3 Red Flags to Watch Out For When Selling Your Home

Feeling uneasy about selling your home is normal and the stress can usually be managed, but if the unease is coming from potential buyers, contributing factors may be considered red flags. How do these red flags get raised? The truth is that buyers can send out these “smoke signals” at any time during the transaction. Read on for the red flags to look for in home buyers and you'll be able to spot potential flames that could smoke the deal.

Low or High Balling the Asking Price

Investors, cash buyers, and eager homeowners might make a cash offer to bypass a few steps in the home buying process. However, lowballing is common in this situation and may be an attempt to take advantage of a desperate situation or a planned-out strategy on their behalf. That being said, there are also instances of highballing buyers.

While over-the-asking-price offers initially seems like an ideal position for the seller, offers that are too good to be true might be just that. This is where an experienced real estate agent comes in, as they can dive deeper into the local market statistics and weed out highball offers that are unlikely to be delivered.

Lacking Solid Financial Backing

Serious home shoppers will most likely have gone through the mortgage pre-approval process to show that they have the financial resources to afford properties within a specific price range. Buyers who come prepared with proof of their purchasing power are often given preferential consideration before those who have skipped this essential step.

Being pre-approved for a loan gives sellers additional assurance that the buyer will follow through with the sale to the very end. Sellers should be cautious with would-be buyers who haven't looked into pre-approval, and they will want to make sure that the buyer has gone beyond the basic steps of pre-qualification, which doesn't confirm income or creditworthiness. The steps involved in loan pre-approval are more in-depth and involve:

• Showing proof of income
• Employment verification
• Checking and verifying credit history
• Showing proper identification documentation
• Debt-to-income ratio

With many buyers in the marketplace today, sellers don't have to take chances with home shoppers who haven't spoken with a lender about getting a mortgage.

Asking for Unusual Contingencies in the Contract

Home buying contingencies are clauses in a home buying contract that allow buyers to cancel the deal without losing their earnest money. There are three reasonably common contingencies that home buyers typically include:

1. Financing Contingency: This allows buyers to cancel the contract if funding for the loan falls through.
2. Appraisal Contingency: This allows buyers to cancel the deal if the home fails to appraise properly.
3. Home Inspection Contingency: Buyers can utilize this contingency to cancel the contract if the home inspection uncovers major problems.

According to the National Association of Realtors, nearly 80 percent of buyers include a home inspection contingency in the proposed purchase agreement. However, appraisal and financing contingencies are also good protection for both parties. That being said, if the contract includes too many contingencies that are not considered relatively routine, sellers could view that as a red flag that could foreshadow a complicated experience during the transaction.

Be On the Lookout for Red Flags in Real Estate Transactions

While there are likely to be minor bumps and negotiations during the home selling process, being aware of red flags can help avoid huge potholes on the journey. Should buyers give the seller a bad vibe during negotiations or the contract's preparation, it could be a colossal mistake to merely shrug the feeling off. Any questions about red flags to be on the lookout for should be directed to the real estate agents and brokers handling the negotiations.

Interested in Selling Your Home?
Let Us Help You With These Great Resources

• How Much Equity Should I Have in My House Before Selling?
• When Are the Best Times to Sell a House in Florida?
• Why You Should (Almost) Always Sell Your Home Before Buying a New One
• Hot Market Selling Tips: Pros & Cons of Selling When Inventory Is Low
• Red Flags to Watch Out For When Selling Your Home
• Top 5 Fatal Home Selling Mistakes — And How to Avoid Them
• How to Pick the Right Agent to Sell Your Home
• How to Manage the Stress of Selling Your Home
• How to Effectively Stage Your Home to Get Top Dollar on the Sale
• How to Show Your House While Living In It
• How to Sell Your House: Your Complete Home Sellers Guide
• Sell Now, Move Later: What You Need to Know