Buying or Just Fishing?

Randy,

I'm with you on this one. I'd just say, "please call me back after you've shown the home"...end of discussion.

Randy

We hear these questions far too often, from buyers and their agents. I think your response was spot on for those who haven't shown it - go see the darn thing.

And if they have and the client is interested, do your due diligence, look at the market, and submit a written offer so it can be considered.

Jeff

1. How motivated is your seller?
   Motivated enough to Sell.  Is your Buyer motivated to Buy?
   
2. Is that price firm?
   Firm enough.  I slept on it last night, and my back feels GREAT!  Your Buyer should try it.
   
3. Is there room on the price?
   Always room for another zero! 
   
4. Isn't that price kind of high?
   Not for a legitimate Buyer.  Do you know any?
   
5. Is your seller flexible on the price?
   I don't know about "flexible," but he can crack his knuckles in time to "Disco Inferno."
   
6. Am I wasting my time if I offer ______?
   Well, not YOUR time.  But for anyone else whose time has value.........

I wish I could answer you that. . but the homeowner is the only person that can . .

write an offer and lets see. .

I'm getting a lot of this activity also Randy.   Both from agents and buyers.  If you want to really know, do what needs to be done and write your offer.

Randy,

I see this as a great compliment to your marketing.  Those agents are getting pestered from buyers who can't quite afford this particular home but love it thanks to your description and photos.  The agent knows the purchasing power of the buyers and is actually "feeling out" how much interest you're getting.

I agree with you 100%. (Or maybe 98%, at least!)

But let me play devil's advocate here. I suspect some of those agents have buyers (or potential buyers, or clients who say they're interested in buying . . . anywhere along that spectrum) and the first question out of the buyer's mouth will be "How motivated is the seller?" or "Is the price firm?" That's a knee-jerk reaction from some buyers. And they won't proceed further unless they get an answer that satisfies them. The buyer's agent knows that's the first question the client will ask. So rather than the following conversation:

Buyer's Agent: There's a house on 123 Main Street that just came on the market. It's in your price range, it has the right number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and has the other amenities you're looking for. It's priced at $xxx. I've run the comps and it looks like a good value.

Client: Do you know if the price is firm?

Buyer's Agent: Well, we can always make an offer. Most sellers are willing to negotiate. When can we schedule an appointment to look at it?

Client: As soon as I find out if there's room for negotiation. I'm not going to waste my time if the price is firm.

The agent instead picks up the phone and calls the listing agent to ask, "Is the price firm?" It just may be that, rather than the agent acting unprofessionally, he/she is acting at the direction (explicit or implicit) of the client.

Randy - if you have a long line of people viewing the house, you know you did something right. Some agents just wants to share their opinion without gathering facts.

And I can add one to your list that I literally got minutes ago on a condo listing I released this week that is currently vacation rented and cannot be shown until next week:

How much do they want for the furniture?  Will they take X?

Honestly, this a short sale listing, over half a million dollars, and your buyer is going to decide whether or not to offer based upon the price of furnishings he hasn't even seen?

lol...get in your car and show it!  Good one!  Let's just low ball and negotiate without even making the effort to show the property!  BTW...that is a HUGE lot!

Randy, I will occasionally ask a question prior to showing but it is not a negotiation question it is a question about the actual property.  That is amazing!