When Sellers Get Greedy: Lessons from a Real Estate Story
In Story Time 8: When Sellers Get GREEDY! We walk through a true-to-life scenario in real estate where a seller’s expectations spiral out of balance, complicating, or even derailing the transaction. Here’s how it all plays out, and the key takeaways you’ll want to keep in mind if you ever find yourself crossing paths with a “greedy” seller.
The Setup: An Agreeable Transaction… Until It Isn’t
The story begins with what looks like an ordinary real estate deal: buyer and seller agree on price, inspections move forward, and everyone seems to be on track. But then the seller begins to push — asking for more, renegotiating terms late, or demanding concessions that had not been in the original agreement.
This is a seller in a strong market recognizing shifting momentum and trying to squeeze more value — “greed” creeping in.
What Goes Wrong When Sellers Get Overambitious
When a seller pushes beyond what was mutually agreed, several issues tend to emerge:
Trust breaks down. The buyer starts to question the seller’s intention, fairness, and integrity.
Negotiations stall. The deal can enter a tug-of-war zone: seller demands, buyer counters, back-and-forth.
Risk of collapse. If the buyer refuses or backs out, the seller may lose the sale entirely.
Additional costs and delays. Attorneys, renegotiation time, or even restarting the process can add unexpected burden.
In the video’s story, the buyer faces undue demands and must weigh how far to push back or walk away altogether.
How a Buyer Can Respond to a Greedy Seller
If you’re on the buyer side and run into this kind of situation, here’s what you can do:
Stay calm and professional. Emotional reactions give the seller more leverage.
Refer to the contract. What was agreed in writing? Use that as your baseline.
Push back politely but firmly. Resist unreasonable late-stage changes.
Be prepared to walk. Especially if you included protective contingencies, walking away may be your best option.
Use leverage of your own. If the market is slowing or there are alternate properties, you may have more negotiating power than the seller assumes.
Renegotiate within reason. If the seller has a legitimate reason for additional demands (e.g. unexpected repair costs), see if there’s room for a fair middle ground.
Why Sellers Sometimes Get Greedy
Understanding the “why” helps when you’re reacting:
Market momentum. In hot markets, sellers may feel they can always push higher or ask for more extras.
Fear of leaving money on the table. They might worry they undersold themselves initially and try to recoup.
Lack of professionalism or discipline. Some sellers mismanage expectations or overreach without a clear strategy.
Emotional attachment. If it’s a family home or one they’ve invested in, emotions can override logic.
Takeaways for Buyers, Sellers & Agents
Always document key terms in writing, not just verbal side deals.
Use contingencies wisely — appraisal, inspection, finance — to give exit paths if things go off-course.
Communication transparency can prevent misunderstandings that spiral.
Be realistic with demands — a deal is better than nothing, but unreasonable demands can kill it.
Work with a real estate professional experienced in tough negotiations.
