How to Spot a Fake Seller and What Is One?

Most of the time real estate transactions can go through pretty smoothly. There are occasional bumps along the road but that is what a good agent is for. To smooth out those bumps and see to it that everyone involved leaves the table in a win/win situation.

There are the occasional mishaps though and one can be a fake seller.

Here are some tips to weed out a fake seller:

1. Fake Sellers just are not realistic

One of the most common reasons a house doesn’t sell is due to price. If a seller says they can’t sell because of the price, they are usually just testing the market and really don’t want to sell. This has exceptions of course in the case that the sellers owe more than the home is worth and need a certain amount just to break even. Typically sellers will over price their home to begin with but real sellers will bring it down shortly into a more realistic margin.

2. Fake Sellers are not Motivated.

Motivated sellers typically have a life changing transition coming and will need to move soon. This could be a new baby, job change or transfer. Fake sellers usually just want to see what they can get from the home.

3. Fake Sellers do not have a timeline.

This also is closely related to motivation. If they need to start school somewhere else or start a job somewhere then they have a reasonable timeline as to when they need the home to sell. Also, they may also be buying another home and need to close one before another can be bought.

4. Fake Sellers are not honest and may try to hide issues.

Real sellers tend to be very forthright about the home and can offer many helpful tips and disclosures you will want to know about the home. They will also tend to disclose much about the community and the neighbors.

5. Fake Sellers are not cooperative.

 Typically these seller just don’t care whether the home sells or not. They are stubborn to negotiate and cooperate with your needs at all.  A real seller will want the transaction to go smoothly and carry onto closing so they are more likely to be cooperative and flexible. They will usually work with you to make the deal happen.

So if you sense inconsistent behavior with a seller or a lot of surprises you may be dealing with a fake seller.  Now this can also work with buyers as well and often times with the same issues. If the buyer is not realistic about price or motivated, they also may not be worth your time.

For help on buying a Lake Chelan home or property contact me today. I have the experience and knowledge necessary to handle any real estate transaction in the Chelan Washington area.