Paying off Someone You Made a Verbal Offer with

[Sean Dezoysa]

let's say you made a verbal offer to sell a house at $100,000 with one of your reliable buyers. Then another guy comes along and offers you $105,000 for the same property. on one hand your reputation is on the line, on the other hand $5000 is on the table also.

How do you guys feel about going to the original buyer, telling him you had a higher offer, and that you're going to give him $2,000 for his time? Do you think this would maintain the relationship, or would it be seen as self-serving?