Believe it or not, not all sellers are motivated to sell their property. There are a number of reasons for a seller's reluctance to part with their home. Some sellers have unrealistic price expectation, and no pressing desire to close a deal. In these cases, it is often best to avoid these kinds of sellers, because just as a seller needs to trust that you will carry out your agreement to close in good faith, you have to have the same confidence in the seller.

Just ask the seller

If you are serious about a particular home, look for an opportunity to ask the seller some questions. If you get that opportunity, try to find out why he/she is selling. It may be related to job demands, retirement, financial pressure, or other reasons. If you find out that there is a strong motivation for the seller to close the deal, it's a good start. You can also use that opportunity to make a creative offer to help meet the seller's timetable requirements or terms. This can establish good will, an important part of every successful transaction.

Warning signs of an unmotivated seller

• They have no recent appraisal, or delay getting one
• They keep procrastinating the move-out date
• They don't have a plan for moving into another property