We were two weeks from signing the LOI. Buyer had done site visits, talked to my managers, even sent a draft APA. Then radio silence. Calls unanswered, emails not returned. I panicked at first, then did something I'm still not sure was right. I wrote one short, friendly note saying I'd keep the process moving and would check back in ten days. No pressure, no threats. Then I kept talking to my second and third buyers. Turns out the first buyer was dealing with a family health issue. We eventually closed with the second buyer. Point is, I handled that with the silence and didn't break anything.
Deal Stage
How I handled it when my main buyer went silent
Good for you. But the ten-day clock thing is where I think most sellers mess up. You Basically gave them a free pass to stay quiet longer. I would've set a hard date and told them the process is moving on.
Honestly, the fact that you didnt send a string of panicked follow-ups is impressive. I've seen sellers burn bridges by going from zero to 'where is your offer' in three messages.
Wait, so the buyer had a family emergency and still couldn't just send a two-line email? That's not silence, that's bad manners.
I get your approach. In deals, silence usually isn't a no, it's a pause. You kept your dignity and kept your options warm. That's worth more than pretending you were in control.
Ten days is reasonable. Some sellers sit on their hands for a month and then wonder why their business gets stale on the market. You did the right thing.
Different take: if a buyer goes silent after signing a draft APA, I'm not staying warm. I'm calling their lawyer. You don't get to disappear mid-paperwork.
The real win here is that you had a second, and third buyer. Most sellers don't. They bet everything on one horse and then the horse ghosts them.
Yeah but having a backup plan still doesn't fix the feeling of being ignored. That part is just uncomfortable, no way around it.
Honestly I think the ten day check-in works better than an ultimatum because it makes you the calm one. Ultimatums feel like desperation in disguise.
There's no perfect playbook. I once had a buyer go dark for six six weeks and then come back with a slightly better offer. Turns out they were getting a bank loan approval sorted. Silence isn't always a bad sign.
Six weeks? That's not silence, that's a hostage situation. At some point you have to wonder if you're the one being strung along.
Magentic, it's 'Magnetic'. Sorry, typo annoyed me.
Honestly the whole thing is a reminder that buyers don't owe you communication after the LOI is signed. Annoying but true.
They kind of do owe you something if they want the deal. But I've bailed on deals before and I didn't always handle the silence perfectly either. Nobody's a saint in this process.
This thread is way more chill than I expected. Usually these discussions turn into people bragging about how fast they walked away.
Appreciate the different takes. For what it's worth, I stIll don't know if the ten-day note was smart or just lucky. But I'd probably do it again.