Honesty is always the best policy, unless you’re a home buyer at an Ocean Edge open house. It is always a good idea to be honest and forthcoming with your real estate agent, but you might want to hold your tongue when dealing with the seller’s listing agent! Your real estate agent is obligated to you, and the listing agent is obligated to their client, the seller. Ocean Edge is a great place to buy, just check out our blog “5 Reasons to Buy a Condo at Ocean Edge.” Before you walk into that Ocean Edge open house, take a look at these 8 things you should not say at an open house to make sure you put your best foot forward, and not right into your mouth instead.
“I can spend $….”
Before you go to an open house, you should have an idea of what your budget is to spend on a home and what you can afford. It is a good idea to get a pre-approval letter from the bank so that when you find your dream home, it is easy to secure financing for that home. Your real estate agent should have an idea of what you can spend, but the seller’s real estate agent doesn’t need to know how much money you have in your purse to work with. Letting the seller know what you can spend on a home could hurt your ability to negotiate the price later if you decide to buy the condo. When calculating your budget, remember to keep in mind the money you need to come up with at closing. Find out about these closing costs in our blog, “Hidden Costs of Buying a Home.”
“This is the Ocean Edge condo of my dreams!”
Buying a home is an emotional experience. It is not just a financial transaction, it is deciding on where you’re going to spend your time and possibly have a family. It is important that when you are looking at the Ocean Edge open house, you contain your excitement for the condo even if you feel that this is the one you want to buy. It is perfectly acceptable to express to your real estate agent your desire to purchase the condo, but you do not want to let the seller’s agent know that you love the unit so much. This will give the seller the upper hand, and could hurt your price negotiations. If the seller’s agent knows how emotionally attached you are to the home, they will be less likely to lower the price because they know that you are already planning room colors for the different bedrooms in your mind.
“That dining table set is tacky!”
Just as your mother has told you before, if you do not have anything nice to say, do not say anything at all. Insulting the taste of the seller to the seller or the seller’s agent at the Ocean Edge open house will not get you any extra points when you submit an offer. If the seller has different taste than you do, it does not impact the property and is not worth mentioning. However, comments such as those might impact you if you are interested in purchasing the property. Negative comments about the decor could be taken personally and you could automatically be taken out of consideration if multiple offers come in for the condo at Ocean Edge. Sounds childish, but it is their choice and it has happened.
“I can’t wait to get rid of that!”
This is the same as commenting on how hideous a person’s taste in furniture is, you should keep the negative comments to yourself. Keep in mind this is someone’s home. You might not think that the owner is there, but some owners want to be present at their open houses, and linger trying to fit in as a potential buyer. Remember that this is someone’s home where they have built memories, and keep the negative comments to yourself. The owner could easily reject your offer or up their price if you do decide to make an offer purely because they were offended by your comments.
“I will give you (a really low offer)…”
Offering a low ball offer as a buyer could backfire. The home owners have the right to flat out refuse any offer, without countering. If the home owner refuses, you are out of the running. If you are working with a real estate agent, trust their judgement when it comes to offering a price that the owner would find fair and still consider a good deal for you. You want to make an offer that is either perfectly acceptable for the owner or a good place to start price negotiations. Do you have the right real estate agent? Find out by reading our blog, “5 Reasons to Be Thankful for a Great Real Estate Agent.”
“Why sell this Ocean Edge condominium?”
The condo you are looking at might seem like a dream come true, and you couldn’t imagine why the seller would want to part with the property, but under no circumstance should you ask why they are selling at the Ocean Edge open house. You might be curious, but you are likely opening up a can of worms which will make the sellers uncomfortable. The reasons for selling the property could be extremely personal and embarrassing for the owner, making them feel uncomfortable. The seller is obligated to disclose any issues that they are aware of to their real estate agent who is obligated to tell potential buyers. So if you’re worried that the condo is being sold due to a defect or structural issue with the home, it would be disclosed to you.
“You’ll never sell at this price”
The more houses you look at, the more of an idea you get about what homes are worth. It’s easy to feel like an expert once you have been to an open house or ten. However, not all houses are priced the same. Village location, layout, improvements, etc impact the price of a home. The seller’s real estate agent took all of this into account and came up with a price for the condo for a reason. Maybe they left room for negotiations, but if you are interested, discuss price with your real estate agent. Negative comments regarding the price at the open house will not help you buy the unit. Trust your real estate agent to help you come up with a reasonable offer for the property so no feelings are hurt, which could ultimately hurt your chances to buy the Ocean Ege condo.
“What Do You Think of Living Here?”
Quizzing the neighbors about the neighborhood is not the kind of first impression you want to make at the open house if you’re thinking of buying the property. It’s natural to want to get an idea of what it’s like to live in the home you’re thinking of purchasing, but don’t come off as a pest to a neighbor you’re going to have to live next to for a period of time. If the neighbors seem friendly and initiate a conversation, it is totally acceptable to casually ask, but keep in mind that everyone is different. What one person sees as a great aspect of a neighborhood might completely turn you off. Take a look around and research the area yourself to get an idea as to whether it is a good fit or not.
Things You Should Not Say at an Ocean Edge Open House
When you’re attending an open house at Ocean Edge, it is important to keep in mind the things you should not say at an open house. It is always best to keep your opinions to yourself whether you love the place and want to make it your own, or if you really do not care for the property. Negative comments will not help you purchase the property, which is ultimately what you want to do. Contact our team at Leighton Realty to help you with the purchase of your Ocean Edge condo. Michael Leighton has been the #1 Agent at Ocean Edge since 2004 and the #1 Agent in the town of Brewster since 2007. Contact us today and let us help you find your dream condo at Ocean Edge.
