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I want to decline a realtor's offer...what is the best way to decline by email or otherwise?

Explains how to contact a real estate agent to say no. Learn more about the reasons for refusal and how to respond appropriately.

Last updated: About 13 min read

When considering the purchase of a home, you will probably compare several properties, but if you are not satisfied after viewing the home, you must decline.
However, some people may feel sorry or feel too lazy to contact the real estate agent who talked to them while they previewed the house to say no. In addition, some people may wonder how they should decline the offer.
Furthermore, some people may wonder how to say no. In this article, we will discuss how to make it difficult to say no to a real estate agent.
In this article, we will explain the reasons why it is difficult to refuse a real estate agent, what to do when you feel sorry to the real estate agent, how to refuse that you should avoid, and how to refuse after viewing a house.
Please refer to this article if you are worried about how to refuse a real estate agent.

Is it hard to say no to a real estate agent? What is the reason?

When you visit a real estate agent, you may feel it is difficult to refuse.
Why do you feel it is difficult to refuse?
First of all, let's look at the reason.

Because I was treated kindly.

The first reason is because you were treated kindly.
Sales representatives of real estate agencies are courteous and kind to their customers.
Therefore, it becomes easy to feel sorry to refuse because you were treated so kindly so far.
However, the real estate agent was simply not chosen as a result of a proposal that considered the customer's future.
It is also just that the real estate agent has told the customer about the attractiveness of the property they have, and they have been kind enough to promote its good qualities.
We feel that we have no choice if the real estate the customer was looking for was elsewhere, so we do not feel bad about refusing the offer just because they were kind to us.
In other cases, the goal is to increase company sales or the salesperson's own income.
In some cases, the goal is to close as many contracts as possible for immediate business results or a percentage-based company, so it is important to have a sense of detachment.

Not good at saying no in the first place

The second reason is that they are not good at saying no in the first place.
People who are usually not good at saying no probably have many experiences of not being able to say no to things that are recommended to them, not limited to real estate agencies.
If you cannot refuse by yourself, it is good to take the method such as asking a family member to refuse.
If both spouses are the type who are not good at saying no, there is a possibility that they may not be able to say no and an awkward situation may arise.

Because you have negotiated the price or conditions.

The third reason is that you have already negotiated the price and conditions.
There is a situation in which you have to refuse at a time when you have already negotiated the price and conditions.
It takes a lot of courage to refuse after negotiating with the seller about the sales price, or after both parties have agreed after presenting multiple conditions.
In other cases, it is also difficult to say when you want to refuse because you have changed your mind even though the time of delivery has been extended.
In such cases, it is necessary to discuss the matter with each other even though you find it difficult to say it.

There was an atmosphere of difficulty in saying no.

The fourth reason is that there was an atmosphere that made it difficult to refuse.
Some real estate agents create an atmosphere that makes it difficult to refuse.
In some cases, the goal of the real estate agent is to create such an atmosphere and make it impossible to refuse.
In particular, if the sales representative worked hard to negotiate the price and said something like, "I managed to persuade my boss and was able to lower the price to the amount I wanted," you would feel sorry for refusing.
Of course, there are cases where the salesperson really tries hard, but there are also cases where the salesperson acts as if he/she cannot refuse because he/she has made an effort.
In many cases, the sales price is the amount given as a result of consultation between the supervisor and the subordinate, and it is unlikely that the supervisor was persuaded, so do not take it too seriously.

It is not a bad idea to say no to the real estate agent!

After considering several properties, it is inevitable that you will have to say no once you finally decide which one to purchase.
Some people may feel guilty about refusing, but there is no need to do so.
Why is it not bad to say no to a real estate agent?

Because refusals are routine.

Real estate agent salespeople are accustomed to being turned down.
Because they are in contact with many customers, being refused is a routine occurrence.
If you seriously consider refusing, the real estate agent will understand your feelings, but if you only take a preliminary look even though you have no plans to buy, it will be even more difficult to refuse.
If you have no intention of purchasing the house after listening to the explanation or viewing the house, you should refuse as soon as possible.
If you feel that they were courteous to you, you can add a thank-you note to the offer to avoid a bad impression on both parties.

