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Should I, the seller, be there for my buyer's walk through?

By
Real Estate Agent with Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) DRE# 00809499

The seller at the walk through...? That would be a resounding "NO".  I know... you want to tell them about the hidden switch to the fan, how to run the sprinklers, and how much water to give the african daisies.  But "NO", anyway. Don't even think about it.

The reason is, you never want to set up a situation where the buyer can come back after escrow closes and claim they hadn't noticed a hidden defect. With you there, they can say "You knew about the blah-blah, and that must be why you stood in front of it and acted so charming towards me.  You were trying to distract me from noticing it.  I want you to fix it, or I will sue!"

I have had this happen.  I received a call once, after my listing had closed.  The buyer demanded to know where the window screens were. (This was a huge house, BTW, with a TON of windows).

"There are no screens" I said.

"Well I didn't know that, and I expected them to be there.  I want the seller to provide them for me now", the about-to-have-a-hissy-fit-buyer said. 

"Why didn't you notice it at the home inspection?", I sweetly asked. 

"I couldn't inspect it thoroughly... the seller was there, and I felt funny.  I think he was hiding it from me".

HA... that's where I got him.  "My seller was NOT there.  He let you in, then left, specifically so you would have free reign of the home... so you could inspect anything you felt was important. You had as much time as you wanted.  Apparently, the screens weren't important."  That shut him up.

You can always do a walk-around after escrow closes... then you get together, and chat about pruning schedules, hidden switches, and which neighbor makes the best margaritas.  But not at the walk-through.

Got it?

 

Posted by

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Your Fair Oaks Realtor for homes for sale in Fair Oaks and the Sacramento Area of California.... I'm your gal (Sally Dunbar). I'm occasionally knowledgable, periodically humorous, and always willing to tell you everything I know.  What more could you ask for?

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Sally Dunbar, 35 year Broker Associate, Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks, CA (916) 524-1548, SDunbar@GoLyon.com "Your Fair Oaks Realtor"

Terrie Leighton
Ferrari-Lund Real Estate - Reno, NV
Reno Real Estate Agent ~ Selling Homes in Reno

Got it! And I completely agree. I have had sellers who want to hang around, out of courtesy, of course, I always advise against it. To many things could go wrong with both the buyer and seller present!

Jun 02, 2009 07:56 AM
Sally Dunbar
Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks Realtor - Fair Oaks Homes for Sale

Terrie - Yes - and that's the other side of it.  One or both  may say something that may blow the deal.  THAT's why they have us... to protect them from themselves!

Jun 02, 2009 09:12 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

I agree Sally. Several weeks prior to closing on new construction, but NOT the final walk through. It is their house and you do not need the liability.

Jun 02, 2009 09:58 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Sally - keep buyer and seller separated, at least until closing.

Jun 02, 2009 10:42 AM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

I agree with this point, I can't imagine why a seller would be there during a walk through. A few times I have been there, not on purpose, but because I was cleaning up crap left by my seller... or just checking, which I often do just to know that all is ok at the closing.

Jun 02, 2009 10:52 AM
Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time

Sally, I agree. If my seller needs to show the buyer stuff I ask them to do it after closing. People have a tendency to hear what they want to hear. Having them together just creates confusion.

Jun 02, 2009 11:26 AM
Sally Dunbar
Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks Realtor - Fair Oaks Homes for Sale

Glad you all agree.  I was wondering whether there would be any dissent on this.  Thanks for chiming in BB, Andrea, Mike, & Gary.

Jun 02, 2009 12:06 PM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Sally, I was with you on the second sentence .....That would be a resounding "NO".

Thanks for sharing the follow-up story, makes perfect sense!

Jun 02, 2009 01:17 PM
Kari Battaglia
Veterans Realty Inc - Venice, FL
Who You Work With Matters!

Sally - I just had an instance where the buyers agent asked me if my seller could meet with them to go over some things in the house (before submitting offer).  My seller got to meet the buyers and saw how much the buyers loved the home.  That cost the sellers; at the negotiation table my seller did not budge on price because he knew how much the buyers loved the home.

Jun 03, 2009 01:52 AM
Sally Dunbar
Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks Realtor - Fair Oaks Homes for Sale

Mary - Yep... Nope.

Kari - good point.  I've had times when sellers make bad decisions for the same reason.  Thanks for bringing it up.

 

Jun 03, 2009 02:22 AM
Tom Boos
Sine & Monaghan Realtors, Real Living - Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Providing the very best of service to Sellers and

You are correct.  After the CLOSING, the seller and buyer can chat about the minutia.  NEVER at the walkthru.

Jun 03, 2009 02:31 AM
Irene Kennedy Realtor® in Northwestern NJ
Weichert - Lopatcong, NJ

Sally,

I continue the run of full agreement. Keep the parties separated - sometimes I get nervous when they are meeting at the closing table!

Jun 03, 2009 09:27 AM
Carol Culkin
Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Residential Real Estate

Sally - I had one of these seller types recently who was overly helpful to my buyers and I just couldn't figure out if they were being helpful or guarded. I was very annoyed, but we came back when the seller was finally gone and were not so distracted.

Jun 04, 2009 03:38 AM
Gabrielle Kamahele Rhind
KGC Properties LLC, Tucson Property Management & Real Estate - Tucson, AZ
Broker/Owner

HELLO SALLY!  GREAT TOPIC!  It's best if Sellers stay clear of home inspections! They mean well, but also their feelings get hurt and are easily insulted if something is said about anything they've done or is wrong with the home.  This just results in emotional decisions on a BINSR instead of rational, "OK - it should be fixed" issues!  Have a great weekend! -- Gab

Jun 05, 2009 05:55 AM