Sponsored: Buyers upset about rejected offers with little feedback and no counteroffer wonder if this is normal for market

Q: We lost out on another home purchase yesterday. The frustrating part is that we never know exactly why. After our buyer’s agent submits our proposals, the seller’s agents become almost noncommunicative. At best, a seller’s agent will only state that the sellers chose the best offer.

We are questioning if we are being represented correctly by our buyer’s agent. He can’t tell us why the sellers do not give us a chance to improve our purchase offer. We have not received one counteroffer. Nor have we been notified by an agent representing sellers asking if we would consider raising our price. Our buyer’s agent can’t even tell us what will occur after buyers have submitted all offers. Is this normal in this market? In other words, if we hire another buyer’s agent, will we have the same complaints?

A: Probably. So suppose a home is not under contract the day after offers are collected and reviewed. In that case, the sellers/seller’s agent might: issue multiple counteroffers to the top No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 buyers (for the second round of overbidding). Maybe they give a counteroffer to one buyer. (The favorite buyer or one perceived to be well off financially.) Or they “clean up” a fantastic offer to clarify missing items in the purchase offer through a counteroffer.

Some seller’s agents remain silent as to what is happening behind the scenes. Conversely, the seller’s agent might be “working the phones” to figure out which homebuyers will buy the property on their terms.

All of this gives your buyer’s agent a good reason to develop a rapport with the seller’s agent. In the COVID-19 era, trying to create a communication line with a seller’s agent is more challenging. Don’t replace your buyer’s agent because of unprofessional behavior by agents representing sellers. If you are losing out on properties along with 10 to 12 other homebuyers, that’s understandable. If you lose to three to four other homebuyers, it’s correctable. Begin by improving your price, terms and conditions, and forget about second chances. In a white-hot seller’s market, there is no such thing.

Realtor Pat Kapowich also provides practical and tactical tips for homebuyers and home sellers at: YouTube.com/PatKapowich Contact him at (408) 245-7700, Pat@SiliconValleyBroker.com DRE# 00979413 SiliconValleyBroker.com