Got a call from an agent the other day. Somehow she has discovered my contact details. She tells me someone is interested in buying my vacant block (which is in a decent area) even though I have not advertised it or showed any sign of wanting to sell. I ask what price they are offering and she gives me a figure that I basically laugh at. I say I would only accept an offer over $xxx k. Sounds like some conditioning going on (common RE agent tactic). Also I say I am not desperate to sell since it only costs me council rates and maintenance each year - no interest.
She says she will get back to me.
They next day she comes back with another offer from her client for a 'cash sale'. An offer that is suddenly $20k more than the original. And unconditional too. And that she has a signed contract waiting for me! I tell her I am too busy to see her and in any case I refuse as it is still well below what I am after.
The following day she calls again and asks if I have a soil report and if the buyer can see it since that will 'help' them offer more. I say yes I do, but I decide I am tired of this argy bargy and decide to drop a bomb and fire up: I inform her politely the way I do business - that was to tell her client to put in their best offer and if it is less than the figure I originally mentioned 2 days ago then let's forget all about it. I'm not about to waste my time digging up a soil report from years back in my files. She agrees.
At this point I am thinking if they can offer $xxx k unconditional, no soil report etc then why are they suddenly wanting one.
Then the worst bit: later that day she turns up totally uninvited to my place of business; as out of the blue as the inital phone call. She says she wants to show me a contract to prove how serious the buyer is. There is a condition on there about seeing a soil report 'satisfactory to their needs'. I say this isn't specific enough (ie - what soil type are they looking for exactly) and basically an excuse to pull out. There is no problem with the soil of course but I give them the benefit of the doubt and move the conversation on to question what price they are offering. It is up by a further $5000 but STILL LESS than what I wanted, even though I won't have to pay commission since I havent engaged an agent.
SO I explain this to the agent carefully. I tell her again in plain English what I think is the Right Price because I have no overwhelming desire to sell and suddenly her mood changes, BANG! she blurts out to my face "well I'll just show my clients some other blocks of land then!" and walks out...I couldn't believe how spiteful and rude she was because she couldn't make a pressure sale there and then. Unbelievably unprofessional. She didn't even leave me a business card!
I felt somehow satisfied. "That's one for all the dirty tricks they try to play!" I thought to myself.
I wonder if she was acting on behalf of another agent who knew my details who is attempting to buy the land? I also wonder if she will get any commission from the buyer - ie what advantage is it to her apart from promoting her agency? I find it very strange for someone to approach an agent to buy something not even on the market...
She says she will get back to me.
They next day she comes back with another offer from her client for a 'cash sale'. An offer that is suddenly $20k more than the original. And unconditional too. And that she has a signed contract waiting for me! I tell her I am too busy to see her and in any case I refuse as it is still well below what I am after.
The following day she calls again and asks if I have a soil report and if the buyer can see it since that will 'help' them offer more. I say yes I do, but I decide I am tired of this argy bargy and decide to drop a bomb and fire up: I inform her politely the way I do business - that was to tell her client to put in their best offer and if it is less than the figure I originally mentioned 2 days ago then let's forget all about it. I'm not about to waste my time digging up a soil report from years back in my files. She agrees.
At this point I am thinking if they can offer $xxx k unconditional, no soil report etc then why are they suddenly wanting one.
Then the worst bit: later that day she turns up totally uninvited to my place of business; as out of the blue as the inital phone call. She says she wants to show me a contract to prove how serious the buyer is. There is a condition on there about seeing a soil report 'satisfactory to their needs'. I say this isn't specific enough (ie - what soil type are they looking for exactly) and basically an excuse to pull out. There is no problem with the soil of course but I give them the benefit of the doubt and move the conversation on to question what price they are offering. It is up by a further $5000 but STILL LESS than what I wanted, even though I won't have to pay commission since I havent engaged an agent.
SO I explain this to the agent carefully. I tell her again in plain English what I think is the Right Price because I have no overwhelming desire to sell and suddenly her mood changes, BANG! she blurts out to my face "well I'll just show my clients some other blocks of land then!" and walks out...I couldn't believe how spiteful and rude she was because she couldn't make a pressure sale there and then. Unbelievably unprofessional. She didn't even leave me a business card!
I felt somehow satisfied. "That's one for all the dirty tricks they try to play!" I thought to myself.
I wonder if she was acting on behalf of another agent who knew my details who is attempting to buy the land? I also wonder if she will get any commission from the buyer - ie what advantage is it to her apart from promoting her agency? I find it very strange for someone to approach an agent to buy something not even on the market...
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