If interested parties want to know all the details

Selling a property for the first time can quickly lead to an unprepared and uncomfortable situation, especially when potential buyers ask overly intrusive questions. To avoid this, it's helpful to consider what questions might arise during phone inquiries and viewings, and to prepare your answers. This way, you won't say anything you'll later regret.

There will always be questions when someone is interested in buying the property. Firstly, they want to get as accurate a picture of the property as possible. Secondly, it's the most natural way for them to start a conversation with you as the seller. However, there are some questions that require particular caution.

Questions by phone or email

It's advisable to be cautious when asked questions like "Do you currently live in the property?" on the phone or in emails. Not only prospective buyers, but also, for example, burglars have access to contact information from real estate listings – and they often use it to locate vacant properties. Furthermore, if a supposed prospective buyer tries to engage you in conversation about your personal life, alarm bells should ring. Therefore, it's also important not to give out the exact address of the property during the first call. Wait until you've verified that the caller is a genuine interested party.

“Indiscreet” questions

During viewings, questions can arise that put the seller in an awkward position. These questions range from "Why do you want to sell this beautiful house?" to "Didn't the street noise drive you crazy in your bedroom?" Usually, this stems from a spontaneous reaction by the prospective buyer, not from an intention to uncover hidden defects. However, the seller can quickly feel pressured to reveal more about their personal situation than they intended. It's wise to prepare for such questions in advance. For example, it's perfectly acceptable to simply refer to "personal reasons." This politely informs potential buyers that you prefer not to discuss your motivation for selling. If the question concerns the property's drawbacks, you can either honestly share your experiences or simply acknowledge that they are indeed disadvantages. After all, no property is perfect, and prospective buyers are well aware of this.

Targeted questions about defects

If you are specifically asked about defects in the property, do not be tempted to conceal them. On the contrary, even without such questions, you are legally obligated to inform potential buyers about defects that are not immediately apparent. Otherwise, you can be held liable for defects and face claims for damages even after the purchase agreement has been signed. Being open about defects during the viewing, coupled with the explanation that these defects have already been factored into your asking price, will give you a stronger negotiating position later on

Good preparation is therefore helpful. However, it's even better to leave the conducting of viewings to a professional real estate agent. This is advantageous not only because an agent, thanks to their experience, knows how to correctly assess prospective buyers' questions and answer them effectively in your best interest, but also because they are emotionally unbiased during the viewing.

Don't want the stress of managing viewings? Contact us now. We'd be happy to assist you with the sale of your property.

You can find more information here:

https://www.berlin.de/special/immobilien-und-wohnen/hausbau/3376590-744386-immobilienkauf-von-privat-wonach-kaeufer.html

https://www.anwalt.de/rechtstipps/immobilienkauf

Legal notice: This article does not constitute tax or legal advice for any specific case. Please consult a lawyer and/or tax advisor to clarify the facts of your individual situation.

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