Okay so if you're reading this for the official legalistic process of multiple offer situations in real estate, hit google and keep searching. Or of course, you can call me (or your agent if you have one) and I'll gladly share the many points, advantages, pitfalls and details of how to work your way thru one. For this post, I am not going that route. No, in fact, this is coming from the little noticed, redheaded, pale skinned, last-kid-picked point of view.Here's the story. I have this nice home for sale, lots of interest, but to my surprise I have got nothin' put together between a buyer and the seller despite a random opportunity here and there. Low and behold a couple of days ago I have several people contact me within a 24 hour period to notify me that they are VERY interested in the home and MAY want to write an offer. Then, incredibly....boom! Multiple offers are sitting on the table.
Great right? Well, the offers are almost identical. How to choose? Who do you pick? In situations like this I can't help but revert back to 6th grade. Me in gym class in my polyester blue shorty shorts juxtaposed against my glaring white toothpick legs, scuffling the ground with the tips of my pumas chasing down an invisible bug on the ground, waiting to hear someone/anyone say "Maurer!" I stand there, head down, focusing my peripheral vision to see fellow classmates, after science geeks, after pigeon-toed tomgirls, after gauntly asthmatics getting picked before me.
Being the odd-man out is not a comfortable place to be. Who am I to advise my seller of which to choose? Being the proud capitalist that I am, void of a monetary incentive, I simply am left with my weak little underfed anemic inner-child helping choose who should be placed squarely in the cool kids corner and who should be left behind, ignored, a loner slowly lowering their uplifted arm in class, not called on, barely noticed, rejected.
Fact is, we all have an answer. Before we know whether or not we are right or wrong and whether we win or lose, we must first at least get noticed. It's good to be reminded that money is not the only way to do that. And I like to believe that the ones that missed the boat, the ones that cringe at the words, "Everyone, form in groups!", will grow up, sit straight, become visible and are picked first the next time.
