Generally speaking, sellers come in two types: motivated and unmotivated. As a buyer, knowing the difference is important, as it will help determine how you should proceed in making an offer - or if you should make one at all.

        Motivated sellers are those who need to sell within a certain timeframe. Perhaps they need the equity in their home to pay off debts, hey have accepted a new job in a different city, or they have already committed to buying a new property. Whatever the reason for the urgency, the more motivated sellers are, the more likely they are to price the property at or under market prices and to accept lower offers.

        On the other hand, unmotivated sellers are those who are under no such pressure. They don't need to sell their home, but might under the right circumstances - the right circumstances usually being buyers willing to pay the seller's asking prices, which are often above market. Looking to profit from their home sale, unmotivated sellers often keep their property on the market for long periods of time.

        This is not to say you should never make an offer on a property owned by an unmotivated seller - after all, an unmotivated seller can become a motivated one. However, some unmotivated sellers will do nothing more than waste your time; this is one of the many reasons why it's important to team with a professional real estate sales representative. It's part of the real estate sales representative's job to help you avoid wasting time on sellers who aren't serious about selling and to help you focus your efforts where they're more likely to pay off.