You Get to Choose Who You Work With

 

In real estate investing, sellers don’t always tell the whole truth. Sometimes they omit key details, sometimes they simply don’t know the full picture, and sometimes they flat-out lie. That’s why trusting your gut is a crucial skill when negotiating deals.

Red Flags

In a recent call with a seller, and something felt off. She had a smug, almost sly tone, and she dropped a few red flags into the conversation:

• “We have another offer, and it’s higher than yours.”
• “They’re giving us a bigger earnest money deposit.”
• “They said they’d give us the money (EMD) directly instead of through a closing attorney.”

That last one is especially sketchy because in my business, we always send earnest money to a closing attorney—not directly to the seller. Statements like these can sometimes be tactics to pressure you into making a rushed decision. But instead of taking the bait, I told her I’d talk to my business partner and get back to her.

After the call, I did some research and found that the property had an encroachment from the neighbor’s house. When I texted the seller to ask about it, she was evasive. That’s another red flag. She later called me and insisted there was no issue with building a house on the lot and that multiple people had told her so. (Thou doth protest too much).

It’s Not Uncommon

This kind of thing happens more often than you’d think. Sellers might hide a problem, knowing it could scare buyers away. They might have already lost deals over it but won’t tell you that. That’s why if something feels off, it probably is.

So here are the takeaways:
✅ Trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it.
✅ Double-check. Do your due diligence before committing to a deal.
✅ Be cautious with sellers who are overly pushy, evasive, or using pressure tactics.

A bad deal can cost you time, money, and frustration. The best investors aren’t just good at running numbers—they’re good at reading people.

Have you ever had a seller try to pull a fast one on you? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your stories!