Paying 600,000 Cash for home

**denmark** · 11-07-2008, 02:45 AM

I had a customer who is looking for a home and stated he is paying cash for it; the budget was about $600,000 and wanted to be in before X-mas. He lives 2 hours away, but his girlfriend of 3 months lives in town and I was instructed to show her homes. It was strange and I felt uneasy so I probed a bit more about his job and got the physical address of where he claims to own a home. After checking on google and yahoo maps and tax records, I could not find any such address or name. I ask him the name of the subdivision he lives in and I still could not find anything. Nevertheless, I showed the girlfriend several homes and she seemed pleased. Then the bomb-shell came with a phone call from him stating he is going to find another realtor and felt uncomfortable with me, because I ask too many questions. He reprimanded me about my job duties as to only show homes and to stay out of his business. My question is did I handle this wrong?

**Mike Taylor** · 11-07-2008, 03:35 AM

I think you handled it just fine. This guy is probably not for real anyway. I personally feel if a buyer is going to ask me to spend my time and gas to show them houses, I at the very least have the right to ask a few probing questions.

**Codythebest** · 11-07-2008, 06:01 AM

I'll probably say: " I can show you several properties in that price range. However, these days, sellers will entertain any showing if I can show proof of funds, whatever it's a pre-approval from a bank and a statement for cash. Please provide one of such document and chances are you'll get a faster and better deal because sellers will feel much more confortable dealing with us..."

The good thing is you can verify these documents...

**Greg** · 11-09-2008, 09:15 AM

"only show homes and stay out of his business"? this guy needs to get real. Sounds like he is just trying to impress his girlfriend.

**MinnesotaPropertiesOnline** · 11-09-2008, 09:49 AM

I agree you handled it just fine. Although I always refuse to believe the old saying "buyers are liars," but this proves it case and point.

**minneapolisrealestate** · 03-20-2009, 12:08 PM

Our team philosophy is to show a new buyer homes once, then before the second showing we want a pre-approval letter. This is especially because in today's market, the buyer won't be able to write an offer on something they like anyway without a pre-approval letter. And, what if they found a house and wrote an offer and then for whatever reason their financing fell through? Then you AND the buyers have wasted your time. Always good to ask probing questions. This guy sounds way too suspicious... let someone else waste their time.