It can be heartbreaking to put down an offer on your dream home only to hear radio silence. However, it’s not the end of the world. Yes, it may be discouraging, but being prepared if this happens and being able to move on can help you find the right home for you and your family sooner.
Find out some common reasons why you may not hear back from a seller and what next steps you can take to move forward.
Common Reasons You May Not Hear Back
It’s hard not having complete control over the homebuying process but understanding some of the reasons why your offer may go unanswered could help put you in a better mindset.
Housing Market Conditions
If it’s a seller’s market and/or there’s stiff competition for the home you want, the seller may be receiving multiple offers that you may not even know about. Perhaps they are weighing their options, your offer got lost in the mix or they may have even decided to ignore yours in favor of others.
You may already have a sense that this could be the case since your real estate agent would likely let you know about market conditions before your home search even begins. It’s important not to put all your eggs in one basket, so to speak, and be open to other property options.
Offer Standards
While not the best course of action a seller can take in this circumstance, they may be ignoring you due to the offer itself. If the offer isn’t what they wanted or expected, the seller may find it unfavorable and decide it’s not worth it to respond or try to negotiate. This may not even be because of the purchase offer either. The terms of the contract or other contingencies may deter the seller from accepting the offer as well.
Seller’s Circumstances
As you’re going through the homebuying process, it’s important to remind yourself that you’re still working with humans and that sometimes life can get in the way. The seller might have a busy schedule and just may not be prioritizing the sale of their home as much as you are prioritizing looking for your dream home, or they’re out of town on vacation and aren’t able to devote the attention that you feel the transaction deserves. You can’t peek into their life so you may never know, but sometimes you may have to wait longer than anticipated because of these situations.
Communication Issues
The seller will likely be working with a team of people to help them organize their sale transaction. This means there’s a possibility of having delays in communication, miscommunication or simple technical issues including losing emails in their inbox or missing calls and not having the time to call back.
Actions You Can Take
You haven’t heard back. What now? Here are some options you could take.
Follow Up
One of the first steps you can take is to simply follow up with your real estate agent. If it has been a considerable amount of time since you submitted your offer, it doesn’t hurt to ask for an update. Give them a call or brief email or text message to see where your offer stands or ask your agent to get in touch with the seller’s team to learn what’s causing the delay.
Be Patient
The homebuying process takes time, and sometimes it can take even longer than expected. It’s hard, but staying patient and understanding can make a positive impact on your mood and your nerves throughout your journey. It can also help prevent you from making any rash decisions out of fear or anxiety.
Review or Adjust Your Offer
If you suspect the reason that you’re not hearing back is because of your offer or terms, you may want to take a second look at them with your real estate agent. Try and figure out how much competition you might have and consider adjusting your offer so it’s more attractive to the seller. Stay within your budget, but if you truly love the home, determine if there may be some wiggle room and adjust your offer accordingly.
Continue the Search
Even after submitting an offer on what you think is your dream home, keep an open mind and stay flexible. Continue working with your real estate agent to explore other housing options, be open to new opportunities and keep putting in the work to find your next home.
Stay Positive
While not hearing back about an offer is frustrating, remember that you’re working with real people with their own lives and that you have limited control after you send an offer. However, there are some options you have if you don’t hear back. One of the most important things you can do is to stay proactive and positive.
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