Little White Lies

When it comes to buying and selling, we all know how language is used to make things seem appealing. Most of the time ‘charming’ is a code word for vintage or old, even if it is indeed full of charm. These little white lies are often harmless and nothing that would cause buyers to run for the hills. However, what about when sellers veer into territory where the white lies aren’t so white and are actually just real lies? Here are some topics to consider when trying to sell your home. 

Time On Market

One of the most common white lies to tell is how long your home has been on the market. Whether to create a sense of urgency or to reassure a potential buyer that your home doesn’t have any major issues keeping it from selling, sellers might often be tempted to fudge the dates a bit. Eventually, the truth will come out because the easiest and first step any qualified agent will take is to research the home on the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) database. Even a home that has been removed and relisted will show that data. It’s just not worth it. 

Home Upgrades 

The passing of time is often a funny thing. Something that we feel perhaps happened a few months ago might have actually occurred a year or two in the past. Simply saying a water heater is “new” or that a roof was replaced a “few” years ago (when it was actually more like 10) can turn off a potential buyer. After all, the age of upgrades will be made clear during inspection.  

Disclosures

Perhaps the most stressful part about selling a home is scaring buyers away from legitimate problems, regardless of how common or easy to fix they are. One of the most common white lies is saying your basement doesn’t take on water when it rains (when it does) or claiming to never have had a mold problem. Legally, you aren’t necessarily required to disclose these facts. Ethically, that’s another story. Mold can be toxic and can lead to a host of health problems. Lying about it just to unload your home isn’t worth sacrificing someone’s health. Especially if it’s an easy fix!