How to Avoid Real Estate Conflicts 

Randal:
Do you want to avoid some conflict? Stay tuned. Welcome back to Stay Focused, Focus Real Estates weekly video series. Today we have focus five. Five ways for sellers to avoid conflict in a transaction.

Erik:
So, real estate, by nature, there's a lot that can go wrong.

Randal:
Avoiding conflicts is really a lot about knowing the road ahead. What's the first thing on our focus five Mr. Gould?

Erik:
Disclose. Let the buyers know all that you know about the house because if you don't the home inspector's going out or they're going to find out anyway and then it's going to come back later and be a problem. If you disclose it up front then...

Randal:
I'm amazed at how many times on both sides of the transaction, right, when I'm representing a seller and when I'm representing a buyer. When disclosures are made, and they're made properly, they really do deflate any issue coming up. It's very, very interesting. Even for buyers. Buyers go, "Oh, so there's knob and tube wiring the attic. Good to know."

Erik:
Oh, I knew about that. I can make my offer, take that into consideration, so it's all addressed beforehand.

Randal:
Addressed beforehand and it actually helps the buyer do a little bit of research.

Erik:
So, number two.

Randal:
Name your exclusions. You want to take grandma's chandelier? Just tell us you want to take grandma's chandelier. You can't wait until closing day to go, "Oh by the way, we took all of the light fixtures out because their family heirlooms."

Erik:
One of the things that creates most conflict is surprises.

Randal:
Yeah.

Erik:
So you don't want on the final walk-through the day or the morning of the closing for the buyer to say, "Oh, I thought that was staying." And now you have a controversy an hour before your closing.

Randal:
Number three. Hold to your-

Erik:
Commitments.

Randal:
Commitments. You say you're going to do something, do it. Again, that's why you work with real estate agent, right? So we can help you navigate all of those things through the transaction. Number four. Remove everything.

Erik:
Everything.

Randal:
Unless it's something specified that the buyer wants to remain in the property, remove it.

Erik:
And, number five. Do unto others. How does that relate to real estate?

Randal:
Sometimes I use this and probably mistakenly. I get calls all the time from sellers going, "Randal, should I patch those holes in the wall where I took down the TV mounts?"

Erik:
I need to scrub that tub and clean out the refrigerator?

Randal:
Well, most of our contracts say broom clean but my comment to sellers is often when they call me and they ask me these questions on what kind of condition I should leave my house is leave it in the way that you would be proud to get it.

Erik:
Golden rule, leave the house as you would like to receive it.

Randal:
Yep. Oh, and Erik's got a bonus round today so-

Erik:
Well, you started saying it. Hiring a good team of agents, attorneys, mortgage brokers to help avoid conflicts, no surprises. We can help you out with that. So the bonus one is hire a good team.

Randal:
Number six.

Erik:
Number six.

Randal:
Number six.

Erik:
The focus six.

Randal:
Doesn't roll off the tongue the same. Anyway, thanks for watching today everybody. If you have any questions, feel free to drop us either a private message, comment below and, until next time, stayed tuned and stay focused.

Erik:
Stay tuned and stay focused.