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Buyers get blamed for a lot of failed real estate transactions. Cold feet, financing hiccups, inspection jitters. But after inspecting homes across the South Hills and greater Pittsburgh area, I can tell you that sellers torpedo deals just as often as buyers do. Sometimes more often. And the frustrating part? Most of it is completely avoidable. Here are the most common ways I watch sellers kill their own sale. 1. Refusing to Negotiate After the Inspection This is the big one.

Dear Realtors, Let's talk about the elephant in the crawlspace. Somewhere along the way, home inspectors picked up a reputation in some circles as deal killers. The nitpickers. The alarmists. The people who show up with a flashlight and a thermal camera and scare buyers out of perfectly good houses. I understand where the frustration comes from. You have spent weeks, sometimes months, getting your client to the finish line. Emotions are high. Timelines are tight. And then an

You found the perfect house in the Pittsburgh area. The price is right, the neighborhood is everything you wanted, and your offer was accepted. Then the phone call comes. Your insurance carrier declines to write the policy, and suddenly your closing is in jeopardy. This scenario plays out more often than most Pittsburgh homebuyers realize, and it is becoming more common every year. Insurance companies have tightened their underwriting standards dramatically, and homes that wo

There is a particular look people get when they walk into the right house. Eyes a little wide. Voice a little softer. Someone whispers "this is the one" in the kitchen, and honestly, it is adorable every single time. It is also exactly the look people get three weeks into a new relationship. And as a Certified Master Inspector, I am here to tell you something your best friend has probably told you at least once in your dating life: You are not seeing clearly right now. And th