The process of selling a house is stressful, and often, you can never really be sure that the sale will go through until the moment you hand over the keys. Property buyers can be difficult to read, and it can be hard to know where you stand.
So how can you tell if your property buyer is serious? Well luckily there are some tell-tale signs to watch out for that might suggest your property buyer is uncommitted or acting dishonestly.
Keep reading to find out how you can tell a serious property buyer from a time-waster.
They Ask a Lot of Questions
If your buyer asks you lots of questions about your property, either at the initial house viewing or during the weeks after making an offer, this is a sign that he or she is serious. For property buyers, a lot is riding on choosing the right house, and it’s not a decision that many people take lightly.
You can expect a serious property buyer to ask questions about the utilities, running costs, past renovations, what you plan to leave when you move, transport options, local schools and even about the neighbours. If your buyer doesn’t show any interest in your property, this is probably reason to be suspicious.
They Arrange a Second Viewing
It’s a very good sign if your property buyer arranges a second viewing. It shows that the sale means a lot to them and that they are committed to seeing it through.
Arranging a second viewing suggests a number of things: firstly, that your buyer is set on living in your property. Often, a buyer will arrange a second viewing for practical reasons, like deciding which pieces of furniture to bring to the new house and deciding which bedroom the children get. A second viewing also shows that your buyer hasn’t decided to purchase your property on a whim – they are committed to the sale and likely feeling very excited!
An even better way to tell if your buyer is committed is seeing if they bring new people along to the second viewing. If your buyer brings a friend or family member, you can tell that they are serious about moving to your house. Who knows, they might even feel a little house proud already!
They Respect your Asking Price
Buyers have a few different options when it comes to putting an offer on a house: they can offer above the asking price and secure the property or they can bid at or below the asking price and risk losing it.
If your property is the buyer’s dream home and they really want to buy it, you can expect them to at least respect your asking price or even bid higher. On the other hand, if a buyer comes in with a lowball offer, wildly different to your asking price, this is a sign that they’re not serious about buying your property and would knowingly risk being outbid.
They Communicate and Cooperate
Buying and selling a house is always much easier if all parties communicate and cooperate with each other. If a buyer is serious about your property, they will be contactable, helpful and willing to help the process along.
Delays in receiving paperwork or responding to questions can result in slow progress, and this can be especially risky where there is a long property chain. If someone else in the chain becomes impatient, they may wish to find a new buyer, and you could find yourself back at square one.
You can usually tell from early on if your buyer is uncommunicative, for instance, if they are evasive when organising a house viewing. If you foresee this causing significant problems further down the line, especially when it comes to the important process of conveyancing and handling contracts, you should nip it in the bud early and search for a committed buyer.
Positive and Open Body Language
Sometimes, telling a serious buyer from an uncommitted one is as simple as observing their body language. In many cases, body language is a better indicator than words.
If the buyer looks tense, nervous or uneasy, avoiding making direct eye contact with you, then alarm bells should be ringing. Tell-tale signs of a dishonest buyer include hands in pockets, crossed arms and shifting weight between their feet. Remember, if your buyer is genuine, their smile will be too – do they look genuinely happy or is their face emotionless?
Trust your Instincts
While it helps to be aware of what to watch out for in a buyer’s body language, in many cases, you can simply rely on your instincts when it comes to identifying an uninterested buyer.
If something about the person makes you feel uneasy, then perhaps there is a good reason for you feeling that way. Don’t worry about trying to rationalise your feelings – you could save a lot of time and money by trusting your gut.
Guarantee your Sale with a Fast Property Buyer
If you want to forgo the stress and uncertainty of selling a house on the open market, why not contact a fast property buyer like Zoom? By selling your house to us, you can avoid a long, unstable property chain and rest assured that we’ll see your sale through.
Simply give us a call on 0333 880 436 or complete our online enquiry form to set the ball rolling on your fast house sale. You won’t need to wait long for an answer; a member of our friendly and knowledgeable team will be in touch within 24 hours to discuss your sale. You could have the money in your bank account in as little as 7 days.
Is my buyer serious or wasting my time?
Property buyers can be difficult to read, and it can be hard to know where you stand. You can never really be sure that the sale will go through until the moment you hand over the keys.
So how can you tell if your property buyer is serious?
A GOOD BUYER WILL…
- Ask lots of questions about the property
- Arrange a second viewing (even better if they bring friends or family along)
- Respect your asking price and not give a lowball offer
- Communicate and cooperate, helping the process along
- Have positive and open body language
ALWAYS TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
A gut feeling might tell you if someone has no intention of putting an offer in. Don’t try to rationalise your instincts – there might be a good reason for them.
CHOOSE HONESTY & TRANSPARENCY
Want to avoid dealing with buyers on the open market?
With a fast house buyer, there are no surprises, just a hassle-free and efficient sale.
Call 0333 880 436 or complete our online enquiry form.