It is better than being lied to.

Some people try to come up with a reason to lie in order to somehow say no to the real estate agent.
However, depending on the content of the reason for the lie, the salesperson may offer more and more solutions.
As a result of thinking of a lie to refuse, you will end up in a situation where it becomes even more difficult to refuse, so when you refuse, be honest about the reason.
For example, when you tried to refuse because there was no fence on the exterior of a newly built house, the fence was installed free of charge, or when you tried to refuse because you did not have the funds to renovate an existing house, the seller agreed to pay a part of the renovation costs.
When the other party offers even better conditions, you feel sorry for their attitude of properly facing you, and a situation is created where you cannot refuse.
It is better to say no clearly so that the other party understands, rather than to lie.

Because it is not wrong to communicate your intentions.

A real estate agent will give you a list of potential properties that meet the customer's needs.
If you find a housing you are interested in among them, there is no problem, but there may be cases when you do not.
Even if you find a property that you like, there may be cases where you have to decline the offer because it does not fit your budget or for other reasons.
When refusing, you must properly convey your own thoughts and current situation.
If you respond ambiguously or ignore the offer, the salesperson may think that you are still considering the property.
If you are under consideration, you will not be able to introduce the property to others for a certain period of time, which can be a big loss for the real estate agent.
It is not a mistake to communicate your intentions.
It is also mutually beneficial, so it is a good idea to communicate your intentions as early as possible.

What to do when you feel sorry for the real estate agent?

You may feel bad about saying no to the real estate agent who took the time to search for a housing.
You can say no directly over the phone, but if you feel uncomfortable saying it, you can also send a refusal by e-mail.
Refusing will make you feel sorry either way.
So what should you do if you feel sorry to the real estate agent?

Refuse as soon as possible

When refusing the housing introduced to you, it is an iron rule to refuse as soon as possible.
While you are thinking about how to contact to refuse, the salesperson is likely to be continuing to look for a housing that matches your conditions.
In some cases, if you are early, you may have already suppressed the property you plan to introduce.
If you refuse in spite of such a situation, you will cause a great deal of trouble for the real estate agent.
If you feel that you are not willing to sign a contract, you should decline as soon as possible.
It is possible that you will receive numerous sales calls while you are still wondering whether to call to decline.

Give honest reasons for your refusal.

It is also important to be honest about your reasons for refusing the offer.
There is no necessity to explain the reason for refusal in detail, but it is recommended to briefly tell the reason such as "Because the assessed value was higher at another company, I will go there" or "I was introduced to a housing that fits the conditions better".
In addition, it is possible to refuse even after a preliminary inspection.
If you have no intention of purchasing the property, make sure to make it clear.
This is true for both the sale and purchase of real estate properties.

Refuse by expressing gratitude.

Even when refusing, do not forget to thank the real estate agent who took the time to respond.
Even though real estate agents are used to being turned down, they will have a good impression if they can express their gratitude.
Whether you communicate by e-mail or by phone, be sure to include a word of thanks.
This way, even if you contact the real estate agent to say no, it will not make a bad impression on both parties, and it will make it easier to build a good relationship when you have a chance to meet again somewhere else.

Making the mistake of saying no can be difficult! Avoid these things!

When contacting a real estate agent with a refusal, there are a few points to keep in mind.
Next, we will introduce some behaviors to avoid when refusing that you should know in order to avoid trouble.

Ignoring is not a refusal

In some cases, you may ignore a phone call or other contact because you do not want to contact the real estate agent to say no. If you ignore the call, the real estate agent will not contact you again.
You may think that if you ignore it, the real estate agent will give up and not contact you.
In reality, however, you are still on the list of prospective clients even if you ignore them.
No matter how much you ignore them, it does not mean that the contract is a blank check.
On the contrary, it is more likely that the sales calls will continue forever because you are still recognized as a potential customer.
You should never ignore a phone call because you don't want to call to say no.

