What Makes A Great Buyer? Top Traits The Best Ones Share

There’s a lot more to choosing who to sell your home to than how much they offer.

While getting the highest possible price is obviously important, you also need to be as sure as possible that your buyer is in a position to proceed and will stay the course until completion. 

Nothing is more irritating than accepting an offer, setting your heart on your next home, only for your sale to fall apart weeks or even months later because it was poorly set up.

And if you're lucky enough to have more than one offer, being able to discern which one is best for you is absolutely priceless. With that in mind, let's explore the following questions:

- Is their financial status confirmed?

- Are they ready, willing, and able to move?

- Have they done their local homework?

- Are they aligned with your timescale?

- How easy are they to deal with?

​Every buyer has their own unique story, but the best ones share a lot of similar traits that show they're truly ready to go the distance, and here is where you'll find them.

IS THEIR FINANCIAL STATUS CONFIRMED?
​An offer is only as good as the money behind it, and not every buyer has either fully explored what they can borrow or calculated all the costs of moving, so there are some questions to ask upfront.

- If they’re getting a mortgage, do they have a current Agreement in Principle from a lender to show their mortgage capacity has already been vetted and approved?

- Can they provide clear proof of funds for their deposit or a cash purchase, whether held in their own account, gifted by a relative, or by releasing equity from another property?

- Have they understood and budgeted for the full costs of moving, including Stamp Duty and legal fees?

​Getting proof of a buyer’s financial status isn’t about being awkward or nosy; it’s about verifying that they are genuinely capable of following through on their bid, saving you from a frustrating false start.

ARE THEY READY, WILLING, AND ABLE TO MOVE?
​Equally important as having their funds in place, your buyer needs to be in a position to proceed from the moment you accept their offer, without any delays or extra conditions. So check that they have:

- Either no chain at all, or a buyer already in place for any home they're selling with a complete and verified chain, where every link is strong.

- A clear reason for moving. Job relocation, a growing family, school catchments, downsizing and needing a home workspace are some typical examples, but what’s your buyer’s motivation?

- Total control over the purchase, with no third-party approvals required (like the bank of mum and dad wanting to see what they’re providing a deposit for).

Accepting an offer from a completely unencumbered buyer also puts you in a much stronger position for the home you want to buy, as you can tell the seller quite truthfully that you’re completely ready to roll.

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HAVE THEY DONE THEIR LOCAL HOMEWORK?

The holy grail of buyers is someone who has researched the market, fine-tuned their choices, and created a wishlist that basically describes your home.

- We’re not saying buyers must know the area intimately to be taken seriously, but if you’re comparing offers, the depth of their connection can help you differentiate.

- If they already live, work, or socialise in the Wilton and Salisbury area and want to buy a home in the neighbourhood, they’re clearly committed to making their life here.

- Or, if they've really explored and narrowed down their search to the streets and homes around you, it's a very good sign that they'll stay the course.

​When someone has done their research and ticked all their boxes with your home, they’re far less likely to suffer from buyer's remorse later on and withdraw their offer.

ARE THEY ALIGNED WITH YOUR TIMESCALE?

The smoothest moves happen when the buyer and seller are pulling in the same direction, which means being completely clear from the outset about any expectations or deadlines for a moving date.

- First and foremost, you should tell your agent when your home goes on the market about any dates you’re working to so they can focus their efforts on the right buyers.

- Next, any buyer who offers should include their ideal completion date with their bid so you know that you’re on the same page from the start.

- Even if you and your buyer are completely relaxed about timelines, if there’s a chain, someone will likely have a date in mind, so each link up and down needs to be thoroughly checked.

​Matching up timescales is the secret glue of a successful sale and eliminates a huge amount of potential friction later on, so your agent should confirm that everyone is aligned before you accept an offer.

HOW EASY ARE THEY TO DEAL WITH?
The vast majority of sales take a good few months to complete. Along the way are many opportunities for hiccups, so it’s worth hearing your agent’s experience of dealing with a buyer so far.

You could ask:

- What were they like when they first approached your agent, and have they been easy to contact, responsive to calls or messages, and generally polite ever since? 

- Have they been on time for viewings, or called ahead if delayed? This tells you a lot about someone’s general personality and behaviour.

- When they offered, did they readily confirm all the details your agent asked for around their finances, timescale and any chain for your agent to check, or were they in any way cagey?

The entire transaction feels natural with the right buyer, and while they're not legally required to be easygoing, our experience tells us that when they are, the whole process is better for everyone involved.

Can we help you find a great buyer?

We’d love to show you how we make selling homes in the Wilton and Salisbury area as smooth as possible to give your sale the best chance of completing successfully the first time around.

Call us on 01722 580059 or email info@piccoloproperty.co.uk for a friendly chat about getting your move safely across the finish line with a great buyer for your home.