Consideration could be the key to your new home
May 8, 2014
Business people, like store owners, expect to deal with customers and even come to expect behavior that might not be accepted in a purely social atmosphere. Homeowners, on the other hand, may not be aware of what to expect. They are opening the sanctity of their home to the public for review and criticism. Buyers may be detached from emotional feelings while the sellers might react unfavorably to comments that are taken personally.
- Be on time for appointments; cancel if necessary. The sellers may be rearranging their schedules and making an additional effort to make it convenient for you to see the property.
- Be a good guest and respect the seller’s privacy. Look at the home and avoid looking at the seller’s personal items; there is no reason to look in refrigerators or furniture drawers.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff. Try to focus on critical items of a home like location, floor plan, layout, size and not dwell on cosmetic items that are easily and inexpensively changed.
- It’s not a good negotiating technique to list the defects. Most people become defensive when presented with a list which could have the opposite effect of helping you get a better deal.
- Limit your visits until you actually own the home. It’s natural to be excited and making plans to move into your new home but it is still the seller’s until closing and they’re making plans to move too.
- Negotiations are generally finished when a contract is completed. It can be frustrating to continually be asked for “one more thing.” Make a deal with the seller and live with it. If there’s something you’re not sure about, specify it in writing in the contract.
Some things are obvious: the seller wants the most for their home and the buyer wants to pay the least possible. Showing consideration to the seller about things that don’t have anything directly to do with price can actually benefit the buyer.
A lifetime Maryland resident, Susan Pruden has the ideal foundation for selling and buying homes. After 8 years working in just about every facet of the mortgage industry, and several years with her own company specializing in marketing for real estate agents, Susan got her real estate license in 1994. Susan has earned several industry awards. The CENTURY 21 Quality Service Pinnacle Award is based on reviews from Susan's clients and is earned by a very small percentage of agents. She has earned that coveted recognition since 2012
Two others were awarded by the Prince George's Association of REALTORS®. The Distinguished Sales Associate of the Year Award is based on a mixture of community involvement, association involvement and real estate education and designations. The other, the Distinguished Service Award, is for "exceptional meritorious service."
Susan is involved in her local community. She was named Cheverly Volunteer of the Year in 2018, even having June 25th designated "Susan Pruden Day" in the Town of Cheverly. She is also a Commissioner on the Prince George's County Historic Preservation Commission and President of the Cheverly American Legion Auxiliary.
Susan Pruden has lived in Cheverly lived with her husband, Joseph, for almost 30 years.
