How come agents haven’t taken my offer

Question

I have multiple flips for sale and hacc bc e been aggressively pitched by listing agents. I indicated that I would give them a try if they bring the winning buyer to a current listing. The logic is to have a personal experience and cut through the overconfidence to get to a proven ability to do the work while not relying on blind faith

why do agents fear having to deliver?

Ned Carey · Answer

@James McGovern I'll add some to  what @Jonathan Greene said above.

They know the market inside and out. They know the supply and demand and what a fair price is.

They fill out forms completely. It amazes me how an agent can send back a contract without items initialed where they need to be initialed.

They handle a multitude of details that make it easy for the seller (and buyer). I have worked with many agents that I felt like I had to do their job. There can be a LOT of back and forth with lenders, inspectors, appraisers,  and title companies that the agent takes care of.

I can do it all myself, but I don't want to. It is a terrible use of my time as an investor.

A GOOD agent is worth every penny they are paid. There are many good agents here. You can tell they know their stuff from their posts.  person like @Russell Brazil is a good example.

Jonathan Greene · Answer

Ninety percent of agents have commission breath and are useless. Someone told them to talk to every FSBO seller without telling them that some FSBO sellers know ten times more than them and it will be a bad experience for them.

The real question is why are you listing your flips FSBO? It tells the public you are cheap in my opinion and don't want to spend on proper marketing or think that all agents are the same. Most are, but not all. A good flipper should have a good relationship with the best listing agent in the area and pay them a good commission so you don't have multiple flips for sale at the same time.

Jonathan Greene · Answer

1. Expert storytelling in the property description that follows the order of the photos

2. Relationships with the best buyer's agents in the market to pre-market the opportunity to line up buyers

3. 10x better photos and staging (most FSBOs aren't staged and are iPhone photos)

4. A systematic approach to showings, including a shared spreadsheet with activity and feedback, as well real-time management of the Open Houses

5. Streamlined showing opportunities using ShowingTime to make it easier for agents to schedule and adjust without waiting

6. Extra deliverables including better seller disclosures, maps to transportation, upgrade lists, letters from the seller, floor plans, etc.

7. Professional listing management and a buffer between the public/agents and the seller. No agent wants to interact direct with the seller and often FSBO sellers make everyone uncomfortable at showings and/or Open House by talking the whole time when buyers want to be left alone with their agent.

8. Expert negotiation, pricing, and vetting of not just the quality and completeness of offers, but of the buyer's agent and their ability to control their client.

That's just the start.

Seth McGathey · Answer

As an agent myself, I feel like you aren't offering them anything of value. You basically told them that if they have someone who wants to buy your house that you will let them buy the house.
Agents aren't going to try to push their buyers to buy your property just in hopes that they can sell your other properties. They have a moral and legal obligation to help the buyer find what is best for them, not what is best for you.
Also, for your own benefit, I don't think that is a good way to find a solid listing agent. The agent that ends up bringing you a buyer likely won't do that because they are a better agent than all the others. It will likely just be the agent that happens to work with a buyer that is interested in your property.
Now, if they were your agent, then their obligation would be to you. And they would have the full ability to advertise your property to all buyers. It is much harder and more challenging for them to track down a buyer without full marketing ability. Without that, they are basically just working with their existing buyers and hoping one is interested in your property. But in reality, they don't actually care if they are interested in your property, because they benefit most by finding their buyer the best property for them, not getting them to buy your property.

Joey Banasihan · Answer

Hey @James McGovern, totally hear you. Without knowing your market or agent pool, I’d hate to speculate too much—but from what I’ve seen, a lot of the bottleneck comes down to agent capacity and follow-through, not tools. Everyone has access to the MLS, syndication sites, and the same social platforms—but not everyone will grind to make deals happen.

In my experience, many agents say they want investor business, but don’t realize it often means showing on short notice, answering calls after hours, running numbers, and being strategic—not just optimistic. That gap between “pitch” and “performance” becomes clear fast.

I really like your approach—offering someone a shot based on results, not just confidence. You’re not asking for magic—just responsiveness, competence, and hustle. That’s more than fair.

As for why some agents fear delivering? I think it’s because true delivery requires more than a license—it takes systems, work ethic, and a mindset shift from ‘order taker’ to ‘strategic partner.’ And not everyone’s built for that.

Steve K. · Answer

Or the flips are over-priced.

Brendan Mullenholz · Answer

Fair enough. I can't speak for the CT area but check into dual agency regulations up there.  In the DC area you can only rep one side of the transaction.  Typically if an agent brings a client they're only going to rep the buyer and let you do all the seller side parts of the transaction.  Just something to think about if you haven't already

Ned Carey · Answer

I think it is pretty simple, they don't have buyers

James McGovern · Answer

@Brendan Mullenholz looking strictly at agents who are strong in both sides of the table

Brendan Mullenholz · Answer

Sounds like you might not be talking to the right agents. With a flip you want to market every bit of the home and show off the quality of work to get top dollar.

How come agents haven’t taken my offer

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