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By Shanon Emerson
 

When it comes to talking to the seller’s agent at an open house, a little mystery goes a long way.

More isn’t always better — especially when it comes to talking to a seller’s real estate agent. Your buyer’s agent is a guide and advocate in your real estate journey and should know everything about your needs, your desires, and how much house you can afford. But the seller’s agent is an entirely different story, and what you share with them should be minimal.

If you’re buying a home, your agent is almost always your voice to the seller. Speaking alone with the seller’s agent doesn’t happen very often, and it’s easy to forget who you’re speaking with — but there you are at the open house, eating a slice of quiche, and the seller’s agent, noticing that familiar glow in your eye, comes over and starts to chat you up.

Here are 3 things you shouldn’t talk about with a seller’s agent

1: How much you like (or dislike) the house.

Basically, play it cool. You want the seller to know you could feel at home here and that you would be serious about any offer you might make, but she doesn’t need to know that this house is exactly what you’ve been looking for and that you’ll do whatever it takes to get it.

You also shouldn’t be too critical. If you do end up making an offer, you don’t want to reveal anything that could make you seem like a less-than-viable buyer. Especially in a competitive environment, you want the seller to think you’re as solid as they come.

The seller has the power in hot real estate markets, and he or she may choose to go with an offer that’s more likely to close than one that’s potentially shaky, even if it’s a few thousand dollars higher. You can read some of our tips for Winning In A Competitive Market HERE

Winning at a multiple offer presentation begins with understanding how you can put your very best foot forward. There are many ways to make an offer look attractive and not all sellers care only about the price; many of them care about time and convenience. A strong agent tries to find all the possible pain points for the seller and then crafts an offer with their buyers that address those points. 
 

2: How much you can and will spend.

You also don’t want to talk about your financial situation. If he or she knows how high you’re either willing or able to go, then your offer could be at a disadvantage. Your first goal is to have your offer accepted. Your second goal is to have it accepted at the best price.

Neither of these goals are served when the sellers think they know how high or low you’ll be able to go on the final sales price. It makes no difference whether your offer relates to finances or personal choice or your last tarot reading. As with romance, a little mystery goes a long way. The seller should get a fair price for what she’s offering, and if you think it’s the right house for you, the fair price has little to do with the most money a bank will give you.

3: Be smart and let your agent do the talking.

In the end, your best bet is to eat your quiche,
ask questions at the open house, and let the seller’s agent talk about the house. Anything else worth revealing will be done later when your agent does her job by getting you the house at the right price.

You can find a link HERE that is a standard “Road Map” that explains the typical process for buyers to close on a new home. Of course there can be many variables along the way but this gives a good run-down of what to expect from a typical transaction.

The Cascade Team also provides are great "House Hunting Check-List" which can be downloaded and used as you go out looking for homes. This tool is a wonderful way of regrouping after a bust afternoon of looking at homes and easily comparing the notes from each property to help you make the best possible choice!

Why Choose Us To Buy A New Home

The Cascade Team is a real estate brokerage whose focus is centered on customer service.  Our customer's are our number one priority and our local agent team works hard to not only find properties that meet your needs and wants, but also leverages their local market knowledge to help guide you through the home search process.  Our commitment to excellence in service is unparalleled in the areas in which we serve.  While we offer a number of online tools to assist you with your home search, having a knowledgeable local agent to guide you is so important, especially when the local market heats up.  Multiple offers, escalation clauses, negotiations, etc, are all critical items in helping you secure your new home, and that's where our service and local knowledge sets us apart.

See: Bidding War Tips For Buyers HERE

The Cascade Team has represented over 200 transactions where homes sold for more than asking price. We have been on both sides of the deal (Buying and Selling) and can put our detailed experience to work for you!


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