Storytime: Beating Out a Cash Offer in Blue Springs, MO

by Jana Jeffery

Some pockets and price points in the KC metro area are overperforming right now: Blue Springs under $300k is one of 'em.

We searched high and low every weekend for several months, made offers, and got bid out on homes on the market for 60+ days before we finally found the gem that was truly meant to be. And to be honest, the gas tank was running pretty low at this point - there was talk of "taking a break" even.

Enter Moore St. It was the first house we'd walked where I saw the husband VIBRATING. He was ELECTRIC.... he was pumped, excited, and couldn't believe this was something they could afford. They all were, but he'd never been THIS excited before.

We all agreed, standing in that living room on that hot summer morning, that the universe purposely put those roadblocks in the way on those other homes. This was THE ONE, and we committed to doing what was necessary to make sure it didn't slip away.

We intended to make a compelling offer, but then we discovered we were up against a cash buyer on a home that'd only been on the market for 4 DAYS. Thankfully, a seller letter explained why they originally fell in love with the home and how it shaped their young family during their ownership.

Now, as my buyers will tell you, I'm not a fan of "love letters". A letter like that gives away a lot of personal and demographic information that can work for or against you as a buyer. I do NOT recommend my clients write them for that reason, and I explained the pros and cons, emphasizing the cons. But they really wanted to write it. I work for my clients, and as long as they're informed, I'm happy to do as asked.

They shared that, like the sellers, they were looking for a place to raise their young family and intended to bring grandma home to live with them too. See, this home is listed as a 3-bedroom, but it actually has 5. This was a HUGE factor for them. They hit on a lot of the same things that attracted the sellers to the home, and they meant it. It wasn't performative.

We sent our offer and bit our nails for 2 days, waiting to hear they'd picked the cash offer. Behind the scenes, I was collecting more properties to go see that weekend, just in case. I knew this would crush them, and I wanted to keep their momentum going.

Then the text from the listing agent: "Got a minute to chat?" I thought, well, that's nice of him to call to tell me the bad news instead of emailing or just changing the status and leaving me to find out the hard way. So, I called him.

"Hey, so, thanks for giving me a call." (quietly rolling my eyes, waiting for the shoe to drop)... "Sellers reviewed all the offers." (okkkaaaaaaaaayyyyyy, get to it already.....) "They were really thrilled with the buyer's letter and... they picked your offer." (WHUT.)

After the surprise wore off, I called my clients: "Hey, are you guys both in a spot where you can talk?" They sounded like I felt about 10 mins prior: waiting to be told sorry. "Yeah, you're on speaker." I took a deep breath and tried real hard not to smile. "Hey, so the listing agent just called and... well... guys... I'm so.......... EXCITED FOR YOU!!!! YOU GOT THE HOUSE!"

(dead air)

Husband: "SHUT THE F&CK UP, JANA. Don't play." He sounded actually mad. It took about 3 minutes of "No, for real. You got the house. You beat out the cash offer. It was the letter. The letter I told you not to write. They loved it. The house is yours." Meanwhile, the wife was crying in the background. She knew.

Truth be told. I cried a little too. It's hard not to get caught up in the emotions of telling a young, first-time homebuyer that after seeing more than 32 homes, losing out on 3 "the ones" in a slowing market where houses were sitting longer and price reductions were common, that we beat out a cash offer to REALLY get "THE ONE".

THE ONE that has enough space for their family of 4 plus grandma. THE ONE that has a washer/dryer on the main level. THE ONE that has a flat, fenced backyard big enough for soccer practice. THE ONE that's in the exact school, not just the district, that the oldest kiddo was already going to and LOVED. THE ONE that has everything they need and want. THE ONE.

Inspections were golden; the house is in great shape. They stayed within their budget, and while hope was starting to wane, they didn't give up. They made a great offer. Put their hearts into a letter and let the chips fall where they may.

And now? The appraisal came in at value with no conditions. They're nearly cleared to close, and we booked their closing appointment for next week.

I can't wait to hand them their keys, hug them, and open the door to their new chapter.

Congratulations Long Family! Your commitment, patience, and gut paid off. ❤️

Storytime: Beating Out a Cash Offer in Blue Springs, MO

by Jana Jeffery

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