That's right, I don't care.
Sort of.
I was chatting with my friends Bill Fletcher and Michelle Roberts yesterday; talking low-ball offers.
And wounded pride.
A couple of Cary real estate war stories came up, and Bill says, "...I tell my Sellers that I must bring them all offers."
Me: "Why?"
Bill, a little taken aback: "I tell them the law requires me to present all offers."
Me: "Bill, I would never say that!"
Bill, more than a little taken aback, possibly shocked, "But that is the law!"
I interrupted him, "You want to know what I tell them?"
At that point he either saw the twinkle in my eye or my crooked, wise-guy grin, and paused...
Me: "Bill, here's my script: 'Mr. Bill, we are going to put your home into the public marketplace. Sooner or later someone might make a low offer on it. If they offer 8 bucks and a ham sandwich, I'm going to present that offer to you. And you are not allowed to get angry.' Folksy enough, Bill?"
Bill: "It sounds just like something Mike Jaquish would say."
I'm honored that he perceives me as a consistent professional.
See, I don't need a law to tell me to present an offer. It's common sense, I think, to do so. I'm not a decision-maker. I'm an agent, a fiduciary, a communicator. And I like to explain presenting all offers within a context that brings value to the client. I can cite the law if the client demands. I guess I can get the client to sign a request to not present offers below a certain point. I would probably refuse to do the latter.
I would continue with a prospective Listing client, "Whatever the price, it is a positive sign that someone has taken the time to write an offer. It indicates they are interested in the property. You have engaged me to develop interest, to keep the interest alive, and to help negotiate that low offer to closing at an acceptable price. Acceptable price to YOU, that is. You never sell for less than a realistic market price. And you never say 'No,' or fail to respond. You always give the opportunity to increase the offer, with dignity."
Sweetie and I are selling a rental condo that we own in Raleigh. I got the bottom-feeder email on Friday. "Will your Seller take half the list price?" I could have gotten fired up about it. Instead, I looked into the mirror and talked to my Seller a little, and offered to buy a home warranty. Also, I thanked them for the inquiry, and left the ball in their court.
You never know.
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Hi Mike,
I tell them to write it up (have to be written offers) if they have an agent thats great we can usually work something out...if they don't have an agent I tell them to CITO (come into the office) that eliminates most of them. The ones coming in, hopefully they will understand the seriousness of the OFFER and not waste more time. Like you said ....you never know
Dick Beals