What should an Indiana licensee do with an offer and earnest money deposit?

The correct action for an Indiana licensee with respect to an offer and earnest money deposit is to communicate the offer to the listing agent and include the earnest money for deposit. This is crucial because the earnest money deposit serves as a sign of the buyer's serious intent to purchase the property. By including the earnest money along with the offer, the buyer demonstrates commitment, which can make the offer more attractive to the seller.

In Indiana, it is customary and often required for agents to present all offers to the seller promptly. Including the earnest money helps facilitate the transaction and acts as a safeguard for the seller in case the buyer defaults later on. Moreover, proper handling of the earnest money deposit ensures that it is held in a trust account until the closing of the transaction or until the buyer and seller reach an agreement on its disposition. This practice aligns with standard real estate protocol and protects the interests of all parties involved.

Other options would not provide the same level of professionalism and safety for the transaction. For example, simply keeping the offer and deposit until a buyer is accepted could lead to misunderstandings or complications regarding the earnest money. Sending the offer to the seller without the earnest money could make the offer appear less serious and could hinder negotiations. Lastly, submitting the offer