One of the perks of being a real estate agent is that you get to work with a variety of people. Let’s face it: you are not going to get the best vibe from every single one. Selling a home is stressful business, and it puts many otherwise normal people into a strange position. Many sellers simply don’t know better, and others don’t realize that they are actually making the sale of the home more difficult. Do you know how to cope when home sellers are driving you nuts on the job? These tips will help you handle it next time.
1. The Seller Hangs out at the Showing
The seller won’t leave the open house? Do you feel like you have a chaperone? Do you suspect that the seller does not trust you? The problem is that buyers pick up on this, and they start to feel that they are intruding on somebody’s home. Buyers don’t ask questions.
The solution here is to nip the problem in the bud. Discuss how the open house or showing works before you begin, explaining how beneficial it is for the seller not to be present. You can also suggest during a showing that the sellers stay on the patio or in one specific room.
2. The Seller Does Not Make Promised Repairs
If the seller tells the buyer that he or she is going to make repairs, it is expected that this is going to happen. If it does not, you may find yourself dealing with a frustrated buyer who may even threaten legal action.
Again, the best resolution to this matter is to consider having a discussion about making these promises as far ahead as possible. In fact, you may even suggest having repairs made before the house is listed. Otherwise, your buyer should be informed if they are breaking a legal contract that could nullify the sale.
3. The House Is a Mess
When sellers fail to clean the house or leave behind bad odors, buyers are turned off for good reason. The problem is that many people do not realize that they are not good at keeping house. Unfortunately, this is a major mistake that could stop a sale.
If the seller does not clean before a showing, it is important to discuss the nature of smells and “nitpicky” nature of buyers. You may suggest having a cleaning crew come in to handle the house before showings and use cinnamon scents and candles to create better ambiance.
4. The Seller Doesn’t Believe Your Valuation
You may run into a seller with high hopes for the value of their home. Perhaps they have found the house on a website claiming to know the current value of the home and will not accept a penny less than this price. This certainly makes it hard to sell a house if the actual value is much less than this.
Sellers often do not realize that the value of their home listed on a website is not accurate. You may want to bring in an appraiser who can speak with the seller if he or she is set on a price. Sometimes, this issue stems from a mistrust of the real estate agent that you can address by allowing the seller to hear the truth from different sources.
Ultimately, you and the seller share a common goal: to sell the house at the best price. One way to handle those little quirks of sellers is to understand your industry as much as possible. Continuing education is the key. Contact us for more information about your real estate education options.
