Should you call a Listing agent to tell them an offer is coming?

Similar thing happened to me recently. On a Monday morning agent calls to say she's sending an offer. Monday afternoon another agent calls and asks if I have any offers. I say "No but I have someone threatening to send one." Second agent calls back a couple hours later to say he just emailed the offer. Cash offer with no contingencies that the seller accepts immediately. Changed MLS to pending Monday evening.

Thursday afternoon I swing by to put the sold rider on and see two cars in the drive. I go in and see the agent that called Monday morning sitting at the dining room table with her buyers writting an offer. How embassing for her when I told her "We sold it three days ago."

If I am the listing agent and a buyer agent says that an offer is coming in, I don't believe it until "I see the whites of their eyes".

I always call the listing agent just prior to writing up the offer and then call or text them to let them know it has been sent or is on it's way.  

Good communication has never harmed any of my buyers or sellers.  However, the agent that sent me an offer via email and never bothered to let me know it was coming or that it had been sent sure was mad when they found out the seller and myself were both out of electronic service area for 48 hours.  (their offer expired and another came in before they re-wrote it.)

When I am the listing agent I love to get a call from an agent with extremely interested buyers, before an offer is written.  Sometimes there are reports in the file, something happening on the property that would be beneficial, etc.  I usually send over the Transfer Disclosure and Seller Property Questionainnair plus copies of any inspections in the file, if they would like it.  The better prepared they are, the better written the offer will be.  Always good to know if there is any other current competition.

I usually do call or text to let the agent know an offer is coming--but only after I have the signed contract in hand. SOmetimes if it's a hot property I will tell listing agent that buyer intends to write an offer and the time we are meeting.

Last month I actually had an agent email me an offer on Christmas Eve at 11am and wanted an answer by 5pm...He did not call or text and let me know it was coming!

I always take calls from buyer's agents promising an offer with a grain of salt. Here's why. I listed a condo in mid-December and had three or four agents call within the first week to tell me they were writing. NEVER heard another word from three of the four, and the fourth refused to heed what I wrote in the Confidential Remarks (and told them when they called TWICE) about the seller pricing the property for an owner occupant with CASH.  Their clients were investors with financing looking to lowball.

The property went into contract with an owner occupant with solid financing for over asking. That buyer's agent had let me know she had a buyer who might be interested, but she promised nothing. I'd much rather deal with agents like that, including those who call to ask if I have offers in hand. I have to tell those agents that I've had several agents tell me they are writing but have nothing in hand. Is that helpful information, buyer's agents? 

Scott Godzyk sometimes the agents are more excited than buyers - and are ready to write an offer, buyers are not!

The just preempt the buyer's action for no reason!

My broker advise us to call, text and email to listing sgents where we are to sent an offers, and getting in touch with couple days about the respond from the seller

Irina Tibbits, I agree that is the smart way to go. 

I always call to make sure the property is still available prior to writing an offer.  This helps us all in know where the buyers need to be in an offer.  Some buyers don't want to be in a multi offer position.

 never call and tell an agent an offer is coming until you have it in your hand.  How many times have buyer changed there mind?  Worst yet is the agent who calls the seller to tell them an offer is forth coming and it never comes.  I learned this long ago don't set up your seller until its in your hand and you know the terms.

Great post.  I always call the listing agent to find out if thee are any other offers on the table.  If you do not, you run the risk of the sellers negotiating and signing another offer while you are getting yours written up and signed.  I think that would be a terrible disappointment for your buyer to find out it is already under contract.

I contact the agent to verify the property is available.  Would never tell them we are writing an offer unless it was a done deal.   

Depends on the listing agent whether or not I call and give a "heads-up."

It is amazing how many agents I know that have immediately started "shopping" for other offers when they think they can say "Hey, I've got an offer coming in, if you want it, now may be your last chance."

Actually good business for the Seller, but it feels kinda crappy when all of a sudden you are in a multiple-offer situation.

In our market in Massachusetts inventory is so limited that if you "snooze" as either the buyer or the agent you "loose"!

I call before showing to check current status. May have accepted an offer not yet in MLS status change. As far as an offer being written, I only call to let them know it's on it's way via email or hand delivered.

I call before sending an offer to make certain that the property is available. I also check to make sure the agent received the offer.

Good morning, Scott Godzyk just saw this with the reblog from Lise Howe .... I think if an offer is going to be written, the buyer's agent would be wise to call and alert the listing agent so if another offer comes in, they too would have a chance of buying the home...

Good morning Scott Godzyk ,

I just caught your post when Lise Howe rebogged. In our market I always call the listing agent to see if they have any offers and how are they going to handle multiple offers. Some will hole until the week-end is past and present all offers. As a listing agent I don't count an offer until I have it in hand!

Good morning Scott. I never called with an offer until I was faxing it over. I did call however before writing to see if there was anything else on the table or expected.

It's good to check...and give a heads-up if writing...and also update if NOT writing an offer after all.