It was just like the scene from the Christmas Story, the one where the bully has Flicks arm bent behind his back until he yelled “uncle”, crying as he is saying it.  Well that is how it went down with our most recent sale (closing).  We were “Flick” in this situation and the buyer and their agent was the collective bully.  They brought us to the point where are arm was bent behind our back to where we had to say “uncle” we give up, we want out of this transaction!!!!

 Let us set it up for you so you understand what went down.  We had established a purchase agreement a few weeks back and all was good, we got our price and the home was only on the market for a week (click here to see the home).  Then came the inspection which went ok but the inspector came up with of 16 items on a house that for the most part was brand new and really had never been lived in.  We reluctantly said ok we got our price in one week so let’s not make a big deal about the list; let’s get it done its part of business.  So we completed the repairs and they do a walkthrough 1 week before closing.  Well they are not happy with a few items which is ok and common but the delivery from the agent “Bully” was one to the effect of we are unprofessional and we don’t know what we are doing.  Oh yea and they added an item to the list.  Again we agree to address their wishes and fix the additional item that was added.  We are 1 day before closing and they do their walkthrough and guess what?  Not happy “fix this do this do that and by the way we have added these two things to the list and we are not going to close now until next week and we might not close at all if you cant get this right” 

 Now adding one thing to the list, ok we will take care of it but coming back and starting to nit pick everything to the point that it is ridiculous and adding two additional items to our inspection repair list.  That was enough our arm was bent and we said “uncle”  So on the Monday of closing week we told the agent enough is enough.  We said “we are done with the repairs over at the home, you are out of contract so if you do not close by the new date you have selected will keep the EMD and the home is going back on the market. We are done discussing the matter” See by moving the closing date out a week it took them out of contract due to the fact that they did not create an extension.  We took a chance and stood up to them because we figured this would go on and on knowing that we nor they wanted to go thru the whole listing / PA stuff again…we called their bluff.   So guess what happened?  We closed the deal two days later

 The message that we are trying to get across is that we all love the sale and sometimes we get so caught up in it that we will jump thru hoops to make sure the sale happens.  But, be aware; don’t let yourself get bullied during the transaction.  Once you show an aggressive agent or buyer that you will bend they will keep going for more and more just like a bully in the lunchroom.  Typically if you stand your ground the Bully will leave you alone and the same holds true with an aggressive agent and buyer.

 CRY UNCLE!!!!! And don’t get bullied!!!

Mark and Bob