This happens so often. Truth be known, the buyers don't want the sellers to be home when they look. It makes the buyers uncomfortable, they tend to spend less time, and they are too distracted by the presence of the seller to really absorb the home. Buyers need to be able to envision themselves living in the home, not feel as if they are trespassing on someone else's property.
And then there's the information the sellers ALWAYS inadvertently give. Most sellers don't realize how damaging even the most innocent comment can be. In their haste to sell the property, they will often "offer up" things in the home, without even knowing what the buyer's offer might be. I've been in situations where the seller offers to leave the riding lawn mower or refrigerator, and when they see the initial offer, they take it back. It causes hard feelings from the very beginning.
It is always best to leave the negotiations and sharing of information to the REALTORS®.
Today, I showed several houses to a favorite buyer. And due to a thunderstorm that blew threw town while we were out looking, all these buyers were home for at least part of the showing. And all of them committed the one mortal sin of real estate. They chatted with me and my buyer. Some were more discrete than others.
Now, if your house is for sale, and if you are home when any agent shows up, zip your lip!
What you think of as pleasant banter is the agent trying to pump you for information she knows your agent would never tell.
Do you have another place to go. Have you purchased another house? Are you being transferred? Is this a happy move or a stress move?
Are you selling because of a happy new addition to your family? Or are you in the middle of a mean divorce? Are you moving to a new city for your dream job? Or are you selling because your job moved to China without you and you can no longer afford your place?
It goes to motivation. If you show up as needy and anxious and tell all, the agent showing your home will think you are more motivated than you might be, and the offer might come in a lot lower than what you'd like to see.
Your agent would never volunteer any of this information out of the blue.
Neither should you!
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Lina Robertson Jones
Owner/Agent
RE/MAX Solutions
1715 James River Road
Ozark, MO, 65721 |
Mobile: (417) 844-7265
linarobertson@remax.net
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RE/MAX - Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results!
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About the author: I am full-time REALTOR® with RE/MAX Solutions in Springfield, MO, and a member of the Greater Springfield Board of REALTORS®. I have helped hundreds of families in the Springfield, Nixa, Republic and Ozark real estate markets, whether buying a home, or selling a home. Visit my website at www.ozarks-realestate.com to search for All Springfield MO Area MLS listings. Want to know what our market is like? My website is also an excellent resource for current Springfield MO Area Real Estate Market Reports, as well as current market reports for Ozark, Nixa, Republic, and Rogersville.
Home owners will always give out information we would rather they didn't. Heaven forbid if your home owner comes home before an inspection is finished.
Lina - this seems to be a theme this week. I have read several already dealing with this, and was even going to write one myself. Thanks for reblogging this very well written post.
Team Honeycutt - I know they think they're being helpful, but they usually hurt the process more! Thanks for stopping by.
Mike - I think as the market gets worse, homeowners are becoming more desperate and wanting to really push the sale. They don't realize how much it hurts the in the long run. Thanks for stopping by!
Lina - I almost reblogged this too. It brings so many to mind of why I too don't want the sellers home. It affects the buyers honesty whilst walking thru. If they hold it in, they might lose good information that would help. Or, they won't hold their tongue and say something to the seller out of context and make it uncomfortable for everyone.
I had that happen recently on a property and it made it uncomfortable for me and the agent let alone the seller. Now when we write an offer that MAY not be acceptable to the seller they will remember what was said and may not give the light of day to my offer.
Lina, I think every agent wants to copy this info for their sellers. I have one that when I schedule the showing I tell him to leave the house before they get there. He lost out on an offer by being too friendly and has learned the lesson. We are in a bidding war now with fresh buyers that don't know his private stories. Sellers are there to see the house/property not to visit.
I love your new photo! cw
Hi Lina, This is a perfect post to reblog.
Love Margaret Woda's quote on Pat Kennedy's original post. "Anything you say CAN AND WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU in negotiations."
Margaret
I don;t think it can be repeated often enough. Thanks for the re-blog and I LOVE your new pic!
Had a short sale seller stay for the inspection today and wouldn't zip her lip the entire time.....according to the buyer's agent. Thankfully, the buyers still likes the home. Just go away and let everyone do their jobs.