“What? My Home Price went up because I didn’t use an agent?” The buyer’s Ceteris Paribus Paradox!

Recently I had a buyer call our office wanting to see a home. We showed him the home and when it was time to write an offer he expressed that he didn’t want to be represented. When his offer was submitted the bank countered back with a price 3% higher than a buyer who was represented by an agent. What?! Really?! The buyer with no agent was countered 3% higher? Why would this happen?

3 Reasons why prices go up when you don’t have an agent.

Economists have a term called ceteris paribus. This term used to drive me crazy in economics classes. It means that all other factors remain the same. This drove me crazy because they use the term every time they change

Daily I receive phone calls and numerous online inquiries regarding buying a home in Utah. As I help people every now and than I will bump into a big surprise. Someone is looking for homes, has all sorts of questions, and wants me to do all the work in finding them a home. Now that isnt the surprise. The surprise is that when I ask if they have a Realtor they are using they say yes. Why would they be calling me when they have a Realtor? So I ask, and here are the answers that I get,

a. My agent does this part time.

b. I have a family member that is an agent.

c. My agent is new.

d. My agent is on vacation.

e. I cant reach my agent.

f. My agent isnt sending me anything I like.

g. My friends dad or brothers uncle is an agent.

What