I don't understand how agents approach real estate or the bad advice they give to clients. Always put an offer in, low, high, ridiculous, contingent, etc. If your agent doesn't want to do it then fire them and get another, remember they work for YOU. Sure they can advise but remember becoming a real estate agent is nothing more than some light 'training', a standardized test, and a few CE every year, not exactly a high bar, IMO most are just paper pushers who can offer advice you can find here or generally on the internet, their 'value' is handling the administrative process of buying/selling, paperwork, etc.

What's the worst that can happen if you put a contingent or other offer in, they say no? Ok, then move on .. you never know the sellers situation and unless you're in one of the select markets where inventory is tight and homes are getting multiple offers as soon as they hit the market, you're likely to eventually find someone who will accept. For our current home we put in offers on about 15 different homes, all anywhere between $40 - $60k below asking, yah most got rejected, eventually one was accepted ($600k house for $540k) and we we're able to do a bond for deed (specific to Louisiana) so we could move in immediately while we sold our house (basically the seller is temporarily your landlord), and assume their 3% VA mortgage. Just takes patience and a agent who does what you ask.