Sellers – in today’s market you must take every offer seriously.  Today buyers are handing out what sellers refer to as “low balls.”  Especially when the house has been on the market for a while, that almost guarantees a “low ball.”  As an agent who represents both buyers and sellers – I know what both sides are saying.  The sellers want to get “their” price.  Today’s price is not at all reflective of yesterday’s price in today’s market.  Buyers, when talking about buying a house, – if they are even really thinking of buying a house today – are talking about what the loss in value may be over the next 6 mos – 1 year.  Even though they may have no plans on selling in such a short period of time, they do not want to go to sleep at night thinking about how much money they just “lost” (even if it’s on paper).  Sellers – in today’s market you must be ready to consider every offer as serious and get ready to “play ball.”  Buyers do not wait in today’s market.  Although – they do seem to wait a long time before they even make an offer.  Buyers are watching, waiting, wondering what will happen with the houses they put on their “short list.”  In most cases, those houses will be on the market next week and most likely the week after that too…so what’s the rush.  Sellers – you must respond to these offers and you must respond “seriously.”  The owness of “serious” is on the sellers today…not the buyers!!