"Why are they moving ?" Asked the Buyer

When I was a fairly new agent, I was in an office where we would often chuckle on tour day.  A fist hole in a master bedroom door, was always a clue about the reason for selling:-)  I learned quickly that if the listing was mine, to have the seller(s) fix that right away!

Very interesting post.  More often than not, buyers will ask this very question of me!  As it happens, I typically am showing whatever shows up on the  MLS and fits their needs and not my own listings so I usually know about as much as the buyers do! 

Myrl Jeffcoat - I had a listing with a fist hole in the master bedroom door!  I think that is definitely an indication.

Yes, buyers always ask this....probably to get a sense of urgency (and desperation) the owners may have that may help buyers determine price and terms of their offer.

The easiest answer for me is that they are moving on to bigger and better things (whatever their circumstancs are).

Sally and David - I have to say that I like Broker Bryant's answer the best.

Loose lips sink ships!  I am always amazed at how much information listing agents freely share with me that they have no business disclosing!

Guess my first thought would be to determime motivation to sell. Most times don't know the answer.

Love Bryant's answer (#6) to this all too common question!

Gretchen

It's one of those questions that is asked with various intentions behind it, I find a simple answer is best and then it's often not brought up again.

 

I think some buyers aren't really searching for a competitive edge, they think it's just a innocent question and want to make sure there is nothing seriously wrong with the house like: It's haunted, We're tired of the basement flooding everytime it rains, the house is going to need a new roof and new hvac system soon and we don't want to have to come up with $30,000.00 to pay for it, The noise from traffic and the airport is so loud that we can't sleep at night, etc, etc. But really, who cares why they are selling it? If your there looking at it, then it must fit your criteria, so look at it, and if you like it, make an offer on it. Otherwise, someone else will come aslong and buy it, while you're wasting your time worrying about why they're selling it. Plus, if I'm the buyers agent, how the hell do I know why they are selling it?

 

It's really none of the buyer's business why the seller is moving.  Sometimes I want to make up a smart a&& answer to a question like this just to point out how little it matters.

I think that if the answer isn't forthcoming it will create some distrust on the side of the buyer.  Perhaps it is none of the buyer's business but we want to sell the house. 

This always stumps me as well?  Why on earth does it matter.  If you ike the house, buy it.  Does not matter a hill of beans of the why they are moving.

I always tell them it's one of the great mysteries of life -- where is Amelia Earhart and why are these people moving?

I hate this question. It has absolutely no relevance to the purchase. Obviously, the buyer's are looking for some type of advantage. But I don't usually know why a seller is selling until I contact the listing agent to tell them an offer is coming. If they reveal something that may give us an advantage, I will use it. More times than not, agents are ever mindful of their fiduciary responsibility to their clients.

Love Broker B's (#6) and Nancy's (#45) responses. Actually there is no ambiguity about the sellers' rights to Privacy on this question. In these parts you will need sellers' written permission to disclose this info especially in a dual agency situation.

Good Morning Sally and David, I think this question is asked by every buyer or their agent during every showing I have on one of my listings. I have this conversation with every home owner after listing with what to expect and this question is 2nd on the list, Congratulations on the feaured blog.

HI Sally and David - I usually think it is the buyer hoping that it is a desperation sale, but occasionally, it is simply the buyer wanting to know if the seller is moving away from a neighborhood nuisance - one that they would want to know about.  Some things, such as nasty neighbors, constantly barking dogs, etc are not usually included in the disclosure forms but the buyer might still hope that the seller might warn him. So I guess it's worth asking.

I cringe when I hear seller "motivations" at the weekly sales meetings. It is unfair to the seller and gives an advantage to the buyers agent. There are definitely reasons that need to be shared with a buyer, such as relocation or estate paperwork, but otherwise, the buyer needs to decide if it is the house they want to make their home. It doesn't much matter anymore why someone is leaving.