When Your Real Estate Agent Refuses to Submit Your Offer
Recently, a frustrated homebuyer wrote in to ask if it was normal for a real estate agent to flat out refuse to submit an offer because it was below asking price. The buyer had found a home that had been on the market for more than 100 days. It was clearly overpriced and beyond their budget at full list. They told their real estate agent they wanted to make a lower offer, but the agent shut it down and said, “Don’t make an offer if you don’t want the house.”
That response is not just unhelpful. It is unacceptable.
Your Agent Works for You
As a buyer, your real estate agent has a legal obligation to act in your best interest. If you ask them to submit an offer, they must do it. Period. They can give you advice. They can warn you that it might be rejected. They can even suggest a better strategy. But they do not have the right to make decisions for you or withhold your offer.
Some agents fear damaging their reputation by submitting what they believe is a low or “offensive” offer. Others may be more concerned with their commission than your budget. But that is not their role. This is your money, your mortgage, and your risk. You set the budget. You direct the negotiation. Your agent executes that strategy.
The Market Speaks Loudest
If a home has been sitting for months with no offers, the market is sending a message. A seller may still reject a lower offer, but that should be their decision, not your real estate agent’s. Submitting a respectful and well-reasoned offer, even if it is below asking, is a legitimate negotiation strategy. The worst that can happen is the seller says no or does not respond.
What often surprises buyers is that many sellers do not take offense to low offers. In fact, even if they say no, your offer might prompt a future price drop or open the door to a counteroffer. Real estate is a market like any other. The conversation begins with an offer. You should never be silenced before it starts.
Choosing the Right Agent Matters
If your agent refuses to submit your offer or does not respect your decisions, that is a red flag. Your agent is not your boss. They are your advocate. They are there to help you win a home that fits your goals and your financial limits. If they are more worried about how they look or what they earn, it is time to find someone who understands what fiduciary duty really means.
If you are in this position, consider speaking with their broker or terminating the relationship if allowed by your agreement. You deserve an agent who will support your decisions, not block them.
Final Thoughts
Buying a home is stressful enough without battling your own real estate agent. At the end of the day, the best agents are confident enough to stand by your side, even if they would have taken a different approach. A great agent knows the value of your trust. A poor one puts their priorities ahead of yours.
If you are looking for a real estate agent who will respect your decisions and guide you with integrity, I can help you find someone in your market who fits that standard. Let me connect you with a vetted professional who will always put you first.