It doesn't fit your budget.

In fact, it is also not advisable to turn down a job because it does not fit your budget.
Whether you are renting a property or buying a single-family home, it is common to set a budget in advance and search within that range.
Real estate agents also get a rough idea of the budget based on the price range of the properties their clients are interested in, and use this as a reference for selecting the properties they introduce.
Since the prices and rents of properties are listed in real estate information magazines and on the real estate agency's website, it would be bad manners to refuse a property because of a lack of budget.
In particular, avoid refusing on the grounds of insufficient budget after having previewed the property.

In addition, if you visit a real estate agency directly to have a housing introduced to you, the staff member in charge will conduct a hearing regarding your budget and location conditions.
If you are refused for the reason that it does not match your budget, even though the housing is introduced after the hearing, you will feel that it is a waste of time and effort.
There is a high possibility that you will feel dissatisfied and say, "Why didn't you tell me this at the beginning?
There is no problem in refusing after the preview, but do not use the budget as a reason.

Long time under consideration

Real estate properties are not cheap purchases.
Even if you are introduced to an attractive property, there are cases where you cannot immediately decide whether or not to purchase it.
There is no problem to tell them that you are considering it at such a time, but do not tell them that you are considering it even though you intend to refuse.
Some people who say "I'll think about it" or "I'm considering it" think they are saying no, even though they have not given a definite answer.
However, the real estate agent will have the perception that it is only at the "under consideration" stage and that they have not been turned down.
Then there is a possibility that you will be contacted repeatedly because they want to know the result of the consideration.
Therefore, you must firmly inform them of the result if you are under consideration, or if you have no intention of purchasing the property, you must inform them of that fact.

Bad Mouthing.

It is outrageous to speak ill of the real estate agent and the staff who took charge when refusing.
You may feel that the real estate agent or staff member in charge did not respond well.
Unfortunately, however, there are also people who speak ill of or complain about the real estate agent because they never meet with the real estate agent again.
In the buying and selling of real estate, it is not impossible that the company you turned down will eventually find the ideal property for you.
If you feel dissatisfied, you can understand why you would be angry and want to speak ill of the company.
However, it is not always possible to get rid of the real estate agent you turned down, so just be frank about the fact that you want to turn down the offer.

Do not refuse with ambiguous expressions

Another important point is to avoid using ambiguous expressions in refusing.
When contacting a real estate agent with a refusal, some people refuse for reasons such as "it wasn't what I imagined" or "somehow it doesn't seem right for me.
Certainly that is also a reason, but the real estate agent does not understand what made you not sign a contract.
There are cases where the real estate agent will ask you about the image you have in your mind or some vague part of it.
It may be difficult to put into words what you feel, but in the case of rental properties and properties for sale, if the real estate agent does not know what the customer is looking for, he or she cannot get any hints to introduce other properties, making the selection of properties difficult.
Even if you want to be introduced to other properties, if the real estate agent does not get the reason for your refusal, it is likely that he/she will not be able to introduce you to them.

Can you refuse after previewing a real estate property?

Although it is very important to preview a housing before purchasing real estate, once you have previewed it, you may feel anxious that you cannot refuse afterwards and may feel reluctant to take action.
Here we will explain in detail about refusing after viewing a property.

You can say no before or after a preview!

In conclusion, it is not disrespectful to decline a contract, whether before or after you have previewed the apartment.
If a salesperson expresses his/her feelings about not signing a contract after having previewed the property, he/she is a self-centered person who is only thinking about his/her own profit and performance, and is not a good partner for your important real estate search.
The time and effort required to do the previews and the sales performance are only for the convenience of the real estate agent, and are separate issues that have nothing to do with the customer.
Let's leave the distance without worrying about it and move on to a new real estate search.

