Wow. We’re selling our house, and the most arrogant, pushy broker called us yesterday to say that he had to come and present an offer personally- he refused to fax it to my broker. It was my first day off in three weeks and my husband told him EXPLICITLY that the offer better be worth our time.
He was 15 minutes late, then gave an elaborate sales presentation on the character of his clients (he’s worked with them before, they do not have a property they’re selling…) He went on and on about how reliable his clients were. His clients happen to be an interracial, homosexual (male) couple.
Finally after 30 minutes of his babble, he hands us an offer that it $15,000 below any starting offer we’ve received so far. He then demanded a counter offer on the spot, and advised us that it is in OUR best interest to work with him. We told him we would be back to him that evening with a counter offer. He had a fit (turned all sorts of colors) and demanded one on the spot. He had a lot to say about how WE do buisness! Well, we have a very experienced broker and my husband is in finance and negotiates for a living and he is telling us we don’t know what we’re doing!!!
The icing on the cake is that he then sat in our driveway for 20 minutes talking on his cellphone- it was obvious he was yelling (arms waving all over the place).
What pissed me off about this whole situation, is that he is probably thinking we refused to give him an on the spot counter offer because he told us his clients were interracial and homosexual! He’s the ONLY ONE who made a big deal about his clients!!! I don’t give a flying fuck about who buys my house. “SHOW ME THE MONEY”. His offer was an insult and the fact that he interrupted a family day-- my only day off–
Why do people always assume it’s about race, religion or sexual preference?
Be careful of that little worm of a broker.
He may try to scare you by threatening to have his clients sue you.
If he calls back REFUSE to deal with him in person anymore, let him know that any further contact must be in writting. That way you will have a record of any threats and pressure he may try to use on you.
Have your broker send you written copies of
the other offers you have gotten, preferably dated copies.
I second Ayesha’s suggestion of severing personal contact with that asshole. Let him put everything down on paper.
I guess you could’ve told him up front that you weren’t squeamish at all over his client’s sexual orientation, but you were really put off by their stupidity in making an offer that low in the first place. It is, after all, your prerogative to decline, accept, or make a counter offer.
If the guy levels a lawsuit at you, maybe you could countersue for defamation of character?
“It’s only common sense,
There are no accidents 'round here.”
Not saying the guy’s not a total jerk and loser, PITA, but you made a couple interesting statements:
and
(emphasis mine)
A minor nitpick, perhaps, but from your story he didn’t say anything about your being a racist homophobe. He might have tried to guilt you in his sales pitch (diatribe), but any assumptions made seem to have been made by you.
So the next question I have is, “Why do people always assume that other people always assume it’s about race, religion or sexual preference?”
To the best of my knowledge in our state, the counter offer must be in writing and signed. In my case it was signed (when I sold my house) by the agent representing me and my brother who was acting as power of attorney (I lived 300 miles away.)
Since the property had a contract to be represented by the broker that was listing my property, he had to co-sign the agreement with my brother for any offer to be legally recognized.
I would forward any further offers to your broker. State to any other broker that you will confer with your broker before any decision is made. And as for the broker that was being extremely rude to you, I would file a grievance with the state’s Real Estate Board.
As much as I think the govt. is overly involved in our daily transactions, you have that avenue so use it, I would.
I would refuse to talk to any broker who wasn’t willing to do it the professional way; i.e., through broker. This guy was not acting professionally on several levels, and you would be wise indeed to be wary of him. As others have said, let further communications be in writing AND through your broker. Shoot, that’s why you’re payin’ 'em the big bucks!
Assuming he did take your refusal of his offer as racist/homophobic and his clients want to sue–they would have no grounds. Selling a house is all about getting the money you’re asking (or hopefully close to it).
Even someone who is a racist homophobe should have no objection, it’s not like they would be moving in next door or boarding with them (or whatever else they feel would be objectionable)–they are just buying something from them.
I’m no attorney, but I can’t see these people having a case against you anyway. But I agree that his rudeness and temper should be reported to someone in authority, especially if you have to deal with him again. That guy sounds like he’s got a screw loose.
We did refuse to interact with this yahoo. I think you’re right- he was just trying to close the sale. His clients came up to our asking price, so we accepted. When we finish with this closing, hubby and I are going to write a letter to this broker’s manager.
Andros, you’re right. The assumptions may have been mine. This guy DEFINATELY had an agenda, though. Why else would he give a 20min discourse on the integrity and reliability of his clients? I’ve never seen that before.
I’m uneasy about dealing with this asshole, but they came up to our asking price. I’m sure they would’ve been horrified if they had witnessed this display of rudeness and confrontation. We can’t hold the actions of their broker against them. Just hope we’ve seen the last of him until closing…
While this guy definitely behaved like a jackass, one reason why he might give a speech on the integrity of his clients is that as members of multiple minorities, they have undoubtedly encountered prejudice in any number of forms in their business and personal lives. Hit someone with a stick often enough and they come to expect the stick. You may have gotten caught in some of the fallout of the racism and homophobia the couple has previously suffered. If that’s what was going on, it’s not too fair to you, but I’m glad to hear that you didn’t let it sour you on selling to this couple.
