33. Although a home is listed for $170,000, the owner has told the licensee that she would accept any offer over $167,000. The licensee shows the home to a prospect, who says, ‘Will the owner take $168,000?' The licensee should reply in which of the following ways
Answer: B
The licensee should reply that they will submit a lower offer to the owner.
In this situation, the most appropriate response for the licensee is to inform the prospect that they will submit a lower offer to the owner, which aligns with the owner's willingness to consider offers above $167,000.
A) ‘The property is listed at $170,000, but it could sell for $168,000.'
This response is misleading because it suggests that the property could sell for $168,000 without confirming that the owner would actually accept that offer. It does not reflect the owner's stated willingness to consider offers above $167,000 and could create unrealistic expectations for the buyer.
B) ‘The property is listed at $170,000, but I will submit a lower offer to the owner.'
This option correctly reflects the situation. The licensee acknowledges the listing price while also indicating that the owner has expressed a willingness to consider offers above $167,000, thus appropriately communicating the prospect's offer to the owner.
C) ‘I'm sure the owner will accept an offer of $168,000 with immediate occupancy.'
This statement is speculative and not appropriate for the licensee to assert. The licensee cannot guarantee acceptance of the offer since the owner has not explicitly stated they would accept it at that price, which could mislead the buyer.
D) ‘An offer of $168,000 is lower than the listed price, but I expect the listed price to be changed soon.'
While this response acknowledges that the offer is below the listing price, it introduces unnecessary speculation about future changes to the listing price. It does not address the immediate question about the prospect's offer and could confuse the buyer.
Conclusion
The most suitable response is option B, as it directly addresses the buyer's interest in making an offer below the listing price while acknowledging the owner's parameters for accepting offers. The other options either misrepresent the situation, introduce speculation, or fail to provide a clear and actionable response, making them less effective in this context.