If you are not satisfied, you should refuse.

Recently, the Internet property pages provide detailed information about the room and the neighborhood environment, so many people sign a contract immediately after viewing the property if it matches their image of the property.
However, since information on the Internet alone does not provide a complete picture of the property, there are many things you will notice when you see the actual property.
Therefore, it is an everyday occurrence for a real estate agent to be rejected after a preview on the grounds that it was different from what they expected or they found a problem.
In particular, there are many real estate agents who put good information on the Internet, but do not put bad information such as disadvantages.
If you give a good reason, the salesperson will understand, and there is no need to feel sorry after having previewed the property.

How do I decline after viewing a house?

Many people wonder how to decline a contract after viewing a house but not signing a contract.
Here, we will introduce how to decline without being rude.
It is recommended that you know how to properly decline so that you can preview the apartment with peace of mind.

Because the view from the room is not good.

There are many photos and information on the Internet about the interior and exterior of the building, but few of them include the view from the window.
Therefore, when you look out the window for the first time, you may be dissatisfied because you can see a grave or the interior from the window of the building across the street.
No matter how much they like the interior or the location, some people do not like the idea of living in a house while feeling dissatisfied with the view from the interior for a long time.
In this way, it is easy for a real estate agent to be convinced that the apartment is rejected because of points that were not apparent from the information on the Internet alone, but were noticed by having previewed the apartment.

Because the impression is different from the pictures on the Internet.

These days, most people look up information on the Internet in advance before viewing a house.
Real estate agents also understand that people come to preview apartments after researching information on the Internet, and when they preview an apartment, they are often rejected because the image is different from the photograph that is posted on the site.
In fact, it is not uncommon for the brightness and atmosphere of a room to change between the photograph and the real thing, depending on how it was captured.
Therefore, there is nothing wrong with not signing a contract because the image is different from the one you initially had in mind.
Rather, it is not a good idea to make a decision based solely on the Internet, and many real estate agents will recommend you to have a look around the house.

Because it is not convenient.

There is nothing wrong with not signing a contract because of reasons other than the room itself, such as the lack of convenience to train stations or shopping.
There are differences in the information posted on the Internet by real estate agencies, and sometimes the information does not include the surrounding environment, distance to stations or supermarkets, or the time required to get there.
Therefore, check with the sales representative when you actually preview the room and if you are concerned about the lack of convenience, that is a sufficient reason to refuse.
Convenience is very important for daily life, so we recommend that you firmly refuse the apartment even after viewing it if you are not satisfied.

Because it does not get enough sunlight.

There are many things that cannot be understood without actually viewing the apartment, and one of them is whether or not it gets enough sunlight.
Especially for those who spend a lot of time at home during the day, good sunlight is an important point when looking for a property, but the reality is that the direction of the rooms and windows are rarely indicated.
In addition, photos of the rooms are often brightly lit and processed, and when you visit the apartment, you may find that the sunlight is not as bright as you expected and the rooms are darker than you expected.
It is common to be turned down because of the sunlight, and sales representatives are used to this, so there is no need to worry about it.

I'm concerned about the noise in the neighborhood.

One of the things that you will not know until you see the apartment is the noise problem in the neighborhood.
No matter how good the location or indoor environment is, there are often hidden problems related to noise, such as noisy children living next door or loud ambient noise from trains or factories in the surrounding area.
Furthermore, since noise problems can affect the rest of one's life, the real estate agent will have no choice but to accept this as a reason.
Also, since the loudness and perception of sound varies from person to person, using noise as a reason is not a problem.

Because the entrance or room is too small

Reasons such as the entrance or room being smaller than expected are also reasons for refusal after a preliminary inspection.
If you have moved in but cannot bring your favorite bed, sofa, refrigerator, or other large furniture and appliances inside the room, that is a problem that cannot be overlooked.
It is more helpful for the sales representative to know in advance than to have a problem after signing the contract.
In particular, older condominiums may have narrow entrances and large furniture and appliances may not be able to be brought in.
If you measure the dimensions in advance and determine that they will not fit, you can honestly tell them and refuse without raising any red flags.

