Three weeks before Christmas in Cary, NC....
Me: Buyer will go $108,000.
LA counters at $119,000 from list price of $120,000.
Buyer says whoa. Just doesn't want to push nickels back and forth to get there.
No deal. No problem. It happens. They can't all be deals.
Three weeks pass. LA calls me.
LA: "Seller will do the deal at $114,000."
I talk to my Buyer.
Me: Buyer says $112,000. We'll close by the end of the year.
LA: OK. Great!
I get the offer together, make a run to Raleigh for signatures and initials, send it over.
LA: Oh, He won't pay for the home warranty. Too good a price.
I talk to Buyer.
Me: Buyer is OK with that. Let's get it done.
LA: I'll get it signed.
LA, later: He says this is "As-Is" because it is a real good deal. He won't do any repairs. And he won't close until January 8th.
Grrrrrr... "I'll talk to my Client." Prepaid interest looming before my eyes.
Buyer, "OK. I have the inspection report and it is pretty good. I'll pay for a termite report and take it As-is."
Me: "Buyer is OK with that." And send over 2nd marked up offer.
Much of this is very late in the day, or on lunch hours, because the LA is a part-timer with an out-of-town day gig. Email and fax is at home.
Much later, LA calls: "Mike, I couldn't catch the seller, because he is out of the country. He can't do anything until January 8th when he gets back. Maybe your client can buy it then." So we were negotiating in good faith with an incommunicado owner? Kind of weird, I think. Something just doesn't add up.
My Client: "And maybe I won't..." I agreed with that strategy. It isn't like there are no investment properties on the Wake County, North Carolina market. Mostly they are easy to buy.
Fast forward to January 2nd.
Phone rings.
LA: Hi, Mike! Seller is back in the country. Can we do a contract today?
Me: I'll talk to my Buyer.
Buyer: Do you really think we can get it closed?
Me: No clue, but I'll sure try if you want it.
Buyer: No, let's forget it. I don't want to waste any more of your time.
Gotta love some clients. I agreed gratefully. We'll move on.
SALE SUCCESSULLY AVOIDED. Weirded out the qualified and motivated buyer!
;)
Links;)
Archives
This is funny, and has far too much truth in it, sad to say!