All Forum Posts by: Chris Bellomo

I need advice. I made a best and final offer, along with 8 others, on a duplex in my local LA neighborhood. My offer was for $911,000 but a few hours after submitting, after a discussion with my agent, I increased my offer to $921,000. The following day (today), I received a signed acceptance of my final offer of $911,000. I was surprised and thrilled and figured the buyers were never presented with my higher offer. I docusigned my counter offer and sent it back 15 minutes after the 1pm deadline. (my agent sent me the document only an hour earlier)

Now the sellers agent is crying that he made a mistake for accepting the lower offer and that my acceptance 15 minutes after the deadline disqualifies my offer but they will use it as a back up.

I'm crying foul. The sellers were presented with an offer that was acceptable to them and signed it. I countersigned in a timely manner. I feel the agent is muddying the waters because he is looking for a higher offer. And if he messed up, he or his office should pay the seller the difference, not put me in a subordinate position.

What say you and does anyone have insight into the California real estate contract law aspect of this matter?

Much appreciated!!

Thanks Archie, will do!

Thank you Jesse. The multiple tenants are neat and pretty agreeable with the idea of the occasional open house or showing. We're not on the market just yet but if you'd like I can message you with numbers/pics before we hit the MLS.

I have a duplex in Hollywood, California and have listed it with an agent for sale. There's a occupied 3/2 in the front, with tenants who will move July 1 and a 1/1 California style bungalow around back, recently vacant. Richard my agent, wants to stage the bungalow and get to market quick. He reasons that despite the front house being occupied, it's best to show now because there are fewer properties listed and by July we'll be vying for attention with many more listings. I, on the other hand, think that we should wait until the tenants have moved, do a proper cleaning and stage the front and back to it's best advantage to get top dollar. The local Los Angeles real estate market is good and the duplex is in a hip area with lots of youthful energy and people lining up to rent if used as investment. Do you think it's best to sell now with fewer homes or wait and stage? Thanks!