Mistakes To Avoid When Buying a Home

By Stefanie Prettyman

With over 15 years in real estate, Stefanie Prettyman is an award-winning realtor who leads Premiere Home Group in delivering unmatched service across NJ and PA.

Are you trying to buy a home in today’s competitive market? Let me share two real-life examples of what not to do when submitting an offer and how to avoid these mistakes to win your dream home.

Mistake #1: Creating uncertainty with multiple offers. We recently accepted an offer, and everything seemed to go smoothly until the buyer’s agent called this morning. They asked, “Can you confirm the seller is moving forward with our offer? My client is submitting multiple offers on different properties.”

This created uncertainty for the seller. As the listing agent, I’m legally required to disclose this information. Unfortunately, that uncertainty cost them the deal. The seller decided not to move forward with their offer.

Lesson: Don’t make sellers question your commitment. Focus on one property at a time to stand out as a serious buyer.

Mistake #2: Miscommunication about representation. In another situation, a buyer contacted me directly about a listing. She confirmed she didn’t have an agent, so we followed all the proper steps and prepared an offer for her. But after I sent the details, she replied, “Oh, by the way, I have an agent.”

Here’s the catch: There was no agent. It turned out to be a false claim. To make matters worse, the “agent” missed the submission deadline, and when the offer finally arrived, it was filled with errors. The contract wasn’t completed properly, and the buyer had even signed in the seller’s place.

Unsurprisingly, we rejected that offer.

Lesson: Be upfront about your representation from the start, meet deadlines, and ensure your paperwork is accurate. Sloppy mistakes can cost you the home you love.

These situations happen more often than you’d think. In today’s market, sellers have plenty of options, and small mistakes can make or break your chances of success.

If you’re a buyer looking to win in today’s competitive market, don’t leave things to chance. Reach out to me at (609) 954-5206 or email sprettyman@luxphg.com for personalized advice on making a strong, winning offer.