On Sunday, I submitted an offer on a property in Subiaco on behalf of my client. It was clean and strong and included a fresh search, strata plan, and strata disclosure documents, and carefully worded special conditions. We submitted the offer to the selling agent at 1:29pm.
We heard nothing for the next six hours.
Then at 7:31pm—on a Sunday night—I received a single-line text from the agent:
“Just confirming if this is their best and final offer?”
By the time I saw the message 70 minutes later, the property was sold. The deal was done.
The agent had gone quiet for six hours, then gave us just 45 minutes on a Sunday night to respond. No warning, no follow-up, no phone call. My client lives in Sydney. It was 9:30pm his time. Bedtime. Even if I had seen the message when it was sent, we would have struggled to respond appropriately.
It still kicks me in the guts.
I’ve worked in this industry for over 40 years. I know how the game works. But this? This wasn’t a competitive process. It wasn’t even professional. It was disrespectful.
My client did everything right. He moved fast, engaged thoughtfully, asked the right questions, and made a serious offer. We respected the process. We delivered on time. But we weren’t respected in return.
The real estate industry in WA needs to do better.
This isn’t about one agent. This is about a culture. One where, all too often:
- Buyers are treated as an inconvenience, not as clients.
- Communication is erratic, rushed, and inconsiderate.
- Offer processes are opaque and unaccountable.
We are dealing with people’s life savings, their futures, and their families. These are not numbers on a spreadsheet. They are humans trying to make huge decisions, often under pressure.
As professionals, we should do better. We should:
- Treat buyers with dignity.
- Communicate clearly and fairly.
- Be transparent about timelines and processes.
If you’re an agent reading this, I hope it gives you pause. Because while the outcome in any sale may not always be in your hands, the way buyers experience the process is.
And that experience matters.
We can do better. We must do better. Our future clients deserve nothing less.
