Dear So and So

[indysteel]

Don't take the house offer too personally! Think of it this way - maybe they're house shopping on a really low budget and fell in love with yours, even though it's over their limit. Maybe they're just hoping against hope that you'll accept it because they really want your house.

Yep. I sold my house last year for far less than I paid for it in 2002. I at least didn't have to bring money to the table, but it was still a bitter pill to swallow. I remember the feeling in the pit of my stomach when my realtor explained that homes had lost roughly 25% of their value since the market high.

It's all about the sold comps in your area. I know it's hard to accept, but what you paid or put into it, just isn't all that relevant from a market analysis standpoint. That's not to suggest the offer was reasonable; only that the best way to arm (or brace) yourself is with a careful review of what's sold in your area within the last 6 months. Hopefully, your realtor has already done that for you, but I know some realtors just arent' being as frank as they arguably should be with their clients.

[bmccasland]

Dear person filling the 1 gal water jug in the only sink in the office bathroom,

Thank you for ackowledging my existance after I stepped out of the toilet booth. But you're "this will be a bit" comment wasn't appreciated. I'd really like to wash my hands after I use the toilet, and there are other bathrooms down the hall with sinks to fill your water jug. So thank you for making me stand there and wait, like I could go anywhere. Did you expect me to leave??

[bmccasland]

Yep. I sold my house last year for far less than I paid for it in 2002. I at least didn't have to bring money to the table, but it was still a bitter pill to swallow. I remember the feeling in the pit of my stomach when my realtor explained that homes had lost roughly 25% of their value since the market high.

It's all about the sold comps in your area. I know it's hard to accept, but what you paid or put into it, just isn't all that relevant from a market analysis standpoint. That's not to suggest the offer was reasonable; only that the best way to arm (or brace) yourself is with a careful review of what's sold in your area within the last 6 months. Hopefully, your realtor has already done that for you, but I know some realtors just arent' being as frank as they arguably should be with their clients.

The offer was unreasonably low according to my agent. She priced the house $15K less than we listed it for last fall because of the comps. The buyer's agent has a reputation for making very low offers, apparently giving her clients the expectation that their offers are reasonable, when in reality they aren't.

I countered the offer, and it was turned down. Considering the house has only been on the market for a week, I don't feel obligated to accept an extremely low offer.

[indysteel]

The offer was unreasonably low according to my agent. She priced the house $15K less than we listed it for last fall because of the comps. The buyer's agent has a reputation for making very low offers, apparently giving her clients the expectation that their offers are reasonable, when in reality they aren't.

I countered the offer, and it was turned down. Considering the house has only been on the market for a week, I don't feel obligated to accept an extremely low offer.

Beth, I didn't suggest that you should feel obligated to accept it, which is why I stated "that's not to say that the offer was reasonable." FWIW, I didn't accept the first offer I got on my former house either because it was unreasonably low.

But I still agree with Jess. Don't take a low ball offer personally. It's a tactic; nothing more, nothing less. While I think a buyer's agent should encourage their clients to make reasonable offers based on object market data, I also appreciate that they think they have nothing to lose by making a low ball offer either. The fact that they didn't respond to your counter suggests to me that they were at the top of their budget and made a low offer because that's all they could afford.

I've been on both sides of this in the last year and understand the emotion involved. All I can suggest is to study and restudy the market data and be prepared to present that data when you respond to an offer. IME, buyers are overly emotional about this too because all they hear on the news every day is how bad home values are; it's sometimes hard to convince them that they aren't going to get a home they actually want to live in for peanuts.

[tangentgirl]

Did this person figure you were an expert in foul language?

Maybe.

We were talking about what you'd have to exclude, and he was like, ugh, just give me a list! He was pretty mortified when I handed it to him. It's not like I went out of my way to be extra-creative or anything. Just a little bit.

I pinned it to my cubical wall when he was done with it. I wonder if I still have it in a box somwhere. Hmm.

[tangentgirl]

Beth, it's just business. As a matter of fact, I'd guess that it's literally business, someone thinking they can buy low sell high and flip something like that. Hello, 2007 called...

[Veronica]

Dear Parents;

I know it's Teacher Appreciation Week and you probably feel obligated to buy me something. In all seriousness, I do not need or want chocolate, or cookies or little trinkets. If you feel compelled to give me something, a nice card with a heartfelt note written by your child will mean more to me. Even if you coach them in what to say.

Use that money to get tissues for my classroom or pre-sharpened pencils. Do you know how many of your little darlings are suffering from allergies? And I think your children eat wood and graphite.

Veronica

[Biciclista]

Dear Veronica
you mean you don't need a mug with an apple painted on it?

[snapdragen]

Dear gall bladder. I told you to STFU. Why didn't you listen?

[Becky]

Dear co-worker:

Congratulations on your transfer. I'm happy for you, but unhappy about the situation. Once again, I train someone and they're gone in 6 months. I can't keep doing this, and I can't keep shouldering half the collective workload.

Luv,
Burnt Out

[laura*]

Dear Gods of the Dirty Bike Shop Floor*: Thank you for letting me find the 1/16th by 1/8th inch spring I dropped. However, I didn't realize that you'd arrange a karmic payback of three days of rainy weather with the Weather Gods.

* For an idea of how dirty the floor is, we also found a freewheel remover tool, a metal ruler, and even a hacksaw frame.

[jessmarimba]

Dear American Airlines:
10 hours of delays in reaching my destination (2 due to weather, 6 due to two broken aircraft, the rest due to rescheduling my connecting flight) is worth far more than 8,000 "bonus" miles on a frequent flyer account I've used twice in 4 years. That's, what, a quarter of a free flight? Seriously? And then you address the response to my email form (where I am forced to put a title and correctly chose "Ms.") to Mr.?

My future business is going to the airlines that don't second-guess my gender. And email me vouchers before I'm even off a delayed flight (due to weather, not even their responsibility) - thanks United!

[indysteel]

Dear American Airlines:
10 hours of delays in reaching my destination (2 due to weather, 6 due to two broken aircraft, the rest due to rescheduling my connecting flight) is worth far more than 8,000 "bonus" miles on a frequent flyer account I've used twice in 4 years. That's, what, a quarter of a free flight? Seriously? And then you address the response to my email form (where I am forced to put a title and correctly chose "Ms.") to Mr.?

My future business is going to the airlines that don't second-guess my gender. And email me vouchers before I'm even off a delayed flight (due to weather, not even their responsibility) - thanks United!

I hate American Airlines. I had a baggage issue a few years ago that was handled so badly that I will never fly with them again if I can possibly help it.

[bmccasland]

Dear communications corp that starts with the letter Q:
Thanks to a billing error on your part, that I've been trying to resolve since February, and am reassured that it has been resolved on two occasions, I come home from a 3 day trip to discover that my satellite TV service has been disconnected. AND to add insult to injury, I discover this after 6 pm, which is when that department goes home for the day.

So don't be surprised that I'm not bright and cheerful when I call you at 6am tomorrow morning.

Of course in the grand scheme of things, this isn't horrible, but it is darned inconvenient. Especially since I'm making my 5th phone call to try to straighten this out. Grumble grumble grumble.

[Roadtrip]

Dear co-worker and "friend",

Because we were hired at the same time and once appeared "equals", then when I was almost instantly given responsibility and became your boss, this does not give you freedom to come in when ever you want and not show up for work. Expecting me to cover for you?!?!

You had your chance.. so why do I STILL feel bad you were fired???

Shannon