Do sellers just not respond to offers anymore?

[Anonymous]

Haven't bought a house in 10 years and I know the market has drastically changed, but I'm genuinely wondering if sellers just don't respond to offers anymore?

3 weeks ago we offered list price on a house the day it went on the market. Offered expired, no response. So we upped our offer and adjusted some contingencies in hopes of making it more attractive. Two days later got a Redfin notification that it's contingent.

This week we saw another house the day it went on the market, made what we thought was an attractive offer- $15k over asking, their target closing date, higher earnest money, said we'd pay first $3k of repairs from inspection. Again, no response and just saw it go contingent on Redfin two days later.

Is this normal now?

[Anonymous]

Is your agent well known / respected? I wonder if they are advising you incorrectly, or if they have a bad reputation in the market so aren't taken seriously.

[Anonymous]

Is your agent well known / respected? I wonder if they are advising you incorrectly, or if they have a bad reputation in the market so aren't taken seriously.

[Anonymous]

They got much better offers, no need to negotiate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your agent well known / respected? I wonder if they are advising you incorrectly, or if they have a bad reputation in the market so aren't taken seriously.

I believe so. She came recommended to me by 3 separate people and we've really liked her thus far.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know where you are located, but I think in many places (not all) many people offer with no contingencies.

When we bought a few years ago we lost 4 houses and each one the sellers either negotiated with us, or used our offer to get a better offer and at some point we walked or lost out on the offer. One went $200k over ask a few years ago!

Now I think people are taking the best offers and many of them don’t have inspection contingencies or any contingencies. You have to decide your own risk and what you are willing to do to get a house. Get a pre inspection and offer your best offer from the get-go. Also, your realtor should have an idea about what the sellers are looking for & have a network to sush out competition/ how many other offers are coming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They got much better offers, no need to negotiate.

Not OP but this happened to me and the offer was $5k over asking/my offer. I was flummoxed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They got much better offers, no need to negotiate.

Not OP but this happened to me and the offer was $5k over asking/my offer. I was flummoxed.

Did you have contingencies? Did the other offer have a better realtor who told it better to the seller’s realtor? Did you have a small expiry timeline? How much was your down payment or did the other offer pay all cash? Do you have an escalation clause? All things to consider.

A friend just sold and one offer only offered a three hour offer window then it expired. She did not like the pushiness and waited a day and two other better offers came in. How is your realtor selling it to the seller’s realtor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They got much better offers, no need to negotiate.

Not OP but this happened to me and the offer was $5k over asking/my offer. I was flummoxed.

Did you have contingencies? Did the other offer have a better realtor who told it better to the seller’s realtor? Did you have a small expiry timeline? How much was your down payment or did the other offer pay all cash? Do you have an escalation clause? All things to consider.

A friend just sold and one offer only offered a three hour offer window then it expired. She did not like the pushiness and waited a day and two other better offers came in. How is your realtor selling it to the seller’s realtor?

No contingencies. Had a respected realtor. Long timeline and also offered a max rent back. 50% cash down. No escalation clause, not that they asked or said a single word to us other than acknowledgment of receiving offer.

[Anonymous]

This is very strange, OP. I wonder what firms the listing agents work for? There are some sneaky companies that have a "coming soon" status within their own firm and often sell to people represented by buyer's agents at their own firms. Are you in the DC area?

[Anonymous]

I am PP above - also - are the listing agents not even responding to your agent?

[Anonymous]

It is very unusual that a listing agent wouldn't call your agent to say that they are going with another offer. That is so disrespectful and atypical for a listing agent to do that. Did your agent call the listing agent multiple times to see what was happening? I sell real estate, and in 16 years have that only happen once. The listing agent was actually a really great realtor but was just overwhelmed with like 20 offers.

[Anonymous]

What brokerage did the listing agent work for? Curious.

[Anonymous]

My winning bid was 35k above ask, 60 day free rent back with no mortgage contingency.

Free rent backs I hate to do. Buy buyer demanded that the rent back be free or deal off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is very strange, OP. I wonder what firms the listing agents work for? There are some sneaky companies that have a "coming soon" status within their own firm and often sell to people represented by buyer's agents at their own firms. Are you in the DC area?

cough*compass*cough