Now, THAT’S What I Call Doing Your Legwork
Hello, this is Stuart, a private home buyer interested in 42XX 18th Ave. South in Minneapolis. I can put together a buying agreement. Call me at a time that suits.”
–Text on my cellphone (2/15/2021).
What’s so unusual about the overture (above) that I received this morning? (you ask).
Don’t Realtors get such pitches on behalf of clients all the time?
Yes, but . . .
Jumping Thru Hoops
In this case, I’d never sold the house in question.
In fact, my only connection to the homeowner was through his primary residence a few blocks away, which I’d listed, but didn’t sell . . . almost 16 years ago! (he decided to rent the home instead).
Apparently, the “private buyer” searched Hennepin County’s property tax records for my client’s rental property at 42XX 18th Ave.; found his primary address; then somehow identified me as the listing agent, way back when.
Warranted Skepticism
So, what I’d do with the text?
I forwarded it to my client, along with the caveat that such offers — if they materialize at all — are typically for a deeply discounted price.
Alternatively, putative Buyers have been known to send out blind letters en masse to flush out future listings.
When the house isn’t a fit — somehow, it never is — the sender switches roles, and offers to sell the home instead (or connect the homeowner to a Realtor who will).
My client decided to pass . . .
See also, “Dear Homeowner: I May Have a Buyer for Your Home”.