When it comes to selling your own home, you should know that all buyers are certainly not created equal. Knowing how to spot each type of buyer is really half of the selling battle.
There are a few types of buyers that you will likely come across when selling your home. The first type of buyer is the “motivated buyer.” This buyer tends to be from another state; they are usually in a rush; and they have come to your town solely to purchase a home. If you can find this type of buyer, – list on the internet to attract a motivated buyer – you will likely sell your home very quickly. However, motivated buyers are not all that easy to track down, which means that you may come across another type of motivated buyer ... though this type of buyer is not in any sort of hurry.
Motivated buyers that are not looking to buy a home within a couple of days will normally take up to two months to purchase a home. Do you want to attract this type of buyer? Absolutely. Any sort of motivated buyer is ideal, and this type of buyer usually has all of their personal finances in order. Otherwise, you may be stuck negotiating with an investor ... and this type of buyer can be slightly tricky.
Investors want your home for one reason – to turn a profit. Investors will try to lower the list price of your home at any cost, and they tend to know their way around a contract. If an investor can smell desperation, they will attempt to buy your home using all types of negotiation tricks and deceptions. If you come across an investor, you will want to have a real estate lawyer look over any contract that you are handed. Sometimes, an investor can be a worthwhile buyer – just make sure to read all the fine print. Then again, you may be faced with a looker ...
Lookers just, well, love to look. These people usually have no intention of actually purchasing your home, and they are usually just taking a peek. You may discover that your friends and neighbors will wander into your home to have a look – what are they looking for? Well, many lookers just want to see your design scheme and your floor plan, or they may be trying to price their own home by comparing their house to yours. Lookers are usually harmless, but they can be slightly frustrating.
There are many other types of buyers out there, but the types mentioned above are the ones that you want to look out for. Remember, a motivated buyer is your friend (and an investor can be), though lookers tend to be a waste of time. When buyers walk into your home, try and find out what sort of category they fall into ... the more information you gain on a buyer, the more likely you are to sell you home.
Raynor James writes about real estate issues for FSBOAmerica.org - your online resource for viewing homes or advertising your
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