HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO KEEP THE SELLER AND BUYER FROM DISCUSSING PRICING INFO DURING A SHOWING:
1. Don’t tell the buyer the sales price
The most effective way to prevent sellers and buyers from comparing what price you agreed upon with the seller and the other price with the buyer is not to get yourself in that predicament in the first place. Do not disclose the asking price to the buyer until they’ve seen the property. If they ask you how much, say “ I don’t discuss pricing until the buyers have seen the property first.” This saves you the stress when you show the property because even if for some reason the price was brought up, you won’t look like you were trying to make a killing on the deal because you didn’t disclose the price to the buyer to began with. Besides, discussing the price before the buyer sees the property isn’t effective anyway because people change their minds when they see it in person and not want to give you what they originally said they would. Or someone may even offer you more for the property after they see it. So there’s two sides to benefit from not disclosing the price with the buyer until they see the property.
2. Bring a friend with you to the showing and say that is an agent.
Tell the seller “ hey my agent will be with me during the showing. Please do not mention the property is actually being sold. I told him/her that you and I agreed to do a rental so I’ll be just paying a rental commission fee. Disclosing purchase prices will increase my agents commission.” Then tell the buyer “ hey there will be an agent involved in this showing. Don’t mention anything about buying the property. The agent believes this is a rental showing and that you are just future tenants.” This strategy will keep both buyer and seller quiet about the sale which also keeps them quiet about the purchase prices.
3. Use the tenant excuses.
tell the buyer that the tenants do not know the property is being sold so please do not mention anything about the sale of this home.
4. not the owner strategy
tell the buyer you don’t believe the owner will be showing the property. This eliminates the buyer from asking prices because they think the seller is not present and that the person showing the home is an agent or a friend of the seller. If it comes up that the owner is the one showing the house, you can save yourself and say, oh I must have confused this home with a different seller. Oops.
5. Nervous partner excuses
tell the seller that you have not disclosed the agreed upon price with your partners yet because you want them to fall in love with the house first. Mention that the asking price is a bit higher than we like but if I can get them to fall in love with the property first, then I’ll disclose the price. First impressions are everything. If the partners think the home is overpriced, they will have a negative experience during the showing because all they will be thinking about is the deal not being worth it.this strategy keeps the seller quiet.