It’s appropriate, even important, to be friendly, but don’t let the personal nature of someone being in your home allow you to get into too many long discussions with the buyers. Not only do personality conflicts often cloud judgments, but you could reveal too much information (“we’re being hit with a foreclosure, so we have to sell”), which means you could come off as desperate and end up with lowball offers. Watch what is said in discussing items related to the house and neighborhood. Remember, this could be their new home. Buyers will start second-guessing themselves. A casual statement about the house “really being too small for a growing family,” or “the schools are going through some changes” might be enough innocent chatter to squash their interest. Even personal politics could ruin a sale!
UNDERESTIMATING CLOSING COSTS
Many sellers consider only the money they’re selling their home for. They don’t appropriately calculate all the costs associated with the sale and overlook the following items:
• Real estate commission • Advertising costs
• Attorney or closing agent fees • Excise/gains tax (if applicable) • Prorated costs for items like property taxes, homeowners’ association fees, and utilities • Any other fees sometimes paid by the seller (appraisals, inspections, buyer’s closing costs, etc.) If you’re facing foreclosure, keep in mind the fees that may be included in the final payoff of your existing mortgage.
SPENDING EARNEST MONEY GIVEN TO YOU
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