I'm concerned about the smell in the room.

Even if the room looks beautiful and clean in the pictures you saw beforehand, you may be concerned about the smell spreading inside the room when you actually see the room.
This is especially common when there is a restaurant downstairs, but it is also common for people not to sign contracts because of the smell in the room.
Other odors in the room, such as household odors, cannot be detected until you have a look inside the room, so they are a sufficient reason for refusing to sign a contract.

Even though you should have refused! What if the real estate agent contacts me frequently?

As mentioned above, there is nothing wrong with refusing after having previewed the room.
Furthermore, smells and other odors are not transmitted only by photographs.
However, there are cases in which the real estate agent frequently contacts you afterwards, even though you have already refused the offer.
Why do they frequently contact you even though you refused?

It is possible that the refusal has not been conveyed.

Some people are too careful with the real estate agent when refusing and cannot clearly convey the reason, for example, by using vague words to muddy the waters.
However, as a result of saying things too vaguely, the other party may not think they have been turned down, and they will contact you again.
For example, if you say, "I had an appointment for a viewing, but I want to cancel it," or "I had my doubts, but I want to forgo signing a contract for the room I viewed this time," in either case, you have simply declined the appointment for this viewing or the room you viewed this time.
In any case, you have only declined the reservation for the current viewing or the room you viewed.
It is important to be clear when refusing, because vague language may not convey your true intentions to the other party.

The sales representative is just persistent.

If a salesperson persists in contacting you even after you have turned them down, it may be because they are just being persistent.
Most salespeople will switch and move on when they determine that the client has no intention of signing a contract, but there are rare cases where someone persists even though you have clearly refused.
If the contact is too persistent, ask to speak to a supervisor or manager at the company and tell them what happened, and the contact will stop.

It is possible that you are at fault!

Under normal circumstances, you will not get in trouble if you refuse the real estate agent at the pre-contract stage.
However, if you are asking them to lower the rent because you will definitely move in, or if you are asking them to reject an application from someone else with a tentative offer, it may not go smoothly and you may get into trouble even if you try to refuse.
In such cases, the sales representative negotiates with the management company or owner on the condition of moving in or stopping the application process.

For the real estate agent, they are in trouble when they are told that they will not move in because they are in the process of turning down other customers.
Since both the real estate agent and the owner are in trouble if this situation continues, they may contact you without giving up.
If you are at fault, it is important to properly tell them what happened and apologize.
Tell them in good faith.

If you can't call, send an email! A quick and easy way to decline a proposal.

If you feel it is too difficult to clearly decline over the phone, you can also decline by e-mail.
Here are some quick and easy-to-use email refusals for various purposes.

How to decline by e-mail in general

The following are possible ways to decline a job offer after a preliminary inspection.

Dear Mr. XXX

Thank you for your kind attention. My name is ●● (your name).
Thank you for introducing the property the other day.

I am very sorry to say that even though you introduced us to a good property, we have decided to ask another company to do it for us this time.
Thank you very much for your very kind support even though it was for a very short period of time.
We look forward to working with you again when we have the opportunity.

●●(my name)"

There is no problem with a simple sentence like this, but be sure to give a complete reason for refusing and express your gratitude at the end.
Some real estate agents may not reply, but there is no need to worry about it.

When refusing by e-mail on short notice

Here are some sentences that can be used when refusing on short notice due to unavoidable circumstances, such as canceling a move.

Dear Mr. XXX

Thank you for your kind attention. Thank you very much for your continued support.
Thank you for always introducing your properties to us.

I am very sorry for this sudden notice, but due to ▲▲ (reason for refusal), we have decided to cancel our move.
We sincerely apologize for the many efforts you have made.

Thank you very much for your kindness and support during this short period of time.
We look forward to working with you again when the opportunity arises.

