I love to ask the sellers questions and see how they answer. I had one seller tell me all about the work he did on the house. He spoke so proudly but forgot that he should have kept quiet as he had never pulled permits, and never put that in the property disclosure.

I have found that the sellers are always so proud to talk about their house that they always seem to say something that weakens their position and that we can use to our negotiating advantage. It is just important that we listen to what they say. Even if they do not say anything wrong I listen to what they love most about their home. I then always describe what my buyers loved when I make the offer. And of course the buyers love everything the seller is so proud of. They often accept lower offers because the buyer loves the same things they do.

When the listing agents at some companies tell their seller they should show the home as who knows the home better, I think instead I wonder what great nuggets of information I will get from the seller.

Little do they know they are probably going to lose thosands of dollars, by showing their home.

Don't give your negotiating leverage away! Don't cost yourself money! Leave when the buyers come through. And, if you absolutely, positively can't do that due to some personal circumstance, consider a piece of duct tape placed strategically across your mouth! My hunch is the buyer's agent wouldn't dream of asking you a question after seeing that!