Many a seller has lost money on their home sale, or even lost the sale altogether, because they said the wrong thing to buyers. Don't let it happen to you - below, learn what not to say.

        Don't disclose why you're selling - you might inadvertently help buyers decide they don't want to purchase your home for the very reason you want to sell it. Alternatively, if buyers discover you're selling because you need to (whether due to financial reasons or a job transfer, for example), you'll be relinquishing the upper hand you want to have during negotiations.

        You also risk giving buyers the upper hand if you reveal that your property hasn't had a lot of people through to view it or that it hasn't generated many offers. Because you want your house to appear desirable, keep this kind of information to yourself. Similarly, keep mum about the lowest price you'd be willing to settle for.

        Also you may think your being helpful by volunteering information about your neighbors and neighborhood, but what you find appealing the buyers might find off-putting. For instance, saying, "This is a mature neighborhood - mostly retirees," might make buyers with children think twice. This is especially true of matters pertaining to religion and politics.

        As you can see, there are many ways even the best-intentioned seller can succumb to "foot-in-mouth" disease. That's why it's beneficial for you to be absent during your home's showings, and to let your real-estate sales representative handle the buyers.