RETIRED / State License is Inactive Inactive License Oregon

The Art of Tea Leaf ReadingWith listiings, an offer comes in.  It's written up and the numbers are there for review.  There's no guessing about the offer.  It's in hand.

When working with buyers, the unknowns are impossible to predict.

Unfortunately, what I can't tell you . . .

  • Will there by any other offers coming in with ours? 
  • What's a good price to offer? 
  • If a multiple offer sitatuion arises, will we know what they're offering?
  • What should be our "highest and best" offer?
  • Will the seller want to counter?
  • Will the short sale offer get approved by the lender?
  • Should we offer full list price, but ask for our closing costs?
  • Will the sellers continue to negotiate with our "low ball"

The listing agent receives the offer, and reviews it with the sellers.  While it's not the "easy part" it's still clearly defined.  No tea leaf readiing skills required.

The buyer's agent needs to field quite a few of the buyers' questions and concerns. 

I've been putting deals together for awhile, and the best way to address the unknowns is to talk about the various scenarios.   I'm not about to guess, but from experience I can explain the scenarios . . .   I just can't tell how the offer will play out until we actually submit it. 

What I can tell you is this:  If the property meets wants / needs and you want to call it home . . . let's write it up, and see how it plays out!! 

Posted by

 

 

Carla Muss-Jacobs has RETIRED effective May 1, 2018

Representing Buyers in the Portland Metro Real Estate Market | Clackamas Multnomah and Washington Counties | Since 1999

Carla Muss-Jacobs, REALTOR®, ABR, CEBA, ePro
Principal Broker/Owner ~~ INACTIVE

Carla Muss-Jacobs' retirement became effective May 1, 2018

Direct: 503-810-7192 

 

All Rights Reserved © 

Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

There you go.  Act like you are the only buyer and make your best offer.

Mar 20, 2011 11:25 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

From someone who both lists and sells, I still sometimes have no idea "what the seller will do with this offer?"  You never know until it's presented.   I had a crystal ball, but it seems to be a bit broken.

Mar 20, 2011 11:35 AM
Barbara Hensley
RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX
Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Hello, Carla, nice way to explain to buyers all the things you can NOT explain.  Nicely done.

Mar 20, 2011 01:07 PM
Christine Smith
Buyers Brokers Only LLC - www.BuyersBrokersOnly.com - Canton, MA
Exclusive Buyer Agent & Attorney, Canton, MA

Well said Carla!  I like the last line the best - if it meets your wants/needs, let's write up an offer!

Mar 20, 2011 01:34 PM
Matt Grohe
RE/MAX Concepts - Des Moines, IA
Serving the metro since 2003

Carla: Those are pretty ,cuh all questions I've fielded before. The scenario approach does work well. Best,

Mar 20, 2011 04:35 PM
Glenn Roberts
Retired - Seattle, WA

Clint, the auctioneer wanted me to admit that all buyers should make rational decisions. But when they get emotionally involved with a home they should tell their agent and the agent should make the rational negotiating decisions.

Mar 20, 2011 05:20 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Carla --- how many times have I said congratulations to a client or to the other agent and met with that surprised response "What???".  You just never know what will or can happen when it comes to sellers/buyers and their responses to offers/counter offers.

Mar 20, 2011 06:07 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

I am with Tammy - my crystal ball is broken.  Good post.

Mar 21, 2011 02:08 AM
Clark Cook
1st Choice Realty of Fayetteville, LLC - Fayetteville, NC
Marketing Homes For Sale In Fayetteville NC Area

Hello Carla, I like this post! And, I might add, the way you tell the buyer, "if the property meets your want /needs, and you want to call it home... let's write it up, and see how it plays out!!"

Mar 21, 2011 02:41 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Hi BLiz . . . yup, without the offer doesn't go far.

Hey Lenn -- yes, that is very often the case :-(

Hi Jack . . . in the beginning was the offer.  LOL

Hey Nick -- you're not alone.

Hi Jane . . . there you go!!!  :-)

Hey Tammy -- ah, but you have back-up.  The Magic 8-Ball LOL

Hi Barbara . . . explaining the unexplainable, good point!

Hey Christine . . . Let's!!!

Hi Matt -- we've all been there.

Hey Glenn . . . buyers can be very emotional during an offer.  I don't blame them, and you're attitude is right.  We remain rational.

Hi Michael -- it's surprising what will be accepted!! 

Hey Paula . . . get a back-up like Tammy LOL

Hi Clark -- all we can do is put for the effort 

Mar 21, 2011 04:38 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

NOTE:  This is a great additional reading, by Matt Grohe (comment #9) The Seller Wants Your Highest-and-Best Offer.  Is this a Scam?

Mar 21, 2011 05:00 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Carla, too bad nobody has come up with a crystal ball that actually works!  This post is spot on.

Mar 21, 2011 05:18 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I needed that laugh.  I had planned to call you today. Then busy happened. will send email.

Mar 21, 2011 06:51 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

This post is inlcluded in today's  Last Week's Favorites

Mar 27, 2011 03:08 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Grreat post Carla.  I must have missed this one.  Congrats for being featured in Pat's 15.

Mar 27, 2011 03:29 AM
Michelle Francis
Tim Francis Realty LLC - Atlanta, GA
Realtor, Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Carla, 

Definitely true and I wish my crystal ball was working better!  It's a unique market.  However, we are seeing a shift that good homes are getting multiple offers frequently which can be a shock to buyers.  

A lot of determining what is the best price for the home can be summed up in this question to the buyer: At what price if you don't get this home will you be upset?  (I've had folks a few years back who missed one by $1,000 on a high end house.... it still holds as an excellent purchase price two + years later!)  

All the best, Michelle

Mar 27, 2011 03:40 AM
Dawn A Fabiszak
Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO
The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!

Carla ~ I think the best thing a buyers agent can do is explain all the scenarios and the buyer needs to decide from that.  We cannot make the decision for them.  Loved the post.

Mar 27, 2011 03:44 AM
Betsy Schuman Dodek
Washington Fine Properties - Washington DC Area Real Estate - Potomac, MD
SearchPotomacHomes.com

We recently had an experience where a buyer was more interested in negotiating a price and she lost the house and is now kicking herself. We have to remind buyers that if you want the home, go and secure it and don't get caught up in saving $5k and lose your dream home. No two are alike.

 

Mar 27, 2011 04:10 AM
Tni LeBlanc, Realtor®, J.D.
Mint Properties, Lic. #01871795 - Santa Maria, CA
Tenacious Tni (805) 878-9879

Carla -

I prefer to work with an agent who has ESP.  If you can't tell me all of those things -- why should I have an agent?  LOL.  Life is uncertain, and buying a home can bring that to our attention in a whole new way.

Great post.

Tni

Mar 29, 2011 04:48 AM
Coral Gundlach
Compass - Arlington, VA
Real Lives. Not Just Real Estate.

Great words of wisdom!  I can't tell you how many times I've heard those questions.

Mar 29, 2011 02:29 PM