Emotions Can Cause Hard Feeling Between Buyers & Sellers

Good subject Chuck.  In Maryland and Northern Virginia, the buyers and sellers are in the same room at the same table.  I have had two settlements where they had to be in different rooms. 

The worst problems definately come with the inspection matters.  Listing agents put "as is" in the listing and expect the buyers to take the property with defects, although the property condition paragraph is still in the contract. 

Another problem is sellers taking chandeliers and new washing machines out before settlement. 

It can be fun.

Good post Chuck! That is true, not only we have to stay calm oursleves and manage a crisis, we have to have a strong ability to help people overcome their emotions and see things in a different light. Trust is essential! If you don't have it, you won't be able to help your clients, because they just won't listen to you.

Oh my! That is all so true! I was just dealing with a transaction like that. The seller (that I was representing) had almost totally redone the home. New Paint (inside and out), New Floors (carpet & wood laminate, etc.), New Light Fixtures throughout. It looked great!  Well, all except for two things that were obvious, and the buyer saw these things before submitting the offer. The exterior HVAC unit, and a couple of the front windows were slightly clouded with some moisture.  Next, the inspector comes along... they get the report and decide to ask for the HVAC unit to be repaired/replaced and the windows to be replaced. The seller was just floored because these things were both obvious when the offer was made. Anyway, we worked out the deal. But the point of the matter is... It can definitely cause problems when buyers ask for things that inspectors note, but that were obvious in the first place. Well, that's why Realtors are useful! to work out disagreements such as that and make everyone happy.

Hi Chuck,

Welcome to the best network in the Blogoshere!  We're happy you joined.  Don't worry about spelling - just use the handy spell check on AR when doing your posts.

When a Seller gets insulted by a Buyer's offer, we usually tell our Seller not to be upset with this buyer but rather all the ones who didn't even make an offer.  Then we ask them if they'd like to at least work with the one we got! 

As for those annoying inspection issues, we use Attorneys here in New Jersey but our feedback to the Seller is to try to offer something on the laundry list so that the Buyer at least feels like the Seller is attempting to negotiate their demands.  This approach usually smoothes out the rough spots.

We try to impress upon a Seller to never throw the baby out with the bathwater because in this market, it may be the only one they get. 

Thanks for sharing today!

Well when i list a house i usually let the sellers know that someone just may lowball them and it isn't a reflection of them or their home--they just want to get the most for their (buyers) money--that we can counter the offer --but NEVER NEVER walk away always throw the ball back into the buyers court---i use the same for the buyers end--let the other one be the one to walk away even if we counter at the same offer as before

although i've had a few deals that we wound up countering over asking price and got it that old location location location and supply and demand

I think that one of the best things that you can do as a listing agent is to let your seller know that you will probably get low offers....especially in a buyers market!   I like to prep my clients for the worst case scenarios.  Then I take the opportunity to tell them that the initial offer is only a beginning point and that you should ALWAYS counter offer.  I have had people attempt to steal a home with an initial offer, only to come up to almost list price.  I think that some buyers and agents will test you and your seller at times.

Who cares where you start...ITS WHERE YOU FINISH that matters.

Emotions can easily get in the way and ruin the whole deal if both the buyer's and the seller's agents aren't diligent in educating their clients what to look out for and how to rise above emotions.  I think that if both buyers and sellers have a little education as to what can happen and how to avoid taking things so personal and to keep it a business transaction, things are more apt to run more smoothly.  However, all that said, sometimes there is nothing either agent can do to get two personalities to work together, except to stand in the middle keeping both parties separated from each other.  

Welcome to a fellow Show Me agent.  Good luck on your difficult closing. 

I remember the worst one I had last year.  My buyers came in initially $60,000 under the asking price (against my advice).   The sellers were so angry  they refused to make a counter offer.  Eventually my buyers were counseled to try again with a new offer.  Got buyer and seller together on price, only to have a battle over an entry rug missing when we did the walk thru.  Almost didn't close, until the selling agent's husband showed up to say the rug had been returned.  Thought we might come to physical blows over that one. 

Ozarks Joan 

Stephen

you forgot therapist, teacher and hand holder---hahahahahahaha

Chuck,  I agree.  No need to get all emotionall hung up on things.

Unfortunately, some people can't get past the thought of losing a commission they haven't really earned yet.....