Sometimes It's Best To Remain Silent

John -- you and Richard share more than just "smarts"

Liz and Bill -- of course, I look at things trains, high tension wires, freeways and the like as material facts and present them as such.  I don't say -- no one every buys a home with such and such.

Debbie -- it's a part of human nature, I think.

Donald -- comparing positive and negatives is a good thing -- only presented negatives, not such a good thing.  It's about listening first....

Lenn -- when asked my opinion by a buyer, I always have a positive thing to say about a home -- it's difficult often -- before I start with anything negative.

Jean and Wayne -- YIKES!

Jesse -- a great quote and one attributed in one form or another to Abraham Lincoln too.

Joan -- as far as I know, the seller wasn't in the home but I know what you mean -- the potential buyers were only saying very positive things inside the home.

Barbara at Keller Williams -- you're welcome.  

Roger -- the buyers/tenants are paying so they're more than entitled to their opinions.   Thanks.

Janis -- well said.

Andrew -- not sure....

Rich -- of course negative issues need to be addressed and perhaps the positive aspects were discussed before I walked by --- the look on the prospective buyers' face gave me pause to think...

Gary -- yes, opinions about material facts are obviously important but in my opinion, it's about how that news is delivered.

Bryant -- I agree -- I see too many people in the sales industry trying to "sell"  --- I will point out features as well as negative/positives but I what I do most is listen....

Michael -- of course

Sheila -- our opinions mean something -- mostly to us.   As others have stated material facts need to be discussed but our opinions are quite different.

Fernando -- two ears, one mouth....just sayin' errr I mean I hear ya.

Belinda -- I love when a buyer will ask me -- would you buy this house?   Huh?  That question always sparks me to ask them more -- lots more.

Richie -- when we think before we speak the foot should hit us in the pants before it ends up in our mouth.

Morgan -- yes addressing concerns and questions of the buyer is an important part of our role.  If a buyer states, I don't want to be on a busy street -- I'll ask what busy means to them --- in this particular situation I was referring -- I wouldn't call the property a particularly busy street(my opinion -- haha) but I try to remember and keep in mind what's important to the buyers.

Beth -- addressing questions of fact is much different than offering opinion unsolicted. 

Will -- thanks very much.  I hope your week is going well too.

Patricia - you're absolutely right about the two points:  "silence is golden" and "disclose, disclose, disclose". It's not only the message but how it is delivered as you have said so well.  Thanks.

Jeffrey -- thinking on our feet instead of sticking our feet into our mouths is always a good thing.

Gary -- true, very true.

Anna -- I think we have all had clients who act enthusiastically about every home with no intention of buying those homes while others are more subdued.  We are there to answer the questions or assist them with discovering who can answer when the time is appropriate.  

Chris Ann -- yes, this is often the case -- salespeople can become their own worst enemy.

Rich -- great way to approach this situation!   Excellent!

Don -- I'm with you.  I try to keep my opinions out of the conversation but disclosure is an entirely different topic.  Buyers need to know as much as possible to make an informed decision but the information needs to be fact-based and not based on opinions or personal factors.  

Joy -- listening -- really listening to our clients -- is most important. 

Susan -- exactly!  Torpedo is the perfect image!