Negotiating with unreasonable people is hard enough, but try buying a house from them. When one couple made a fair offer on a run-down property, the sellers responded with arrogance, bizarre delays, and inflated self-importance. It seemed like the end of the deal… until karma came knocking.
Months later, the same house went up for auction at a shocking discount, and the couple’s family saw the perfect opportunity.
The moment they won the bid, the look on the sellers’ faces was worth every penny. Keep reading to see how this one turned from frustration to pure satisfaction.
A couple rejected reasonable offers on their rundown home, delaying with prayers and demands, only to auction it off cheaply to the original buyer’s family
The Original Poster (OP) recounts an experience familiar to anyone who has faced stubborn sellers in the real estate market. They made a fair offer on a house that was overpriced and in poor condition, only to be told by the sellers that they would “pray on it.”
Eventually, the deal fell through, the property lingered unsold, and the OP’s father later bought it at auction for nearly half the price. What unfolded is a textbook example of overconfidence, misplaced attachment, and poor negotiation strategy.
According to Psychology Today, homeowners often overvalue their property because of emotional attachment, a phenomenon known as the “endowment effect.”
People tend to assign higher worth to things they own simply because they own them. This bias clouds judgment during negotiations and makes sellers resistant to reasonable offers.
Financial psychologist Dr. Brad Klontz notes that “emotional reasoning frequently overrides rational decision-making in high-stakes financial matters, especially when pride or sentiment is involved.”
The OP’s decision to walk away aligns with sound negotiation principles. Real estate experts consistently emphasize the power of detachment.
According to Forbes Advisor, one of the most effective tactics in home buying is “being ready to walk away.” This not only protects a buyer from overpaying but also keeps emotions from driving financial choices.
Sellers who believe they hold all the power often miscalculate how quickly market conditions or buyer interest can shift.
When the sellers eventually tried to return to the OP, they had already lost leverage. Once they purchased another property without selling their first, financial pressure mounted, a common trap identified by Realtor.com.
Experts advise that homeowners should “avoid buying another home before selling the current one,” as it can lead to desperation and forced sales at lower prices.
Here are the comments of Reddit users:
These users focused on the financial and procedural pitfalls of selling property
This group shared personal stories about walking away from unreasonable sellers or overpriced homes
These commenters discussed negotiation experiences that backfired on overconfident buyers or sellers
What do you think, though, was this just sweet revenge for the sellers’ arrogance, or should OP have let karma do its work without showing up at the auction?
Would you have resisted the chance to see their faces, or would you have done exactly the same? Drop your thoughts below!
