Home sellers should avoid certain types of buyers to keep their sanity whole and anxiety in-check. In the world of residential real estate, buyers constantly throw out phrases like, “This is the perfect place!” “What a home, it’s just right for us!” But selling a home isn’t that easy because these declarations aren’t binding agreements. While they do show enthusiasm, they become a real letdown when purchase offers don’t follow thereafter (or fall through). It’s difficult for sellers to avoid getting their emotions and hopes involved to keep disappointment at bay. But, one way to mitigate this is to know which types of buyers to avoid.

Things Home Sellers Must get Right

To attract serious interest in a house, sellers must bring their A-game to the equation. While having to handle multiple offer situations is a great goal, a more realistic one is to get people through the front door. First on the to-do list is getting the home in showable condition. Here’s where the conventional advice about deep cleaning, decluttering, and depersonalizing come into play. These are musts but it’s possible to go too far.

Not only is their home the biggest single asset most people own, but it’s also filled with memories — the average seller has lived in his house for a decade, according to the NAR. So it’s no wonder that when it comes time to sell property, people can get a little emotional. Yet if people actually want to get a return on their investment in their home, they need to be smart about how they approach selling it. Letting emotions, not logic, drive decisions means you’re more likely to make mistakes that can make it difficult to find a buyer or force you into accepting a lower offer than you would like. —USA Today

For instance, while it may be possible to move out while the house remains on the market, the fact of the matter is, empty homes are difficult to sell. However, if you deep clean, declutter, and depersonalize, host open houses, and let your listing agent do the negotiating, you’ll have a greater chance of success. For instance, pricing your property right is paramount to attracting serious buyer attention. Equally important is to highlight your house’s best features to really help pique buyer interest.

Buyers Home Sellers should Avoid

While there are a number of things to get right as a home seller, there are just as many (if not more) of things to outright avoid. To accomplish that, sellers should know not all buyers are the same. In fact, there are certain types of buyers home sellers should avoid:

• The big time nitpicker. One of the most dreaded types of buyers are nitpickers. Not only do they point out every single flaw, they also exaggerate each one. And, they do so not only before submitting a purchase offer but continue thereafter. If you hear nitpicking (particularly after receiving a purchase offer) that’s a big red flag.
• The conspicuous loner. So-called “buyers” who fly alone are generally trouble. Not because they are acting in an intentional mischievous manner but because they do not have any experienced, professional guidance from licensed professionals.
• Unapproved borrowers. Buyers with pre-qualifications are not the same as those who are pre-approved. The former is a cursory look at a would-be mortgage applicant’s finances, employment, and other factors. The latter is much more thorough and sets a borrowing limit. Also, those who pitch lowball offers are typically best to avoid.
• The super speedy visitor. If you see a potential buyer zip through your property, you aren’t likely to see him or her again. Think about it, if you were truly interested in buying a property, would you rush through it? Probably not and these people will likely waste your time.
• All talk without any action. The simple fact of the matter is, seriously interested buyers will submit purchase offers and keep the process moving forward. But people who drag their feet from one step to the next are not good candidates to work with.

If you are considering selling your home in Orlando, contact us for the latest market information to know how to price it inline with its comparable properties. We’ll also provide you with the right advice to sell your house quickly and for the best price.