As for #10 I should have quantified it that if it is your first time calling in, only leave one. By all means, if they have not returned your call in 24 hours you should continue calling them.

I have actually had an agent call me every 1o minutes to leave a message after submitting an offer. Not all are that extreme, however when you have 2 or 3 agents leaving multiple messages, it can be nerve racking to clear your messages out.

Thanks for the post!

I do have to respectfully disagree with #13 and #10 though. I’ve had several FHA financed buyer offers accepted by the bank and they fixed the issues that came up after the FHA appraisal/inspection without argument.

And if the listing agent has not returned your email or phone call from a week ago, you have every right (and duty to your buyer) to continue “bugging” them until you get in contact with them. If you’re too busy to return phone calls to buyer agents that you have a verybally ratified offer with, then you need to either stop taking any more listings and/or hire an assistant.

Your observation about Saturdays is an exception too. When I worked for the bank, I was known to pop in on a Saturday and/or Sunday to catch up on work when the powers that be allowed. The people employed by the banks are mostly paid by the hour. So unless a bank is allowing for overtime and/or weekend scheduling, it is best that you do not expect an answer over the weekend.

Lastly, as the buyers agent should ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS write an inspection clause in the offer. You would be amiss if you did not protect your client that way. I myself have seen up to $30,000.00 come off due to roof damage the bank did not know about. Remember, they do not occupy these properties.

As I mentioned, this list “is in no way definitive since every transaction is different.”

Like you suggested, it sometimes does not hurt to try! Great point!

#1) For initial offers, verbals don’t get you anywhere. Not so for counteroffers. Have had banks come back verbally, have come back to banks verbally, then we write everything up at the end.

#2) I’ve received an answer from a bank on a Saturday. Still don’t know how, but it happened.

#11) If it’s something major, it may be worth asking. Was able to get a $3,700 price reduction for one client when it was discovered the 35-year-old air conditioning unit no longer worked.

The point? These are great guidelines but not hard and fast.