Special offer

Please Don't Tell Me The Offer Is On The Way

By
Real Estate Agent with Integrity Real Estate Group

Please Don't Tell Me The Offer is On the WayExcitement is in the air.  An offer on your listing is on the way.  The fax machine is full of paper, the email is running, the phone is working and your door is open for a drop off.  And then, nothing.

What happened to the offer?  You check the fax machine, you reboot your computer, you check your voicemail and then you call the agent back.  The answer is "oh my client decided to wait" or "my client decided they didn't like XYZ".  Fine I understand but why did you call and say the offer is on the way?  Even more importantly since you called and said the offer was coming why didn't you call to say it wasn't coming?  Don't be embarrassed I'll understand but leaving me in the dark isn't professional.

It's frustrating.  Fortunately over the years I've learned not to tell my clients about an offer until I actually have it hand.  I also don't call an agent to tell them one is on the way unless it really is.  Is it just me or does this drive you crazy too?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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                                   Real People*Real Lives*Real Estate

If you are interested in learning more about the Northern Virginia Real Estate market including Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties give Cindy Jones and Integrity Real Estate Group a call at 703-346-2213.

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Comments(119)

Marshall Brown
Mid America Inspection Services, LLC - Fargo, ND
BSEE, CHI

At the very least it is rude and uncalled for.

Apr 28, 2011 02:26 PM
Beverly Femia
BlueCoast Realty Corporation - Hampstead, NC
Broker Realtor Stager - Greater Wilmington, NC Are

A certifiable "crazy-maker" and clearly we all experience it!  The first couple of times is the hardest.  LOL

Apr 28, 2011 02:42 PM
Jordy Brisbin
Sutton Centre Realty - Vancouver, BC

Yeah, that can be frustrating, but we have to communicate that we are bringing an offer, or how can we arrange to meet, or is the seller even in the country??? Here, they often are not here... I have seen this from both sides; I know it is frustraing when an offer does not show up, but then working with buyers does have its challenges. i have been the agent who was bringing an offer, but the buyer changed their mind at the last moment. (I called, though)

Apr 28, 2011 04:19 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Kathy-perhaps they have to much time on their hands?

Marshall-
all I think any of ask is if the buyers change their mind just call and say so.

Beverely-yes it is

Jordy-once you have an offer in hand and ready to go then call and say it's coming  If the buyer hasn't signed or isn't sitting at the table do you really have an offer on the way?

Apr 28, 2011 11:39 PM
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

Cindy.....I meant to mention yesterday that I've been waiting over a week for an offer.....saw the agent yesterday and she said it was still coming.....LOL
Hope you have a great day!!---Rob

Apr 28, 2011 11:47 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Cindy, I have to agree completely!   Many agents are more excited than the buyers, and not able to pull the trigger, and sellers are let down!

Apr 29, 2011 01:40 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Rob-sad very sad that it would take that long to keep you on you on the edge of your seat.

Joan-and I thought I might be the only one that was bugged by this type of behavior.  Obviously not.

Apr 29, 2011 02:18 AM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Just had the same thing happen a few weeks ago Cindy and that was after the agent asking how fast can we get together to present!!  

Apr 29, 2011 02:24 AM
Beth Good Realtor
Prime Horse Property - Temecula, CA
Temecula Horse Property Specialist

Kinda like the ol' sayin' "lettin' the cat out of the bag is a lot easier than puttn' it back." Except'n you need to make sure you got a cat in there to begin with, lol.

Apr 29, 2011 02:28 AM
Jason Mendel
Windermere RE/Puyallup - Puyallup, WA

Cindy,

You make a good point here.  I always just tell the listing agent that my client is reviewing a couple properties before making an offer on one and the theirs is one of them.  This just lets the other agent know that there may be an offer coming and then I tell them that if we do submit an offer that I always call as soon as I hit the send button, just so I get that confirmation and there is no waiting around. 

Apr 29, 2011 02:58 AM
Allyson Hoffman
RE/MAX Properties Northwest - Park Ridge, IL
Making Today's Dreams Tomorrow's Reality!

Been there too ... so I've adopted the I'll-believe-it-when-I-see-it-attitude and not say anything until I do.  Thanks for the great post!

Apr 29, 2011 04:36 AM
Jamie King
Hoty Enterprises, Inc. - Huron, OH
Sandusky, OH

The flip side to that....if I tell you I have an offer in my hand and will be emailing it to you. If you don't receive it, don't you think you should question it???

I think most agents would. Had this happen to me. I called, said I have an offer and will e-mail when I get back to my office and even gave an approximate time. Two days later no response. When I questioned the status of the offer, the agent said I never received it and just thought your buyer changed their mind. Really???

However, the same agent flat out lied to me several times prior to the showing, throughout the transaction, even after closing. So I now think she received it, but just didn't get around to submitting it so she made up a story. One of those mass foreclosure listers that can't keep track of what she's doing.

Apr 29, 2011 05:39 AM
Patricia Beck
RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realty

Have heard this so many times before and it is definitely frustrating when the offer doesn't come in and you don't hear from the agent again. 

Apr 29, 2011 06:38 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

On the flip side I call to make sure they are still taking offers.  I hate to go to all the trouble of getting an offer out to find out they have just gone into contract.

Apr 29, 2011 07:34 AM
Robert Courtney
Lihue, HI
Century 21 All Islands, RA, CDPE, MCRE, CIAS

Reminiscent of the ole, "Checks in the mail" days.  You are right, a sale an offer is nothing until the money is in hand or escrow!

Apr 29, 2011 04:56 PM
Liane Thomas, Top Listing Agent
Professional Realty Services® - Corona, CA
Bringing you Home!

Yes, learned a long time ago not to tell my client and offer was "on the way" until I had it in my hand!

Apr 29, 2011 06:52 PM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

And part of that also includes the listing agent, right?

So, when I do send the offer, then the listing agent confirms receipt. Phone/email/text, doesn't much matter, but I do appreciate the listing agent alerting. Otherwise, I'll call and ask "did you get our offer, and are you still expecting to be able to respond within the timeframes you set out when I called to tell you the offer was coming?"

Apr 30, 2011 04:50 PM
Brenda, Ron, Lee Cunningham & Tara Keator
West USA Realty - Phoenix, AZ
Realtors, Homes for Sale - Phoenix Metro

I don't tell the sellers about the offer until I have it in hand! 

Apr 30, 2011 06:42 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Al and Peggy-geez that's adding insult to injury.

Elizabeth-great analogy.

Jason-sounds like you are a professional and thourough agent.

Allyson-it seems like most of us have adopted the "show me" attitude when it comes to offers.

Jamie-ouch but it sounds as if in the end it had a postive outcome for your clients.

May 01, 2011 06:05 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Patricia-when the agent starts dodging your calls you figure something is up.

Gene-absolutely making sure the property is fully available and any other relevant information is important to putting together a great offer.  But if you don't fall through a phone call letting the agent know is the next step.

Robert
-don't get me going on what happened to my three settlements last week :-)

Liane
-I believe birds and hands are supposed to go together.  At least the anaoloy is in there somewhere.

Claude-I do confirm with agents when I get an offer as we all do know they are occassionally eaten by hungry internet bugs.

Brenda and Ron-a good practice in my opionion.

 

 

May 01, 2011 06:11 AM