There
are many advantages to Practicing Good Seller’s Etiquette. Selling your
home is stressful and the last thing you want to do is make enemies on
any step of the way. Let’s face it: When your house goes on the market,
you’re not only opening the door to prospective buyers, but also
sometimes to unknown vendors and na�ve or unqualified buyers. As with
any business transaction, there is an expected protocol to how sellers,
buyers and their respective agents interact. Should you find yourself
in a sticky situation, alert your agent so he or she can address and
remedy the problem.
The Unscrupulous Vendor
Have you ever started a business or moved into a new house and suddenly
found your mailbox full of junk mail? Unfortunately, this also can
happen when you put your house on the market. When you sell your home,
it necessitates all kinds of new purchasing decisions and
less-than-ethical vendors are keenly aware of this. Though MLS
organizations enforce rules on how posted information is used, some
companies have found ways to cull information from various sources to
produce mass mailing lists. If you find yourself regularly emptying
your mailbox of junk, let your agent know. He or she can tap the
appropriate sources to prompt an investigation into the matter.
The Na�ve Buyer
Yard signs, Internet listings and other advertisements can generate a
lot of buzz for your home. Some prospective buyers – particularly
first-timers – will be so buzzed to see your home that they’ll simply
drop by. If this happens, no matter how nice these unexpected visitors
are, it’s best not to humor their enthusiasm by discussing your home or
giving an impromptu tour. Instead, politely let them know that your
real estate agent is in charge of scheduling tours and provide them
with the agent’s contact information. If you attempt to handle these
surprise visits on your own, you might inadvertently disclose
information that could hurt you during negotiations down the road.