Mr. Seller, please leave!

There's a reason why I always insist that the home sellers leave the house when I'm showing it to a perspective buyer. More often then not the seller sticks their foot in their mouth, and low and behold, yesterday it happened................again. I was showing a beautifully-kept home that was flawless in every sense of the word. The prospective buyer was sold and was already talking about making an offer while we were still in the house. Then, as the buyer proceeded to comment on the lovely piano the seller says..................here it comes..........are you ready?........"Oh thank you! It belonged to my mother-in-law who passed away, and here's her room. We keep it just like if she were still here with us." This is not completely verbatim, but you get the idea.

Needless to say, the buyer will not be making any offer on this property; not to mention that the seller potentially gave away a bargaining chip by disclosing to the buyer that she already bought and just closed on another home. Now granted this example is on the far end of the foot-in-the-mouth meter, and most infractions are less severe. But what they all have in common is that they ultimately cost you money. So when your agent asks you to leave the house, please don't be offended. Do yourself a favor..........leave!