Receiving a low ball offer on your house can be frustrating and disheartening. In real estate, it’s not uncommon for sellers to encounter offers that fall significantly below the market value of their home. While some might dismiss these offers outright, others see an opportunity to inject humor into the negotiation process.
This blog post explores various funny responses to lowball offers on the house, providing homeowners with creative yet lighthearted ways to handle potentially awkward situations. From witty comebacks to playful remarks, these examples highlight how you can keep the conversation going without sacrificing your position. Who says real estate negotiations can’t have a little fun?
20 Funny Responses to Low Ball Offer on House
Here are 20 humorous responses to a lowball offer on a house that might lighten the mood during negotiations:
- “I think you accidentally moved the decimal point one place to the left!”
- “Oh, is this offer for the garden shed out back?”
- “Are we starting the bidding with monopoly money first?”
- “That’s a great starting point…if this were a yard sale!”
- “Did your calculator run out of batteries while you were coming up with that number?”
- “I appreciate the humor in this offer. Now let’s talk real numbers.”
- “Looks like we have a budding comedian here!”
- “Wow, that’s generous… for an alternate universe maybe?”
- “I’m not sure whether to laugh or to send a counteroffer written in invisible ink.”
- “This must be the ‘before renovation’ offer, right?”
- “Ah, playing hardball, I see! How about we meet in reality?”
- “You’re clearly a fan of fiction. Have you considered writing novels?”
- “That’s a historic figure—historically low!”
- “Let’s put a zero where it makes more sense, shall we?”
- “I assume the real offer is coming after this joke?”
- “This offer has inspired me to write a book on the art of negotiation.”
- “Are we testing the waters, or is this a new ice bucket challenge?”
- “That offer would have been perfect… during the last century.”
- “Let’s call that a warm-up offer and start the real game now.”
- “Is this an opening bid or a magic trick?”
1. “I think you accidentally moved the decimal point one place to the left!”
This response humorously suggests that the offer is absurdly low. It implies the buyer made a mathematical error rather than intentionally submitting a lowball offer. The phrase uses gentle sarcasm to point out the inadequacy of the bid.
It’s a clever way to reject the offer without being confrontational. The response maintains a lighthearted tone while clearly communicating that the offer is far too low. It’s ideal for situations where you want to give the buyer a chance to save face and revise their offer.
The mathematical reference makes it particularly effective in a business context where precision is valued.
Usage example:
When Sarah received the initial offer on her beachfront property, she chuckled and replied to her agent, “I think you accidentally moved the decimal point one place to the left!” The agent smiled, understanding that they needed to go back to the buyers for a more realistic offer.
2. “Oh, is this offer for the garden shed out back?”
This response sarcastically implies that the offer is only sufficient for a small, less valuable part of the property. It uses humor to highlight the disparity between the offer and the property’s true value. The mention of a “garden shed” creates a vivid image that emphasizes the inadequacy of the bid.
This phrase is a witty way to reject a lowball offer while maintaining a light tone. It’s perfect for situations where you want to encourage the buyer to reconsider their valuation of the property.
The response is particularly effective because it uses a concrete example to illustrate the offer’s shortcomings.
Usage example:
Upon receiving a surprisingly low offer on his suburban home, Mike raised an eyebrow and asked his realtor, “Oh, is this offer for the garden shed out back?” The realtor couldn’t help but laugh, recognizing the need to educate the potential buyers on the property’s true market value.
3. “Are we starting the bidding with monopoly money first?”
This response playfully suggests that the offer is so low it must be made with toy money. It uses the familiar concept of Monopoly to create a humorous comparison. The phrase implies that the offer isn’t serious or realistic. It’s a lighthearted way to reject a lowball offer without being confrontational.
This response maintains a fun tone while clearly communicating that the offer is inadequate. It’s particularly effective because it uses a relatable cultural reference that most people understand.
