"Replying in-writing is a waste of time", she said.

By
Real Estate Agent with Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 UT DRE# 6541633-SA00

"Replying in-writing is a waste of time", she said.

 

Buyer clients were interested in purchasing a single family home in need of work. After walking through, noticeable maintenance problems were present, they would take them into consideration.

 

A fairly new property, the landscape needed to be completely re-done, the carpets replaced, all interior walls & stucco patched, baseboards replaced, new front and back doors, new paint all around.

 

Days on market were 90+ days, two price reductions, which told me it was indeed overpriced. This seller missed the opportunity to sell high in the last, brisk selling cycle and was perhaps, unrealistic.

 

An offer was made, taking everything into consideration and submitted. The phone rang fairly quickly afterwards, the caller asking if the buyers would be willing bring the price up to the listed amount.

 

"Send over a counter offer".

 

"Replying in-writing is a waste of time", she said.

 

How can it be a waste of time? We are practicing real estate here and in-writing is a requirement. But NoOoOoOoO, the assistant wanted to verbally negotiate, in hopes of getting quicker to an answer.

 

Right before deadline, a counter showed up in the inbox. So, I guess the sellers wanted to put it in-writing, after all! LOL

 

My advice: Agents, please do not allow your assistants or coordinators to take over negotiations on your listings. They may not be properly representing you or the clients best interests. In-writing is best!

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I, Wanda Kubat-Nerdin at Red Rock Real Estate Utah am responsible for my opinions expressed in this blog. Information herein is deemed to be reliable but not guaranteed and may change due to market conditions. Please do not take my pictures or artwork and use them as your own, they are my property and copyrighted.

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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin is a southern Utah REALTOR® assisting buyers and sellers in in the St. George area, Dammeron Valley, Diamond Valley, Veyo, Central, Hurricane, Ivins, La Verkin, Leeds, Santa Clara, and Washington real estate markets.
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Red Rock Real Estate
90 E 100 S, St. George, UT 84770

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Comments (71)

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

It's good that you to do business as intended, Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR. In-writing separates serious buyers/sellers from those who are clearly, not!

Jan 17, 2023 03:36 PM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Oh My God Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! .  This is such a huge pet peeve of mine but it's not always the assistants that are the culprits, agents do it as well. I had one recently to tell me the same thing "we don't want to go through the trouble of putting it in writing."  Not only that, when they did "counter" (in an email) they wanted me to make their changes on the sales contract (their counter terms) and send it back them for review and signature. Sorry is a word that I try not to ever use when it comes to people, but sometimes there just is no way around it.

Jan 17, 2023 04:46 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

The nerve to ask you to make all the changes for the other side as well. LOL Just when you think they'd never dare, they do, Charita Cadenhead! Sure, sign me up...NOT!

Jan 17, 2023 05:49 PM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! Every unbelievable act can and will be topped by yet another unbelievable act.  Sad but true

Jan 17, 2023 05:52 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

You've definitely struck a nerve - one worth discussing.  I'm fairly sure others have had this same response.  Recently, I've received some of the wildest low-ball offers, as if chicken little were out yelling the sky is falling!  No such falling will be happening!   GREAT post!

Jan 17, 2023 06:05 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Sellers will try a higher number and buyers will test that strategy as well, Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ. This new market will stretch us all in many ways but remaining professional is the best choice and in-writing still rules!

Jan 17, 2023 06:18 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Every day brings something different but am still happy to be in this industry, despite what people do! p.s. Glad you are too, Charita Cadenhead!

Jan 17, 2023 06:20 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

For sure Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! - it's an interesting time of realization for many!

Jan 17, 2023 06:24 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-939-2727
Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA
Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Wanda - As you point out - WRITTEN is the key. Here in GA, price negotiations must be done by Clients - not assistants or even agents themselves. In fact, it is clearly stated in our Georgia Association of Realtors Listing Agreement. All the best - Lynn

C. 3. g. [Agent]  shall have no authority to bind Seller to any Contract to Sell or give notices on behalf of the Seller other than to forward, if requested by Seller, a Notice signed by Seller pertaining to a real estate transaction.

 

 

Jan 17, 2023 08:46 PM
Matt Brady
Watermark Capital - Del Mar, CA
One of San Diego's Best Lenders

I am sure they would honor the phone conversation if they received a competitive written offer from someone else.

Jan 17, 2023 09:27 PM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

In Florida, an assistant cannot do any negotiation unless they are fully licensed and have their license hanging with the broker. 

Jan 22, 2023 08:00 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

If everyone agrees to verbally negotiate, it can work but most of the time, it is one party, Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ. At least, in my experience!

Jan 22, 2023 09:56 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ

Yes - working on a verbal negotiation today to put in writing for everyone to sign.  So far so good!  

Jan 24, 2023 08:43 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

A real estate transaction ultimately is decided by buyers and sellers. Some try to get in the way of that, Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-939-2727.

Jan 22, 2023 09:58 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Matt Brady, multiple offers are expected on properties that are desirable but still need to be -in writing- to proceed forward. Otherwise, it is just hearsay!

Jan 22, 2023 10:05 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Same here, Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty. It can cause trouble for whoever speaks out of turn!

Jan 22, 2023 10:06 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!

Or would that be...whomever?! LOL

Jan 23, 2023 03:29 PM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Wow!  i agree "in writing" is the only way to go!  I understand doing some verbal, but in writing is a must!  What was this agent thinking?  Very unprofessional.

Jan 23, 2023 10:27 AM
Wendy Rich-Soto, Realtor/Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, LA Harbor - San Pedro, CA
Getting you to your next with a zero failure rate!

I find it interesting that so many agents don't want to follow the rules anymore.  I feel like if seller's truly knew what their agents were doing to represent them, they would be horrified.  We have a fiduciary responsibility and I think many people have trouble remembering that! :-)

Jan 23, 2023 01:53 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Am very literal when it comes to the COE, rules and regulations of our industry and when it says 'everything in writing', that is what I do, Wendy Rich-Soto, Realtor/Broker Associate. Thank you for stopping by today!

Jan 23, 2023 05:04 PM
Ben DeHaven
Haven Realty & Investments - Lakeland, FL
Proudly serving Winter Haven & Lakeland, Florida

If it isn't in writing it doesn't exist is what I tell everyone!

Jan 24, 2023 06:28 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

And you are exactly right, Ben DeHaven!

Jan 24, 2023 06:43 AM