How to Handle the Unexpected when Selling Your Home

The path might be bumpy, but it's all worth it in the end.

Nearly every real estate transaction comes with a twist. Sometimes it's a happy one, such as a house selling the day after it's listed. And sometimes it's not so happy, such as your buyer suddenly backing out.

Whatever your unexpected occurrence is, it's bound to happen. The important thing is being ready for it, whatever it is, and trying to stay as flexible as you can.

You can do a lot of research on your own.

Educate Yourself First

The first step in eliminating the unexpected is to educate yourself. You can't control how a potential buyer will react during the sale. But the more you know, the fewer unhappy surprises you'll encounter. Pricing can be a major issue. But you can learn the estimated value of your house with a home valuation with eppraisal.

If you haven't already, order your own home inspection. This is typically something that the buyer does, and he will likely order his own. But an inspection will reveal the true condition of your house. It might be in terrific shape. But you might also find issues that you can correct before they turn into something that causes a buyer to walk away.

You can also have your own title search. The Arnold Group real estate agents say that a title search can turn up issues that you didn't know were there, such as a lien against the property. A title search is part of a typical sale, but getting one in advance can reassure you or give you time to resolve the problem.

Be Completely Forthcoming

Shakespeare famously said in The Merchant of Venice, 'At the length, truth will out.' Given enough time, there are no secrets. Probably the worst thing that you can do is attempt to hide problems with the house from your prospective buyer. They won't stay hidden, that much is sure.

Disclosing problems puts you and your buyer on an honest level. And The Monitor reminds that you're required to report some known issues. He might walk away. But if he bought the house without knowing about problems and then found out about them later, you could face a lawsuit.

This is where your research before listing the house comes in handy. Done early enough, you have a choice about resolving the problems. And with an inspection, you might learn about something you didn't know, which otherwise would have been a double surprise - first the finding out, and then facing your angry buyer.

Take a break and get away from the stress once in a while.

Try to Stay Flexible

Above everything else, it's important to accept the fact that the unexpected happens, and try to roll with it as much as possible. Realty Times® says the biggest favor that you can do is let your real estate agent take over.

Your agent knows what has to be done, and she knows what to watch out for. She can help you with understanding the current market, since she works in it every day, and handle all of the paperwork and phone calls involved with selling a house.

Aside from that, try to relax, take a break from the sale, and get enough sleep. Stress is probably the most common ailment among all home owners with a house on the market. The healthier you are, the more prepared you'll be to handle whatever happens before your keys pass over to the new owner.

Few are the real estate transactions that go off with a hitch. A buyer might ask for a last-minute concession, such as swapping out light fixtures or leaving all of the kitchen appliances instead of taking them with you. You just never know, and it's part of the bargaining inherent to real estate.

What you can know is that you'll get a phone call or an email that makes you scratch your head. How you handle it depends on what you know about your house, who is in your corner, and how motivated you are to keeping the sale moving forward.

You can eliminate one surprise right now, and it doesn't cost a penny. Click here for your free property valuation today from eppraisal, and you'll know what the market in your area looks like and how your house stacks up.