verbal negotiations? I made a written offer to buy a house through my real estate agent. The seller's agent called my agent and asked to engage in verbal negotiations as opposed to written offers. This has happened on two offers I made. Why would a seller's agent want to negotiate verbally instead of responding with a written counter-offer? What is the real motive here?

Negotiations by their very nature means give and take..offers and counteroffers. it is sometimes better to negotiate orally and then put the agreement in writing.

to feel you out and to get an idea of what you may go up to. ask for 6% seller consessions on top of the offer to save more. it sounds like to seller's agent is trying to feel out your agent they sometomes verbally discuss things to keep form going bakc and forth with paperwork

It's faster plain and simple. Your written offer says you are serious about purchasing the property (now it's negotiation time), oral negotiations speed up the whole process, instead of you having to sign, then the seller's having to decline or accept and waiting for the agents to get to each person they can just make a quick phone call get a price agreed on (and terms), then just have everyone sign off once everything is agreed too.

This is a NO-NO in Real Estate!Verbal negotiations mean absolutely nothing.The real motive here by the Seller's Agent is to protect his client, because if you begin to engage in such negotiations he can always 'say ' that you agreed to something verbally and will then try to hold you to it. It is just too confusing, and buying a home can be stressful without adding to it.Just don't do it!Completely inappropriate!!