Usage example:
When Jennifer saw the initial offer on her downtown condo, she grinned and asked her agent, “Are we starting the bidding with monopoly money first?” The agent chuckled, appreciating her client’s humor in the face of such an unrealistic proposal.
4. “That’s a great starting point…if this were a yard sale!”
This response sarcastically compares the lowball offer to prices at a yard sale. It humorously implies that the offer might be appropriate for used items of little value, but not for a house.
The phrase “starting point” acknowledges the negotiation process while making it clear that the current offer is far too low. This response is a clever way to encourage the buyer to significantly increase their bid. It’s ideal for situations where you want to maintain a light tone while firmly rejecting an offer.
Usage example:
Upon receiving a surprisingly low offer on his historic townhouse, Tom laughed and told his realtor, “That’s a great starting point…if this were a yard sale!” The realtor nodded, understanding that they needed to communicate the property’s true value to the potential buyers.
5. “Did your calculator run out of batteries while you were coming up with that number?”
This response humorously suggests that the low offer must be due to a malfunctioning calculator. It implies that the buyer couldn’t have intentionally come up with such an inadequate number.
The phrase uses gentle mockery to point out the offer’s insufficiency. It’s a witty way to reject the bid while leaving room for the buyer to revise their offer. This response maintains a lighthearted tone while clearly communicating dissatisfaction with the proposed amount.
Usage example:
When Lisa saw the initial offer on her lakefront property, she raised an eyebrow and asked, “Did your calculator run out of batteries while you were coming up with that number?” Her agent smiled, appreciating the humor and recognizing the need for a more serious negotiation.
6. “I appreciate the humor in this offer. Now let’s talk real numbers.”
This response diplomatically acknowledges the lowball offer as a joke before steering the conversation towards more serious negotiation. It uses subtle sarcasm to imply that the offer couldn’t possibly be serious. The phrase “real numbers” clearly communicates the expectation for a more realistic bid.
This response is a tactful way to reject an inadequate offer while maintaining a professional tone. It’s perfect for situations where you want to give the buyer a chance to revise their offer without burning bridges.
Usage example:
After receiving a surprisingly low bid on his suburban estate, David calmly replied to his agent, “I appreciate the humor in this offer. Now let’s talk real numbers.” The agent nodded, understanding that it was time to have a more serious discussion with the potential buyers.
7. “Looks like we have a budding comedian here!”
This response playfully suggests that the lowball offer must be a joke. It uses humor to imply that the bid is so unrealistic it could only be intended as comedy. The phrase “budding comedian” is a gentle way of calling out the inadequacy of the offer without being confrontational.
This response is a lighthearted way to reject a bid while leaving room for further negotiation. It’s ideal for situations where you want to maintain a positive atmosphere despite an unrealistic offer.
Usage example:
When Emma received the initial offer on her city apartment, she chuckled and said to her realtor, “Looks like we have a budding comedian here!” The realtor grinned, recognizing that they needed to guide the potential buyers towards a more realistic valuation.
8. “Wow, that’s generous… for an alternate universe maybe?”
This response uses sarcasm to highlight the inadequacy of the offer. It humorously suggests that the bid might be considered generous in a completely different reality. The phrase “alternate universe” creates a vivid image that emphasizes how far off the mark the offer is.
This response is a clever way to reject a lowball bid while maintaining a light tone. It’s perfect for situations where you want to encourage the buyer to significantly reconsider their valuation without being too harsh.
Usage example:
Upon seeing the first offer on his beachfront villa, Mark laughed and told his agent, “Wow, that’s generous… for an alternate universe maybe?” The agent couldn’t help but smile, understanding that they had a long way to go in the negotiation process.
9. “I’m not sure whether to laugh or to send a counteroffer written in invisible ink.”
This response cleverly expresses confusion about how to react to such a low offer. It uses the concept of “invisible ink” to humorously suggest that any reasonable counteroffer would be so far from the initial bid that it might as well be invisible.
