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Stupid Things Sellers Do That Cause Sales To Fall Apart

By
Mortgage and Lending with George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages NMLS #65149

Stupid Things Sellers Do That Cause Sales To Fall Apart.  There are several things Sellers do or do not do which can result in their home not selling.  Most of them are things which the Listing Agent/Realtor has to deal with such as:

  • Overpricing a home
  • Refusing to negotiate
  • Not making homes available for showings.
  • House does not show well
  • Homes which smell bad.

These are just a few examples of what Sellers do or do not do which can cause a house not to sell.

However, as a Loan Originator I work with Buyers and not Sellers.  So I am not involved in the home shopping process other than providing a Pre-Qualification Letter.  The role I play in the purchase of a home is the financing, which involves:

  • Qualify the Buyer for the price range they can purchase in  
  • Meeting with the Buyer to put the loan into process once the offer has been accepted
  • Following the Loan through Loan Commitment, and on to Closing.

So I do not get to see why a Buyer chooses to purchase a house or not, but what I do get to see is the stupid things Sellers do which cause my Borrowers to walk away from the property. There are two major things I see Borrowers walking away from a property are for.

The first and foremost reason I see my Borrowers walking away from a purchase, is Sellers refusing to negotiating repairs which are identified by Appraisers and Home Inspectors.  When a Seller takes a hard nose attitude of "I am not bugging", the Borrower more often than not walks away from the purchase.  Many times the purchase blows up because of ridiculous little things, the Seller is unreasonable about.  This is not to say that Buyers are not equally unreasonable at times.

The second most common reason I have seen which causes a Borrower to walk away from a purchase are things which are discovered during the final walk through just before the Closing.  For whatever reason Sellers seem to think they can hide damage and get away with it.  Somehow they think the Buyer will not walk away from the purchase the day of the Closing.  Let me give a couple of quick examples:

  • On the final walk through a huge urine stain was discovered on a hardwood floor which the Seller had covered up with a large rug.  The stain was so bad that a large section of the floor needed to be replace.  It was to late to fix the floor before the Closing, and the Seller refused to provide funds to fix the damage after the Closing.  As a result the Buyer walked at the Closing Table.
  • Another was a Seller while moving their furniture out of the house, dragged the furniture across the hardwood floors causing deep gouges through out the hardwood floors in the house.  In this case the Buyers didn't even go to the Closing and try to negotiate a remedy, the Buyers walked away right there and then.  Found another house a week later they actually liked better, and we Closed a few weeks later.

These are just a couple of examples, I could provide more, but I think these make my point of Stupid Things Sellers Do That Cause Sales To Fall Apart.

 

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 Info about the author:

George Souto NMLS# 65149 is a Loan Originator who can assist you with all your #FHA, #CHFA, and #Conventional #mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes #Middletown, #Middlefield, #Durham, #Cromwell, #Portland, #Higganum, #Haddam, #East Haddam, #Moodus, #Chester, #Deep River, and #Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com

Posted by

George Souto
NMLS# 65149

C (860) 573-1308
CALL 7 Days/Wk
Fax (860) 760-6891

Email Me
About Me
My Blog

I am a Mortgage Loan Officer who can assist you with all your mortgage & refinancing needs in
CT, and RI

I can assist you with your Conventional,
FHA, CHFA, VA, USDA, & 203K loan programs.

I reside in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Haddam. E. Haddam, Higganum, Chester, Essex, Deep River.

 

Comments(53)

Carol Lynn Johnson
Re/Max Elite Realty - Franklin, NC
Residential Specialist

One more.....Listing Agent must accompany all showings.  I am a very busy Realtor and that means sometimes the home doesn't get shown because I am not available. 

Jul 26, 2016 10:53 PM
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

You nailed the list George Souto one has to wonder how they will feel if it happens to them when they go to buy

Jul 26, 2016 11:36 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Fear of success is no myth. This reminded me of a client of mine who asked me to manage his assets. I find a grade AAA tenant, a landlords dream and all he could do was criticize the situation. I had to straighten him out. Hes okay now

Jul 26, 2016 11:56 PM
Terry McCarley
Coastal Real Estate - Cape Coral FL - Cape Coral, FL
REALTOR, SRES, CDPE - Cape Coral, FL

A few years ago one of my sellers took all of the expensive window treatments and ceiling fans even though the contract clearly stated they were part of the purchase agreement. Fortunately the buyer wanted to measure rooms a few days prior to closing and discovered the issue.  The seller wasn't happy but I made him put them all back in place and we were able to close as scheduled.

Jul 27, 2016 12:18 AM
Lyn Sims

Rightly so ....

Jul 27, 2016 04:56 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Here are two you can add to the list.  You can possibly combine them under the category of crazy.

  1. Hire a bad real estate agent who angers buyers with their craziness.
  2. Hover (intimidate) over everyone who tries to see their home.

I actually had a client, who wanted a security checkpoint for the open house, where he wanted copies of all driver's licenses before allowing them to see his home.  I talked him out of it so he stayed around.  He was following people around, looking in windows, etc.  He said he was checking people out, what he was doing was creaping them out.  One of the only listings that did not sell even after receiving a full priced buyer.  He wanted to counter offer, adding crazy and the buyers were gone.

