Interesting Scenario Representing Buyers with Covert Agent Seller Conclusion!!

By
Real Estate Agent with Realty Executives

I certainly hope the commercial break didn't make you wait too long for the conclusion of this story.......

You'll find the protanganist buyers agent, sitting at her desk on Monday morning after showing the estate property which had recently been reduced by a drastic $1M.  She is looking at her computer screen when she gets a call from the husband/seller who never really clarified if he was an agent, but with whom she had all contact verbally and in person. 

The phone rings and the husband/seller is on the phone. He wants to follow up and see if an offer is going to be written.  It seem like there is a voice in the background that is encouraging him.  He isn't the same nice and friend version of himself that he was over the weekend when he was showing the house. 

This is the part that is really confuses the heck out of me...I'd love to hear your feedback on what you think of this fellow AR'ers!! 

Husband/Seller: "So are your clients going to be writing an offer on the property?"

me: "No. I don't think so.  They want to only you $1M because of the extensive remodeling and work that the wife would want to have done.  And since you've come down in your price and have told us you are not going to come down anymore, then we know our offer wouldn't work.'

Husband/Seller: "Yes, we've already had two offers on the property and we are expecting more.  But your clients really seemed to like the property.  In fact I think we've met them before.  I think they've seen looked at the house before a couple of years ago."

me: "No, I'm pretty sure you've got them confused with someone else.  They've been my clients for about four years now and they lived out of the country for part of that time."

Husband/Seller: "No, I think we've met them before..."voices muffled in the background... "And I don't think they are serious buyers.  They seem like that just talk like they are going to buy.  Have you ever sold them anything?'

me: "Yes, and I've sold property for them as well. I don't think they are who you are thinking."'

Husband/Seller: "Well its your job to get them to write an offer.Even if its for $500,000. That's your job."

I the back of my mind I am wondering if this guy is crazy. And then I'm wondering what his wife is like and if she is a super controlling you know what who is telling husband/seller what to say in the background. 

Why would I want to go to the work of having my clients write an offer on a property that they don't want to come up to the price the sellers said they would not lower any more, that has other offers on the table, and that quite honestly I know a deal would not be in the cards.  That would be wasting everyone's time!!!  I can understand from one perspective about how writing an offer is a good thing, but I am just wondering this: Because husband/seller was so irrational and shady, did he want me to write an offer so that he could tell other potential buyers that he had X amount of offers on the table.  Not to mention the haughty tone that he mysteriously had turned on which was a complete 180 from the day before when he was schmoozing my clients talking about how great the kids were, etc, etc. Talk about two faces!  I did a double take! 

I was just so confused and dazed.  Why would he insist that my clients make an offer that we both knew would not be accepted?  And who was this guy?  Why did the wife/agent never call me?  It all seemed just a little too odd and just shady. 

Honestly, I know the wife of my buyer/clients would not be happy living in this commercial grade construction house that just wasn't warm to her like a home should be.  It also was VERY far out in De Luz and being there with two small children just wasn't meshing in my mind.  (The husband of my buyer/clients is opening a business facility in China of all places this year and would be out of the country for long periods.)  I knew this wasn't the right fit for many reasons, but this whole guilt/power trip of trying to tell me I wasn't doing my job really threw me for a loop. 

Things always work out for a reason and I am sure glad my clients decided this wasn't the house for them.  I'm also glad this seller/agent/husband/whoever is moving out of my area!  Whew!   

 

Posted by

Susan Manning

Comments (7)

ARDELL DellaLoggia
Better Properties Seattle - Kirkland, WA
Interesting scenario.  Maybe the guy your are quoting will read this and comment. 
Feb 04, 2008 03:07 PM
Courtney Cooper
Cooper Jacobs - Seattle, WA
206-850-8841
Wow Susan - that is nuts...  Although I admit to being a crazy person as well when I moved and sold my home - just not quite crazy AND condescending, though...
Feb 04, 2008 03:11 PM
Susan Manning
Realty Executives - Temecula, CA

Ardell - One thing I learned a long time ago and have repeated many times is this: "You can't argue with crazy unless you either are crazy or you go crazy!"

Courtney - Thanks for the reassurance!! I think writing this out helped me vent and now it makes me realize I am not the one who is nuts!! LOL! 

Feb 04, 2008 03:19 PM
Harley Ramsey
Keller Williams - Chatsworth, CA
Chatsworth, CA Real Estate

That was something.  As they say, "Truth is stranger than fiction."  Good luck with finding a wonderful home for your clients--I like how you kept their needs foremost in your mind at all times!  Cheers, Harley

Feb 04, 2008 03:20 PM
Nancy Brenner
Referral Associates of Georgia, Inc. - Roswell, GA
Roswell Georgia Real Estate Agent

If someone starts rambling and contradicting themselves to me, I'll just let them carry on.
Did you ask a second time - after he was finished rambling - if an even $1M would be accepted????  Just to see what he would say?

Feb 04, 2008 05:01 PM
Susan Manning
Realty Executives - Temecula, CA

Nancy - I did make it very clear that $1M would be the offer.  And the seller made it very clear that this 7500 square foot, commercial grade construction property on nine acres was already undervalued.  I wasn't arguing with him on that.  He was more interested in talking circles.  It was all very confusing as I said. 

Harley - Its so nice to get compliments here on AR.  It makes the pitfalls of the job so much easier to handle, so thank you!!

Feb 04, 2008 05:31 PM
Nancy Brenner
Referral Associates of Georgia, Inc. - Roswell, GA
Roswell Georgia Real Estate Agent
What a goober.  Thank goodness he isn't your client!
Feb 04, 2008 05:35 PM