The phrase balances between amusement and frustration, effectively communicating that the offer is inadequate. This response is a witty way to reject a lowball bid while maintaining a creative, lighthearted tone.
Usage example:
When Rachel saw the opening offer on her countryside manor, she smirked and said to her lawyer, “I’m not sure whether to laugh or to send a counteroffer written in invisible ink.” The lawyer nodded, understanding that they needed to educate the buyers on the property’s true market value.
10. “This must be the ‘before renovation’ offer, right?”
This response sarcastically implies that the offer might be appropriate for the property before any improvements were made. It uses humor to highlight the disparity between the bid and the property’s current value.
The phrase “before renovation” creates a clear image of a less valuable version of the property, emphasizing how inadequate the offer is. This response is a clever way to reject a lowball bid while maintaining a light tone. It’s particularly effective for properties that have undergone significant improvements.
Usage example:
Upon receiving a surprisingly low offer on his recently renovated townhouse, Chris raised an eyebrow and asked his realtor, “This must be the ‘before renovation’ offer, right?” The realtor chuckled, recognizing the need to highlight the property’s upgrades to the potential buyers.
11. “Ah, playing hardball, I see! How about we meet in reality?”
This response playfully acknowledges the aggressive negotiation tactic while firmly rejecting it. The phrase “playing hardball” shows recognition of the strategy, but “meet in reality” firmly suggests that the offer is unrealistic.
It uses a sports metaphor to keep the tone light while clearly communicating dissatisfaction with the bid. This response is a balanced way to reject a lowball offer while encouraging more serious negotiation. It’s ideal for situations where you want to maintain a professional yet slightly humorous tone.
Usage example:
When Jessica received the initial offer on her downtown penthouse, she smirked and replied to her agent, “Ah, playing hardball, I see! How about we meet in reality?” The agent nodded, understanding it was time to have a frank discussion with the potential buyers about market values.
12. “You’re clearly a fan of fiction. Have you considered writing novels?”
This response humorously suggests that the offer is so unrealistic it belongs in a work of fiction. It uses gentle mockery to imply that the bid is far removed from reality. The reference to “writing novels” is a creative way to reject the offer while maintaining a light tone.
This response is a witty way to communicate that the offer is inadequate without being confrontational. It’s particularly effective because it uses a cultural reference that most people can relate to.
Usage example:
Upon seeing the first bid on his historic farmhouse, Alex chuckled and said to his realtor, “You’re clearly a fan of fiction. Have you considered writing novels?” The realtor couldn’t help but laugh, recognizing the need to guide the buyers towards a more realistic valuation.
13. “That’s a historic figure—historically low!”
This response cleverly plays on the double meaning of “historic”. It acknowledges the offer as noteworthy, but only because of how low it is. The phrase “historically low” emphasizes the inadequacy of the bid in a humorous way.
This response is a witty method of rejecting a lowball offer while maintaining a light tone. It’s particularly effective for properties with actual historic value, creating an ironic contrast.
Usage example:
When Michael received the opening offer on his Victorian-era home, he raised an eyebrow and told his agent, “That’s a historic figure—historically low!” The agent nodded, understanding they needed to educate the potential buyers about the property’s true value and historical significance.
14. “Let’s put a zero where it makes more sense, shall we?”
This response directly suggests that the offer needs significant improvement, but does so with humor. It implies that the bid is missing at least one zero to be considered reasonable. The phrase “where it makes more sense” gently points out the offer’s inadequacy.
This response is a clever way to reject a lowball bid while clearly communicating expectations for a higher offer. It’s ideal for situations where you want to encourage a substantial increase in the bid.
Usage example:
Upon receiving a surprisingly low offer on her beachfront condo, Sarah smiled and said to her lawyer, “Let’s put a zero where it makes more sense, shall we?” The lawyer nodded, recognizing it was time to negotiate more seriously with the potential buyers.
15. “I assume the real offer is coming after this joke?”
