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An Unreasonable Request

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

I don't blame Titus and Philemon for not wanting to give Joe a haircut... or is that a hair chew? Yuck!

As far as unreasonable demands in Real Estate the possibilities are pretty endless. The one I heard most often, especially when I was fresh in the business, was from Buyers (and I use that term loosely) asking if the Owner would sell the home on a contract for deed with no money down? Duh! Now to be fair the reason it irritated me that they would ask was at that time we were in a "hot" market. Also in the interest of being fair I have had Sellers say "Why not? I know I will get it back in three years or less and they will make improvements over that time." That would not be my line of thinking. I'd be concerned how much damage they would do in three years.

The most common, unreasonable request usually had to do with the garage. Will they leave the corvette, the motorcycle, the Tim Taylor lawn mower? No, No & No!

The most unusual YES I received was a family had enough money and credit to purchase the home BUT they wanted a double garage to be added and the lender wouldn't allow a second loan to the other financing. The owner said yes and everyone was happy.

Posted by

Do you enjoy the cartoons written by my son (Timmothy N. Timm) which I use as a springboard to write my daily posts? His strip, Titus & Philemon, has run in two newspapers for years as well as being printed in my blog every day. Titus & Philemon (pronounced Phi - Lee -Man) are guinea pigs. Their owner is Joe. Timmothy has never repeated a joke/comic strip in the 12 years he has been writing it. He has never copied another strip, such as Peanuts or Garfield. You can follow Timmothy on FB as Titus & Philemon and you can also check him out on Instagram as Instagram.com/titus and philemon/ .

Comments(11)

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Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Bob,
Asking a seller to carry a contract with no money down in a hot market is like strolling into a car dealership and saying, “I’ll take that new Corvette—no cash, no credit check, but trust me, I’ll make payments.”

Mar 11, 2025 06:17 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Excellent analogy Carol Williams .

Mar 11, 2025 07:13 AM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX

Bob "RealMan" Timm - Contracts for Deed are not allowed by Texas Real Estate Commission or TX REALTORS. The logic people use to pursuade an Agent to get involved in that is absurd. No one can predict the market, economy, or future value on property. There is no logic in that way of thinking.

 

Mar 11, 2025 06:39 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I agree Patricia Feager . I did make a life long friend by giving him advice on how to pursue it on his own but alas he never ended up with a home of his own.

Mar 11, 2025 07:14 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Bob... I've not had requests like yours... but I have had some insanely low offers in a hot market and crazy repair requests. I always tell my sellers "just say no."

Mar 11, 2025 06:43 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I agree, NO! can be a beautiful thing... although I never want to hear those words roll off of your beautiful lips Nina Hollander, Broker my Love.

Mar 11, 2025 07:19 AM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Your take on the wild world of real estate made me chuckle, Bob "RealMan" Timm! It's so true how some requests can leave us scratching our heads, and your anecdotes really hit home. Thanks for sharing your insights in such a fun way—it’s a great reminder of the quirky side of this business!

Mar 11, 2025 06:45 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

It can be a quirky business indeed Lew Corcoran .

Mar 11, 2025 07:21 AM
Chris Lima
Turtle Reef Realty - Port St Lucie, FL
Local or Global-Allow me to open doors for you.

Good Morning Bob "RealMan" Timm,

This post proves that absolutely nothing is off limits.   I haven't had quite this situation, but I have had some others that are still taking up space in my head.  The one that comes to mind is..... buyers wanted to stay in the house for a weekend before considering an offer.  This was not a furnished condo/house used for airbnb. This property was a home to a family with kids and dogs and....etc.

Years ago...ok, maybe decades there was a show that revolved around this very situation.  HGTV was killing us even way back then.  LOL

Mar 11, 2025 07:19 AM
Chris Lima

Bob "RealMan" Timm Now that is something I can get behind. LOL

Mar 11, 2025 09:08 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I missed that show Chris Lima . I have had request from non-buyers who wanted to spend a night in a known haunted house.

Mar 11, 2025 09:02 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Interesting how our clients are sometimes willing to do those things we would not advise. But when it works out they think they are brilliant and when it doesn't it is usually our fault.

Mar 11, 2025 07:50 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Yup, a lot of stupid stuff I had no part in was my fault Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 .

Mar 11, 2025 09:00 AM
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Good Morning Bob "RealMan" Timm 

Many years ago, I learned that EVERYTHING is negotiable AND for sale, even when you are 100% certain it is not. 

Mar 11, 2025 08:46 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

That was certainly the case I stated above where the Buyer wanted the Seller to build a garage for them Doug Dawes 

Mar 11, 2025 08:59 AM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

This is a very interesting issue. I usually advise my clients that it is unlikely but possible.

Mar 11, 2025 09:17 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

That is a good attitude Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty , far better than getting upset about it.

Mar 11, 2025 10:32 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Bob - life is full of choices.  Even without much thought, some initially may leave a bad taste in your mouth or prompt a poor impression.  Follow your gut. . .  (well, so to speak).  

Mar 12, 2025 04:08 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Some requests even challenged my morals Michael Jacobs and they always were met with a hard "NO"!

Mar 12, 2025 07:26 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Having a good haircut is important for our self-esteem and we sometimes struggle during bad hair days, haha.

Mar 12, 2025 10:24 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I wish I could say that I remember what a bad hair day is Brian England .

Mar 12, 2025 12:18 PM