# Selling a home: Disclosure? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 2, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-home-disclosure/501722 "2009-07-02T18:13:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dusty\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba8739/32.png) [@Dusty\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty_Rose)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-home-disclosure/501722/21 "2009-07-28T22:30:38Z")
I’m so glad you posted an update, I was just wondering about this on Sunday!! Turned out well, I’m impressed with you AND the realtor 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-home-disclosure/501722/22 "2009-07-28T22:34:39Z")
^Thank you. And I had my first offer! However, I am “firm” in what I want and the people offered less. When I told them no, they acted offended/angry. I’ve told my realtor to specify that my asking price is not flexible, hoping to avoid problems. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-home-disclosure/501722/23 "2009-07-28T23:16:30Z")
Wow. Glad it worked out so well for you! ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-home-disclosure/501722/24 "2009-07-28T23:20:05Z")
Why would you set an asking price that had no wiggle room? Why would your realtor allow you to do this? Especially in this market? Most people who are looking to buy right now have it in their heads that everything is overpriced and will be inclined to lowball on a bid. Why not set a price that will let them do that AND let you get what you want out of it? Being “firm” out of the gate when it’s not a hot market seems to me to not be the best strategy. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-home-disclosure/501722/25 "2009-07-29T02:39:25Z")
I tend to agree with Claire (with the understanding that your situation is by definition unique and that it doesn’t have much to do with the original intention of the thread). It’ll be tough to find a buyer in this market if you’re not willing to negotiate because they can find so many other properties. My wife and I sold a condo last year and took a bath on it, so I understand why you would want to hold the line. Every time we dropped the asking price, and when we got our offer which was lower than that, I felt sick and angry and terrified. But it was the only way to get rid of the property. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-home-disclosure/501722/26 "2009-07-29T13:46:51Z")
My situation is fairly unique, and my realtor did discuss various approaches. The house is paid for. It is very nice as far as location/setting/etc. I am living with my long term gf and I am in no real hurry to sell. The housing market in my area is a little better than the nation as a whole, and my realtor sees it improving even more during the next 6 months (due to some insider info she has). BTW, she has had further inquiries from the “offended” folks. She thinks they will eventually agree to my price!?! ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-home-disclosure/501722/27 "2009-07-29T13:52:16Z")
Actually, setting a firm price, if it is indeed a reasonable price, is a very good negotiating strategy. It accomplishes two purposes: it keeps you from being under pressure to reduce your price yet again, like the person selling a rug in a market, and it lets the realtors in the area know exactly what your house will cost one of their clients, taking the guesswork out of things. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-home-disclosure/501722/28 "2009-07-29T14:10:14Z")
^hehe. And I thought I was just being a hard headed jerk. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-home-disclosure/501722/29 "2009-07-29T17:09:08Z")
The thing with inflating your price to then lower it is that it might put you down in someone’s list. If you are selling for $22 and someone asks his realtor to show him all houses under $21 then you are entirely out of the picture. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-home-disclosure/501722.md?page=1)