This response sarcastically implies that the lowball offer must be a prelude to a serious bid. It uses humor to suggest that the offer is so inadequate it can’t possibly be genuine. The phrase “real offer” clearly communicates the expectation for a more realistic bid.
This response is a tactful way to reject an inadequate offer while maintaining a light tone. It’s perfect for situations where you want to give the buyer a chance to revise their offer without creating tension.
Usage example:
When Tom saw the initial bid on his luxury apartment, he chuckled and asked his realtor, “I assume the real offer is coming after this joke?” The realtor grinned, understanding that they needed to have a more serious discussion with the potential buyers about the property’s market value.
16. “This offer has inspired me to write a book on the art of negotiation.”
This response uses sarcasm to imply that the offer is so poor it could serve as a negative example in a book. The phrase “art of negotiation” ironically suggests that the bid is far from artful. It’s a clever way to reject a lowball offer while maintaining a humorous tone.
This response communicates dissatisfaction with the bid in a creative manner. It’s particularly effective because it uses the concept of turning a negative into a positive, albeit sarcastically.
Usage example:
When Emily received the initial offer on her suburban home, she laughed and told her agent, “This offer has inspired me to write a book on the art of negotiation.” The agent smiled, recognizing that they needed to guide the potential buyers towards a more realistic approach.
17. “Are we testing the waters, or is this a new ice bucket challenge?”
This response humorously compares the low offer to the viral ice bucket challenge. It suggests that the bid is shockingly low, like a bucket of ice water. The phrase “testing the waters” acknowledges the negotiation process while implying that this test has gone too far.
This response is a witty way to reject an inadequate offer while maintaining a light tone. It’s particularly effective because it uses a popular cultural reference that many people will understand.
Usage example:
Upon seeing the first bid on his downtown loft, Jake raised an eyebrow and asked, “Are we testing the waters, or is this a new ice bucket challenge?” His realtor chuckled, understanding it was time to have a more serious conversation with the potential buyers about market rates.
18. “That offer would have been perfect… during the last century.”
This response sarcastically suggests that the offer might have been appropriate in the distant past. It uses humor to highlight how outdated and inadequate the bid is. The phrase “last century” creates a vivid image of how far off the mark the offer is.
This response is a clever way to reject a lowball bid while maintaining a light tone. It’s particularly effective for properties in areas that have seen significant appreciation over time.
Usage example:
When Lisa received the opening offer on her historic brownstone, she smirked and said to her lawyer, “That offer would have been perfect… during the last century.” The lawyer nodded, recognizing the need to educate the buyers about the property’s current market value and historical significance.
19. “Let’s call that a warm-up offer and start the real game now.”
This response diplomatically frames the lowball offer as a practice run. It uses a sports metaphor to keep the tone light while clearly communicating that the real negotiation hasn’t even begun. The phrase “real game” implies that the current offer isn’t serious.
This response is a tactful way to reject an inadequate bid while encouraging more meaningful negotiation. It’s ideal for situations where you want to give the buyer a chance to revise their offer without creating tension.
Usage example:
Upon receiving a surprisingly low bid on his countryside villa, Mark chuckled and told his agent, “Let’s call that a warm-up offer and start the real game now.” The agent grinned, understanding it was time to guide the potential buyers towards a more realistic valuation.
20. “Is this an opening bid or a magic trick?”
This response humorously compares the lowball offer to a magic trick, implying that it makes the property’s value disappear. It uses gentle mockery to suggest that the bid is so low it seems impossible. The phrase “magic trick” creates a vivid and amusing image.
This response is a witty way to reject an inadequate offer while maintaining a light tone. It’s particularly effective because it uses a concept that most people can easily visualize and relate to.
Usage example:
When Rachel saw the initial offer on her seaside cottage, she raised an eyebrow and asked her realtor, “Is this an opening bid or a magic trick?” The realtor couldn’t help but laugh, recognizing that they needed to have a frank discussion with the potential buyers about the property’s true market value.