Jul 27, 2016 12:42 AM
Mark Robinson
Geneva Financial, LLC - Beachwood, NJ
Honesty, Integrity, Service

Great post George. On a recent closing of mine a seller promised the buyer some items (throw rugs, washer&dryer, etc). They were not part of the contract. During the walk through the buyer found out the items were given away by the seller. I soothed the buyer by sharing that the seller's children may have taken some items due to sentimental value. The seller was old and the children are grown. Rule #1 is don't make a promise you don't intend to keep and put it in writing!

Jul 27, 2016 04:08 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Great post but I have to add that buyers often ask for ridiculous things repaired from the home inspection. Crooked switchplates, bird dropping on the windows to be removed - come on! 

It's their agents fault & if the agent had the backbone that they should have they should be telling the buyer the house isn't going to be 'perfect'. In working order is the phrase.

Jul 27, 2016 04:55 AM
Patrick Willard
Rio Rancho, NM

Sometimes you can see the crazy or stupid right away, sometimes you can't. Last year I listed a home for a woman that seemed as nice as can be until the listing was signed. Literally within two inutes of signing she became very nasty and yelled at me about the lighting in my office. She wouldn't clean, she wouldn't leave for showings and worst of all, she wouldn't stop smoking in the house. I begged her to smoke outside, and she agreed, but continued to smoke inside and then lie about it. On top of all that she was just generally unpleasant to everyone. Me, co-op agents, buyers, inspectors. All could be a victim of her nasty attitude and remarks. I did sell it, twice. One fell out after inspections and the second the buyer's new job was delayed and they couldn't qualify until staring it. We could have extended but she was so nasty to the buyer & their agent that they decided to look for something else. I tried to cancel her but she refused to sign. I was so glad went it finally expired. 

Jul 27, 2016 06:52 AM
Karen Feltman
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA
Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

I have witnessed similar occurrences with sellers trying to cover up or explain things that were hidden from view until the final inspection.  Not sure how they expect to get away with it.  I encourage my sellers to point it out ahead of time or expect to pay to remedy it.  Great post.

Jul 27, 2016 09:36 AM
Janelle Ancillotti
Seneca Home Staging - Syracuse, NY
HSR Certified Home Stager, Syracuse, NY

Buyers have a lot of money invested in their purchase, including, but not limited to: home inspection fees, radon testing fee, septic system testing, attorney fees, bank fees, not to mention the TIME they have invested, so I just don't understand why a buyer would walk away because of floor damage that can be fixed (or not!). Sounds to me like they were looking for an excuse.

Jul 27, 2016 10:09 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Good post George. I see the smallest of cosmetic items listed on the home inspections that buyers require be done. Where did the win win go?

Jul 27, 2016 11:39 AM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

Important statement 'stupid things SELLERS do' .  As agents we can offer advice and recommend, but we MUST have seller cooperation to get the job done! All of your items are true, and the sellers who deny it are stupid.

Jul 27, 2016 12:36 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Good things to seriously think about for any sellers that want to get the job done.

Thanks George!

Bob

Jul 27, 2016 04:12 PM
Nancy Robinson Ranked #6 in MI
Century 21 Town and Country - Royal Oak, MI
#11 Century21 Realtor in the US, #16 in the World

 Silent fraud is tolerated far too often.  Few buyers harmed, sue the sellers as  they deem it "not worth it"  and the attitude put forward by a large part of our population is its better to ask forgiveness than permission.. and "if you don't forgive me for ripping you off, you can sue me instead...."

Jul 30, 2016 09:32 PM
OLIVIA BRADFORD
Buford, GA
Marketing & Admin Assistant - Virtual help

Buyers have the power too, sometimes sellers think they have the pan by the handle and think buyers won't bother again in looking for another house, if the buyers fell in love with the house, they will take anything with, but no, love is not enough, safety and quality of life are equally important when buying a home.

Great post. I enjoyed it.

Jul 31, 2016 02:24 PM
Chrissi Chapman Topoleski
Coldwell Banker Realty - Woodbridge, VA
Helping agents live an exceptional life!

I came over from Patricia Kennedy 's reblog. Great post and oh so true.

Aug 01, 2016 08:17 PM
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

So true. I've seen both buyers and sellers kill a sale over ridiculous items and issues that could have easily been resolved.

Aug 01, 2016 09:39 PM
Kartik Subramaniam
Adhi Schools, LLC - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Market Analysis--Educational Content, Adhi Schools

The hardwood floor example you gave me was mindblowing. No idea why someone thought that wouldn't be a problem. If you aren't strong enough to lift your furniture, pay movers. If movers did that, sue them.

Aug 02, 2016 02:14 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Makes my glad that my home inspector lifts rugs.  Even if he has to move tables and sofas.  I mean who thinks they can get away with that kind of thing.  

Aug 02, 2016 02:54 AM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

And the list goes on with so many others George Souto . Another excellent post for you in the soon to be cold and snowy North!

Oct 31, 2016 08:47 PM