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”.

About the author

Ross Kaplan has 19+ years experience selling real estate all over the Twin Cities. He is also a 12-time consecutive "Super Real Estate Agent," as determined by Mpls. - St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Magazine. Prior to becoming a Realtor, Ross was an attorney (corporate law), CPA, and entrepreneur. He holds an economics degree from Stanford.

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