Special offer

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Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Debbie,

It depends on the seller.  We presented a ultra low ball offer to our seller from an agent who represented clients famous for that.  Our seller rolled the offer in a ball and made a basket with it.  He was so mad, that he made sure all his circles knew not to give the time of day to this agent, who eventually left town and became a barista in San Francisco.   We did sell it to someone who made a decent offer.

If the gap is wide, I would encourage the buyer's agent to make a better offer, and if not, NEXT!  A

Mar 19, 2015 07:58 AM
Rainer
279,878
Dipti Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
On a team with Praful Thakkar

Keep it alive. It may work!

Jul 31, 2018 07:44 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Debbie Reynolds - Margaret Rome, Baltimore Maryland has written a beautiful post about this recently!

It's good to have an offer, even if it low.

Mar 19, 2015 03:27 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

It is not a mulitple offer situation. In fact it is an estate and the executor is incensed by the offer and refuses to acknowledge it.

Mar 19, 2015 11:03 AM
Rainer
273,237
Richard Robibero, e-Pro, ABR, SRS
Panorama R.E. Limited - Toronto, ON
Selling Your Home as if it were My Own!

I know this answer is a cop out but it depends. Is it the first day of the listing or six months in? Is the property over-priced? etc.

But generally I have a conversation with the agent. Sometimes they will let it slip that they are willing to come up considerably. If the agent is playing absolute hardball then no.

But I try to get signbacks all the time to get the ball rolling.

Mar 19, 2015 10:48 AM
Rainmaker
280,599
Jeanne Gregory
RE/MAX Southwest - Sugar Land, TX
The most important home I sell is YOURS!

A lot depends on the offer: how it's written, does it have a pre-approval, has the other agent actually closed anything this year......but if it just looks like a pitiful attempt, no let it go and don't repeat the f bomb that the seller drops.

Mar 19, 2015 10:05 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I ALWAYS tell the seller to teh point of having to persuade some to counter every offer no matter ho wlow

Mar 19, 2015 09:20 AM
Rainmaker
4,571,456
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Debbie --- as Alexandra Ron & Alexandra Seigel answered it does depend on the seller as well as the quality of the offer presented(notwithstanding the price issue).   I'm assuming from the question, that this is the only offer as when there are multiple offers, some will naturally be put aside.  

I try to set the stage early on(during the listing signing) with sellers that an offer is just an invitation and by your response, you're merely answering which in some cases can be no answer at all.   

I've had some offers that where it seem there was no hope eventually work out. Rare but it does happen.   

Good luck.

 

Mar 19, 2015 08:57 AM
Rainmaker
911,228
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

I tell buyers agent exactly what sellers instruct me to tell them. And sometimes that isn't " submit a stronger offer". many times it's " Reject it, and tell them to quit wasting my time". There have even been cases when sellers told me to tell them not to bother submitting any more offers.

Mar 19, 2015 08:15 AM
Ambassador
6,392,879
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

If the seller is willing, we counter, if not then I will tell the other agent to consider submitting a serious offer if they really want to buy.

Dec 25, 2019 10:44 PM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I will try to find out from the buyer's agent if there's room for negotiations.

Jun 24, 2018 05:50 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Isn't it nice when you know the other agent and can have a conversation. I have had offer 10-20% under marekt that the buyer actually came up to market price. So a counter keeps it alive.

Mar 21, 2015 12:48 PM
Rainmaker
938,407
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Debbie, we always encourage the seller to counter no matter how low or terrible the offer is.  There is an occasional buyer who just wants to test the seller and we have seen a deal come together because the seller did counter.  If the buyer does not come up to a reasonable number it still is a good exercise as it is good practice for a seller to experience the process and cement their "bottom line" number by going through the process.

Mar 20, 2015 09:54 PM
Rainer
45,957
Andy Madrid
Hawaii Coast Realty, LLC - Kailua-Kona, HI
Expertise, Professionalism, and Service

I always encourage my client seller to respond with a counter offer.  You can't dance if no one will come to the floor :)

Mar 20, 2015 05:47 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

How do you get a seller that is stubborn and doesn't want to respond to at least counter? I have even prepared the counter at full price and not been able to get him to sign it. Ideas?

Mar 20, 2015 12:14 AM
Rainmaker
582,106
Eric Kodner
Madeline Island Realty - La Pointe, WI
CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -

We make an effort to persuade the ultra-lowball offeror to come in at a more reasonable number.  And we also instruct the seller to not shoot the messenger.

Mar 19, 2015 03:05 PM
Rainmaker
1,683,912
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

I encourage a counter offer, even if it is back to full price.  It shows the low baller that the seller is not playing games.

Mar 19, 2015 02:16 PM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Counter the offer. Once I had a Seller counter an offer as much over list price as they lowballed.

Mar 19, 2015 01:01 PM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

In Colorado we have to submit all offers. It's up to the seller on how it gets handled. 

Mar 19, 2015 12:29 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I can see it depends if the home is in the market range or not. Mine are but I have seen many that are out of sight.

Mar 19, 2015 11:53 AM
Rainer
23,743
Eric Valente
Calabasas, CA
Eric

I always try to negotiate via the phone first. If they are open to counter and there are chances we can meet somewhere good for both of us, I'll send the counter. During multiple offers, we counter only few higher and best offers. 

Mar 19, 2015 11:43 AM
Rainmaker
1,139,819
Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239
Real Estate One - Commerce, MI
Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com

It really depends on whether the list price is a solid market price or whether my seller has extremely overpriced their home.

Mar 19, 2015 11:30 AM
Ambassador
2,160,948
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

I had two of these last week and both came from the same buyers agent.  In the first case, the sellers countered at full price and that was the end of it. In the second case, the low offer sold another offer that was received the same day and seller didnt bother to counter which caught buyer's agent off guard.

Mar 19, 2015 11:25 AM
Rainmaker
161,783
Wika Hutchinson
Eugene, OR
Broker, CRIS, SFR, CDPE

It's always a good business practice to answer an offer--whether we counter it or decline the offer. Some listing agents just ignore offers they considered low without doing any homework on the reasoning behind the offer. Our job is to represent and negotiate for our clients.

Mar 19, 2015 10:58 AM
Rainer
19,756
Audrey Black Maine
Mount Dora, FL

I encourage them to counter since I too work with buyers who sometimes take a shot at a low ball offer just to see what the seller is willing to accept. 

Mar 19, 2015 10:49 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I tell my sellers that we have a live person. counter back and see what happens.  they may be pleasently surprised.

Mar 19, 2015 09:02 AM
Rainer
12,741
Holly Biltz
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Saint Cloud, FL
I sell the dream of Home Ownership!

I do whatever my sellers tell me to do, but I also give my opinion and then let them decide

Mar 19, 2015 08:28 AM
Rainmaker
443,220
Cindy Davis
SD Home Source Realty - San Diego, CA

I've done both, so it really is up to the seller. When an offer is off-their-rocker locker, I am less inclined to recommend a counter. When it's in the 5-8% range of list price, I think a counter makes more sense.

Mar 19, 2015 08:14 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

If it is a low ball offer I recommend that they submit a better offer.

Mar 19, 2015 07:59 AM