Certain things you say or do when visiting a home can jeopardize your ability to purchase it. Here’s what you must avoid.
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When visiting a home you’re interested in as a buyer, there are several things that you shouldn’t do or say, as they can potentially harm your ability to get a good deal on that home or buy it at all.
First, be aware that in today’s market there are smart homes with video and audio recording devices installed in them, so you must be mindful in general of what you do and say in those homes. If the seller and/or their agent is there, don’t tip your hand and let them know how truly interested you are in the home because that could hurt your ability to negotiate.
For instance, don’t say something like “This is absolutely gorgeous. It’s my dream home.” If the seller hears that, they might think they don’t need to negotiate any further with you.
Also, keep your compliments about the home to yourself while you’re there and wait until after you leave to talk about the home so the seller isn’t aware of how excited you might be. At the same time, you don’t need to talk about things you don’t like about the home because that might offend the seller.
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If you want to know why a seller is selling, don’t ask them directly
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If you want to know why a seller is selling, don’t ask them directly—have their agent ask their agent. A seller might think that question is too intrusive and none of your business, and they might not get a good feeling about working with you if you ask them something like that.
If you think the home is overpriced, don’t say that either. That’s another remark that might offend them and cause them not to want to work with you. Additionally, it’s a good idea not to let them know you’re well-qualified or overqualified to buy the home because that’s another indicator to them that they might not need to negotiate with you.
If you’re truly interested in a home and want to make an offer, don’t make a lowball offer. You’ll run the same risk of offending them and making them not want to work with you. Instead, consult with your agent and come up with an offer that’s reasonable for both you and the seller.
If you have any more questions about this topic or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help you.