The End Around

July 3rd, 2008

It’s been about 48 hours since I put my offer in, and I just heard back that the seller said “thanks, but no thanks.”

The problem wasn’t the response, but rather the lack of additional comment or counteroffer. The situation is weird in that the prospective selling agent who was at the house works in the same office as my agent and he wants this deal to go through him even though he is not the agent of record with the seller. I have a problem with this as, for all I know, the seller has no intention of signing on with this guy. To put my fate in the hands of a selling agent who hasn’t even been retained by the seller yet seems crazy and risky.

I asked my agent to get more information from his fellow agent about the reaction to my offer, and something just smelled bad to me. When asked if we should submit another offer, the other agent apparently responded with “Why, so you can re-insult him?”

Hearing that response convinced me that I needed to engage directly with the seller. I’m not going to let this deal get away because someone is trying to get in the middle of it. I enjoyed meeting the seller at the house, and he’s a professional negotiator (attorney), so I don’t see why we can’t negotiate directly. I will be calling him this evening to see what his thoughts are.

2 Responses to “The End Around”

  1. keith Says:

    How did you get the seller’s phone number? That is the kind of important information that agents try to keep to themselves…

    #1 - April 14th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
  2. Mike D. Says:

    Keith: I knew his name from meeting him at the property so a little Googleing pointed me to his business. His name is fairly original as well so that made it easier.

    #2 - April 14th, 2009 at 8:49 pm