When the Seller of Your Dream Home Is Waiting for “The One”… and You’re Standing Right There

Since it’s Valentine’s Day week, let’s talk about love.

Not the kind where a couple just exchanges gifts, grabs some dinner, and calls it a night because it’s Valentine’s Day. The kind from 80s movies, rom-coms, and Hallmark specials, where someone is holding out for a perfect, imaginary partner while completely overlooking the very real, very good one standing right in front of them.

Because sometimes… home sellers do this too.

They fall in love with their vision of the perfect buyer. The unicorn with unlimited money, zero contingencies, and impeccable timing. The one who will fall so in love with their house that they’ll ignore the fact that it is grossly overpriced.

Yet even when the perfect buyer comes along and professes their love, if only the seller will listen to reason and accept a more reasonable price for their home, they act as if their true buyer will come along any minute.

And meanwhile, the house sits. And sits. And sits some more. Waiting for the perfect buyer.

The Advice Most Buyers Hear… And Adhere To

A recent article from Realtor.com discusses this exact scenario.

The core advice is fairly straightforward and familiar to anyone who’s been around real estate for a while. Don’t rush in with a “lowball” offer. Give the seller time. Let the house sit for a couple of weeks so it becomes clear to them that the market isn’t responding the way they expected.

Then, after at least a couple of weeks, you can come in with an offer that is more realistic. And even then, the article cautions that the process can be frustrating and time-consuming, so in many cases buyers may be better off simply walking away and finding another house to buy.

That’s not entirely “wrong” advice. It’s actually fairly practical.

But it’s not fair to a buyer who truly loves a house when the seller has effectively set them up for frustration and heartbreak.

By pricing the home above where the market supports it, they’ve made it impossible for a legitimate, well-qualified buyer to come in with an offer that won’t feel like a “lowball” offer. Even a reasonable, data-driven price will be perceived as a “lowball” — not because it is one, but because it doesn’t match the seller’s expectations.

So buyers are left with two choices. Either they wait around until the seller slowly comes to terms with reality… or they move on entirely.

Most buyers choose the latter. Until eventually the seller lowers their price enough to appeal to the current buyers in the market. But that doesn’t do you any good if you’ve moved on and bought another one, does it?

But the fact that most buyers react that way is also what creates the opportunity that many people miss.

Sometimes the Right Move Is Making the Offer Anyway

Most buyers sit on the sidelines and wait for the market to do the work for them. Sometimes the smarter move is to be the one buyer who’s already there when the seller is finally ready to listen.

By making an offer and letting the seller know you’re sincerely interested in their house before “enough time” passes or the seller reduces their price, you’re taking advantage of the fact that your competition is waiting it out.

Sure, it takes a little more thought, a little more diplomacy, and some negotiating skill — but it can pay off. If done right, you can make them appreciate the fact that you cared enough to step up thoughtfully, even if they weren’t ready to hear it yet.

So when you see an overpriced house you love, rather than letting the seller overlook you, make an offer so they at least have to acknowledge you exist… and ideally come to appreciate you and your offer for having shown up early.

To be fair, even your most sincere attempts could fall on deaf ears, and you may still have to walk away. But at least you’ll know you gave it a real shot.

The Takeaway:

It’s not unusual for buyers to fall in love with a house that’s priced way too high. When that happens, they’re often pushed into an uncomfortable choice: wait it out and hope the seller comes to their senses, or walk away and move on to something else. Most buyers do exactly that — they step back and let time do the work.

But while other buyers are waiting, there’s often an opportunity to take a calculated shot. By making your interest known early and approaching the situation thoughtfully and diplomatically, you may be able to negotiate a fair price before the seller reduces their price and other buyers re-enter the picture.