From

How to refuse if you do not like the property

Here are some sentences that can be used when you do not like the property you were introduced to.

Dear Mr. XXX

Thank you very much for your kind attention. Thank you very much for introducing the property to us the other day.
Thank you for introducing the property the other day.

I would like to let you know that the property you have introduced to us does not meet the ▲▲ conditions that we are hoping for, so we will have to pass on it.

... ~~~~~
... ~~~~
... ~~~~

If you find a property that meets the above conditions, we would appreciate it if you could continue to introduce it to us.
Thank you in advance.

From ●●"

How to decline introduction e-mails that are unnecessary in the future

The following are sentences that can be used when you no longer need periodic property referral e-mails and wish to unsubscribe from them.

Dear Mr. XXX

Thank you very much for your kind attention. Thank you very much for your continued interest in our properties.
Thank you for always introducing properties to us.

I am very sorry, but I would like to ask you to stop contacting me about property introductions.

We will contact you again when we have finished checking the properties you have introduced to us.
In that case, we would be very grateful if you could introduce us again.

Thank you very much for your time.
Thank you very much for your time.

From ●●"

If you find it difficult to decline over the phone, the real estate agent will not contact you if you add a word of thanks and a refusal in writing.

Conclusion

We have introduced in detail how to refuse a real estate agent.
If you ask for a home inspection, you may feel it is difficult to refuse afterwards.
However, real estate agents deal with many customers every day, and being turned down is an everyday occurrence.
It is more likely that you will not be able to convey your true intentions and will cause unnecessary hassle.

Also, never refuse to contact someone or ignore them because you find it difficult to say no. If you have a hard time saying no, you can always ask for help.
If you are really uncomfortable saying no yourself, one way to do so is to contact them by e-mail to say no.
It is important to say no as soon as possible, even by e-mail, if you are not satisfied, in order to ensure a satisfactory property search.

Daisuke Inazawa, President & CEO of INA&Associates Inc.

Author

President & CEOINA&Associates Inc.

President & CEO of INA&Associates Inc. Leads real estate brokerage, rental leasing, and property management across Greater Tokyo and the Kansai region. Specialises in income-property investment strategy and advisory for ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

Daisuke Inazawa is the President and CEO of INA&Associates Inc., a Japanese real estate firm headquartered in Osaka with a Tokyo branch. He leads the company's three core businesses — real estate sales brokerage, rental leasing, and property management — across the Greater Tokyo Area and the Kansai region.

His areas of expertise include investment strategy for income-generating real estate, profitability optimisation of rental operations, real estate advisory for ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) and institutional investors, and cross-border real estate investment. He provides data-driven, long-horizon advisory to investors in Japan and overseas.

Under the management philosophy "a company's most important asset is its people," he positions INA&Associates as a "people-investment company" and is committed to sustainable corporate-value creation through talent development. He also writes and speaks publicly on leadership and organisational culture in times of change.

He has passed eleven Japanese professional qualification examinations: Licensed Real Estate Broker (Takken), Certified Real Estate Consulting Master, Licensed Condominium Manager, Licensed Building Management Supervisor, Certified Rental Housing Management Professional, Gyōseishoshi Lawyer (administrative scrivener), Certified Personal Information Protection Officer, Class-A Fire Prevention Manager, Certified Auctioned Real Estate Specialist, Certified Condominium Maintenance Engineer, and Licensed Moneylending Operations Supervisor.

  • Licensed Real Estate Broker (Takken)
  • Certified Real Estate Consulting Master
  • Licensed Condominium Manager
  • Licensed Building Management Supervisor
  • Certified Rental Housing Management Professional
  • Gyōseishoshi Lawyer (Administrative Scrivener)
  • Certified Personal Information Protection Officer
  • Class-A Fire Prevention Manager
  • Certified Auctioned Real Estate Specialist
  • Certified Condominium Maintenance Engineer
  • Licensed Moneylending Operations Supervisor