We gave the sellers everything they wanted - and they still stalled. Here's what happened!

 When You Give the Sellers Everything They Want… and Still Get Stalled”

Some days in real estate, you just shake your head and wonder what exactly is going on behind the scenes.

Today is one of those days.

It’s the kind of situation that reminds me that no matter how much preparation, communication, and professionalism you bring to the table — sometimes you’re still at the mercy of how the other side chooses to operate. And sometimes… it just doesn’t make sense.

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The Situation

My buyers and I found a property they loved. They were serious, motivated, and ready to move.

The home had everything they wanted, and we moved fast — submitting a strong, preemptive offer that gave the sellers absolutely everything they were asking for:

• Full asking price (and then some)

• Flexible closing date exactly as requested

• All listed chattels with no conditions

• Clean, straightforward terms to make the process easy

In short, it was the kind of offer most sellers dream about — especially in a market that’s still finding its footing.

I expected a quick, positive response. Maybe a few minor discussions around logistics. But overall, I anticipated that the sellers — and their agent — would recognize the strength of what was in front of them.

Instead? I got a text.

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And Then… The Comps Came In

Rather than a thank you, or a straightforward acceptance, the listing agent sent me comps.

Comps that, frankly, made no sense.

They were pulling sales that didn’t match this property at all. Different neighbourhoods. Different lot sizes. Different condition levels. Homes that simply weren’t true comparisons in any meaningful way.

It was like comparing apples to oranges — and trying to use that to justify something.

But justify what? We had already come in with an incredibly strong offer. We hit every target. We weren’t undercutting. We weren’t nickel-and-diming. We respected the property and the sellers’ expectations.

So why the sudden hesitation?

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The Frustration

It’s frustrating — not just because of the delay, but because of what it suggests:

• Are they trying to shop our offer around behind the scenes?

• Are they hoping someone else will jump in now that they know a preemptive is on the table?

• Are they simply overthinking instead of recognizing a golden opportunity?

Whatever the reason, it leaves serious buyers — and serious buyer agents — hanging.

And meanwhile, my buyers, who have emotionally invested in this home, are stuck waiting. Wondering. Questioning.

When the reality is: they’ve already put their very best foot forward. We respected the sellers. We respected the property. We didn’t play games.

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Let’s Talk About the Real Comps

Here’s the kicker: the true comparable — the most similar home to this one — actually sold for less than what we offered.

Less than the listing price, even.

Meaning that not only is our offer fair — it’s incredibly generous relative to the current market data.

But instead of recognizing that, we’re now in this bizarre limbo where irrelevant sales are being paraded in front of us, as if to cast doubt where there really shouldn’t be any.

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Why This Matters

Situations like this don’t just frustrate agents — they hurt clients.

Good buyers are left feeling like their efforts aren’t enough, even when they’ve given everything that was asked of them.

Good sellers might end up losing golden opportunities because they’re being fed bad advice or unclear guidance.

And the professionalism of the entire transaction suffers.

Buying and selling real estate should be about fair negotiations, clear expectations, and mutual respect.

Not games. Not smoke and mirrors.

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The Bigger Picture

When listing agents start moving the goalposts after receiving strong offers, it sends the wrong message to the market.

It tells buyers: “Don’t bother being aggressive early — you’ll just get jerked around.”

It tells agents: “You can’t trust clear instructions — because they might not mean anything.”

And that undermines the trust that is absolutely critical for healthy real estate transactions.

Especially in today’s market, where confidence — not just price — moves deals forward.

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Where We Are Now

So now… we wait.

I’ve done everything I can on behalf of my clients. We submitted a preemptive offer that met every request. We played fair. We played strong.

And now we’re sitting in limbo, waiting while the listing side tries to square apples with oranges — and risking the goodwill that was already offered to them.

It’s frustrating.

It’s disappointing.

And it’s exactly the kind of thing that good agents — and good clients — shouldn’t have to deal with in 2025.

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Final Thoughts

I truly believe real estate can be better than this.

It should be better than this.

When a buyer steps up and gives the seller everything they ask for, that should be respected — not questioned without cause.

I’ll keep advocating for my buyers every step of the way.

I’ll keep pushing for fairness, transparency, and professionalism.

Because they deserve it.

And because frankly — we all do.