Common Pitfalls Faced by For-Sale-By-Owners
• Seller cannot make themselves available for showings at convenient times to
buyers due to work, family, or other commitments
• Concerns over safety & security – allowing strangers in the house
• Newspaper ads alone don’t draw enough qualified buyers
• Seller over-prices home (fewer buyers, fewer offers)
• Seller under-prices home (lost potential profit)
• Seller does not have “feature sheet” or other home info for buyers to take
• Difficulty finding time to search for new home while marketing & showing
current property
• Buyers are unqualified
• Buyer backs out after signing agreements
• Offers come in low since buyers know you aren’t paying a commission
• Seller doesn’t have or is unfamiliar with required forms, disclosures, and
contracts
• Negotiation of an offer and/or a counter-offer with buyer, buyer’s agent or
buyer’s lawyer
• Buyer “drags their feet” in providing documentation or signing forms, or
provides incorrect/outdated information
• Buyer does not obtain insurance in a timely manner
• Appraisal comes back too low
• No comparable sales are available for appraisal
• Buyers require extensive contingencies on price, financing, and/or property
condition
• Job change, illness, divorce or other major financial setback for buyer or seller
• Home inspection reveals something unexpected – i.e. termites, foundation
issues, radon, or other problems
• Conflict over change-of-possession date/time/conditions
• A disaster occurs (fire/flood/etc) during the process
