If you’re in the market to buy a new home in South Carolina, it can be frustrating to find one that you wish to make an offer on, only to discover that the sellers are dragging their feet. It’s the flip-side of a seller wanting to make sure a prospective buyer is serious about making an offer. As a buyer, you also want to be certain that the sellers in question are motivated to go to closing as swiftly as possible.
What makes homeowners motivated to sell? There are several issues that can spark motivation. Being able to recognize when such issues are relevant in a particular sale gives you an advantage when it comes time to negotiate a deal.
Sellers with these issues are often highly motivated
Every home sale transaction is unique, and each seller or buyer has specific goals in mind that they hope to achieve by selling or buying a particular home. The following list includes numerous issues that can make some sellers more motivated than others to secure a closing:
- A divorce is taking place.
- The property for sale was inherited, and the heir does not want to keep it.
- Owners are relocating because of a job change.
- Sellers have already made an offer on another home.
- Sellers have moved to another home, and the house for sale is vacant.
These are just some of many issues that can motivate sellers. A buyer who knows what to ask and what to offer in such cases will have a high likelihood of being able to secure a fair and agreeable contract.
Negotiation tools to use with motivated sellers
Use these negotiation tools to your advantage if you are making an offer on a property where sellers are trying to move their house through the market as swiftly as possible:
- Offer to pay in cash in exchange for a price reduction.
- Consider purchasing the home ”as is” for a lower price.
- Make an offer with no contingencies.
- Agree to close within a certain time constraint.
It’s helpful to ask an experienced real estate agent to negotiate on your behalf, whether you are a motivated seller who hopes to close a deal as soon as possible or a buyer who wants to get the best return for his or her investment. An agent who is experienced on both sides of the closing table knows how to protect a client’s best interests and secure a closing that leaves everyone walking away happy with the deal.