Recently offered the asking price of $610k along with $10k in closing costs, but the seller came back with a counter asking for our best and final offer. I reiterated that my initial offer was my best price. The seller seems to be playing hardball and has even reached out to me directly, contacted my loan officer, and inquired about my profession, which felt pretty sketchy. We countered again, and we’re waiting for the seller’s decision tomorrow. To our surprise, the listed price on the home went up by $8k. Is this some sort of tactic the seller is pulling?
Sounds like you need a new agent. The seller is definitely playing games, and it’s unethical for them to contact you directly. Raising the price is probably a tactic to create urgency and pressure you. If your offer is truly your best, stand firm. Be ready to walk away if they keep messing around.
@Harley
My agent is solid and actually predicted all these things happening in order. She’s reassured me that the seller is just trying to squeeze as much as possible. We’re standing firm for now, but it’s frustrating.
@Wei
Glad to hear you’ve got a good agent! Sounds like you’re in good hands, and it’s smart to stand your ground. Sellers like this can be tough, but don’t let them push you beyond what you’re comfortable with. Fingers crossed for you both!
This kind of tactic isn’t unheard of in competitive markets. The seller may be trying to stir up some competition or make you feel pressured to up your offer. It’s definitely shady that they contacted you directly though, that should go through your agent. Stay firm on your price if that’s your limit.
@Nari
Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking too. It feels like they’re trying to see if we’ll budge, but we’ve set our max offer. Appreciate the advice, definitely staying firm on this one.
Sellers raising the price after receiving offers isn’t super common, but it could be a tactic to test how much you’re willing to pay or attract other buyers. It’s odd that they reached out directly though—that’s something your agent should handle. If you feel uncomfortable, it might be worth reporting that to your agent.
@HenryAllan3
We thought it was strange too. We’re sticking to what we can afford and won’t be pushed into going higher. My agent is already aware of everything, and she’s been on top of things. We’ll see what happens!
Sounds like the seller is just trying to milk as much as they can from the situation. By asking for your best and final offer and then raising the price, they’re likely trying to create a bidding war. If you’re confident in your offer, stay strong, and don’t get sucked into their games.
@Zaid
Exactly, that’s what it feels like. We’re not going to get into a bidding war—if they don’t accept our offer, we’ll walk away. Thanks for the support!