I would have peeked. [EG]  We give these over to one of our managers.  No temptation  and no screaming later on.  It is a hard decision.  But if mine was the best there is no way I would have felt guilty.  Todd I think even if you had peeked you wouldn't have told.  Maybe a big sigh after you got off the phone with your client!

Jana

wow! and just when I had you figure out to be the evil guy you do something like that. well, I hope you sleep well tonight.

Hi Todd,

I once had a situation where I had written two offers on my own listing.  The second offer was not higher, and I still sat there and filled out the offer - knowing I was wasting time and paper.  If I had told the buyers we were wasting time, they would have had an unfair advantage over the other buyers.

The real kicker was, I really wanted one of them to get it over the other and as they each called and confided in me their thoughts, I couldn't encourage them to come up or stay put.  At one point, my preferred buyers were lower and wouldn't get it - they said they were going to just hang up the phone and pray about it.  Within 10 minutes, the other buyer called and REDUCED his offer, because he felt confident!  My preferred buyers got it with just a $500 difference.

You did the right thing.  You should feel good about it.

Tracie

O.K., Todd. I forgot to put in those little smiley faces.  I know you're one of the good guys.

Todd - very commendable!  I'm not sure what I would do in that situation.  Now that I have you for a role model...I guess I'll just have to step up!

Todd, that was great. I will forgive you now for that bogus cruise you promised me. lol.

The high road is a wonderful place and you will find alot less traffic there.

Bonus points!!

Luckily never been in that spot. I would have handled same way.

I also have informed buyers when other agents have told me multiple offers are in, and they might want to go in a little higher, and like Tracie experienced, some have said the same thing, we will pray about it.

I think some buyers feel like the listing agent or we are kidding about it, like a car dealer, well, there are others that want this. I don't know how to tell them I know the difference. And if I ever catch a listing agent doing that....well....... I can also look in the MLS later under sold listings and see if the listing agent was the one to sell............

It could end up being an ethics violation. I really do hate always being the one to be serious. I like the bogus cruise idea. Just take me away Todd, on the pretend cruise.

Oh, OK, been there already.

Todd,

what a problem to have.  Last year I had 2 different buyers under contract & they both decided to write an offer on the same house.  I disclosed the face that I had another buyer client writing & negotiating on the same house to both buyers & had both families sign the disclosure.  One of the families got the house & the other family got a house better suited to their needs a couple of weeks later.  Both families have referred business my way over the last year.  

Disclosure, Disclosure, and more Disclosure.  

Rob

Way to go Todd!!! You did the right thing, Isn't it nice to be able to feel good about yourself. You set a great example!!

Good for you! There really isn't another way of doing it without showing someone you're willing to cheat. Decisions of this sort build you a great reputation in the agent community and when agents know you can be trusted you gain a huge advantage in the market which ultimately delivers many tangible rewards for you and your clients.

Thanks for sharing that experience, Todd.

Now if that ever happens to me, I will know exactlyt the right way to handle the situation.

Sharron

You did the right thnig, good for you and good for real estate in general

Very good, Todd. You acted in your client's best interest and that's what it's all about.

From now on go ahead and peek!!!  

The high road is the best to take.  I would have peeked.  

Todd,

I think you "peaked" when you didn't "peek!"

Sharron

Todd,

As you know it is always in the back of our minds that when a listing agent has written an offer on his own listing and there are multiple offers he/she is going to skew things to their advantage. I was in a similar situation and did not use a third party to review the offers.  I did a net sheet on all three and showed my client what the net was they choose the one with the highest net; it was not the offer I wrote either.  

I must say if faced with the situation again I will use your method.  As it is tempting to call a client and say we need to bump this offer if you want the home.  However, the feeling that all eyes are on you compels you to do the right thing.  I did what I hoped other agents would do in the same situation.

Todd, thanks for sharing your story.  Thanks for raising the bar.  Thanks for being fair.  I'm sure someday I will have clients that will thank you also for teaching me more about ethics.  It is the backbone of our industry.