Th is happens repeatedly. Th e seller gets a bite early on and is suddenly fi lled with con fi dence that the house will easily sell and maybe even get involved in a bidding war. It feels like you’re standing over a pond packed with a hungry fi sh. Th e fir st o ff er doesn’t seem great and you naturally assume there must be bigger, juicier fi sh to be had. So, you throw the not-so-small-a ft er-all fi sh back in. Big mistake . Th at little guy is o ft en the “catch of the day.” BECOMING FRIENDS WITH THE BUYER 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 because personality con fli cts o ft en cloud judgments. Watch what is said in discussing items related to the house and neighborhood. Remember, this could be their new home. You’re no doubt excited about moving. But buyers will start second- guessing. 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. UNDERESTIMATING CLOSING COSTS Many sellers only consider the money they’re selling their home for. Th ey 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 things like property taxes, homeowner
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