I recently embarked on a mission to determine the most difficult or tricky questions that property buyers ask real estate agents, the kind of questions that leave agents momentarily speechless as they struggle to cook up a coherent response, or those questions that make a real estate agent scratch his head while gazing at the sky. Below are the responses from several agents, some of whom you may know:

Alson from Rentwide says the trickiest question she encounters is: "What is the future value of this property?" Predicting a property's future value is challenging because it depends on numerous variables that can change rapidly based on the property's location, market trends, and economic factors. Since these variables are highly unpredictable, providing an accurate forecast is nearly impossible, making this one of the most difficult questions for any real estate agent to answer with certainty.

Patrick from Bags Agency finds that the toughest question he faces is: "Why is the seller selling this property?" He explains, "These questions can be tricky, but we usually provide multiple generic reasons. For example, we might say that there is a time for everything, and when the time comes to sell, the owner simply does so." In reality, sellers are not obligated to disclose their reasons for selling, as such reasons may be personal or sensitive, such as divorce or bankruptcy and other financial difficulties.

Vincent from Gitta Properties frequently encounters the same question about why a seller is selling. However, he often has no concrete answers to this question, as landlords are typically unwilling to disclose their reasons. In most cases, the motivation behind a sale has no direct impact on the buyer or the transaction itself, making it irrelevant to the purchase decision. Whether due to personal circumstances, financial shifts, or investment changes, sellers prefer to keep such details private, reinforcing the idea that it is not the buyer's concern.

Catherine Nanteza from Pishon Consults Limited (also a board member of AREA Uganda) finds that the trickiest questions revolve around "the structural integrity of a property". She explains, "As realtors, we are trained to involve the necessary professionals at every stage of a transaction, something many Ugandan agents overlook. A realtor is not supposed to appraise a building or give legal advice. I am not even allowed to comment on a building's structural integrity. My role is to advise clients to seek the services of the appropriate professionals."

Wilberforce from Credo Management says the most difficult question he faces is: "Can the price be cut by half?" The challenge here is that sellers rarely list properties at twice their actual value, as overpriced properties would not sell in a competitive market. This question forces agents to assess whether the buyer is serious or simply testing the waters.

Steven from Advanced Property struggles when buyers ask: "Can I get a land title on Kabaka's land?". Kabaka's land can only be acquired under a leasehold arrangement, but convincing buyers of this reality is often an uphill battle, especially for those seeking cheap land but with a freehold title.

Harrison from Juha Properties frequently encounters the question: "Where do your clients get the money to buy these kinds of properties?". Some people assume that because they cannot afford high-end properties, others should not be able to either. Answering this question diplomatically is a challenge, as it risks offending the buyer by indirectly implying that he is poor while others are rich.

Denis from Rentwide finds the most challenging question to be: "How low can the landlord go on the price of this property?" He says this question is particularly tricky because "many buyers ask it before even touring the property", yet landlords generally do not negotiate with absentee buyers.

Additionally, they typically do not disclose their lowest price upfront, as they prefer to leave room for negotiation. However, many landlords may be willing to lower the price significantly if the buyer shows up to the property in person, demonstrates seriousness, or commits to making an upfront cash payment.

Another difficult question Denis often receives is: "Can we swap this property with another?" The challenge to this question lies in the fact that property swaps are uncommon in Uganda, and many landlords are unfamiliar with the process, making such transactions complex to handle.

Ronald from Trusted Engineers/Contractors and Property Agents finds that the hardest questions come from buyers who "want expensive properties but have a very low budget". These questions are difficult to navigate because high-end properties are inherently incompatible with limited budgets. While negotiation is always part of real estate, the reality is that premium properties come with premium price tags, and no amount of persuasion can drastically alter market value.

Joseph from BAI Properties encounters challenges when buyers ask him to "confirm the availability of water, electricity, and internet" in very remote areas, particularly when purchasing agricultural land. Buyers should understand that such utilities are luxuries, not necessities, in remote areas.

Another difficult question Joseph faces is: "Can you provide a copy of the land title?" In cases where the seller is unwilling to share copies freely, this becomes a very delicate, sticky and game changing issue for the buyer. Some sellers fear that "potential buyers may forge documents and attempt fraud", making them reluctant to distribute title copies to every Mukasa, Okello and Tumusiime.

Oprah from Rentwide notes that buyers frequently ask about "rent-to-own options", but this concept is still relatively rare in Uganda's real estate market. As a result, real estate agents face challenges in offering definitive answers, since such arrangements are not widely practiced or understood locally. This makes it difficult to provide a concrete answer to an idea that does not widely apply to the local market.

Ivan from Vaniland Properties finds the most challenging question to be: "How far is the property from the main road?" While this may seem like a very simple question, the difficulty lies in the buyer's perception of distance, especially on marram roads. Buyers who are used to driving on tarmac roads often feel that the distance is much farther than it actually is because they drive slower on rough terrain, leading to longer travel times.

When a buyer says, "I need a house near the road", what exactly does that mean? Similarly, "why would they buy a house on a main road?". The interpretation of distance varies from buyer to buyer, while some may find 1 kilometer too far, others may consider it acceptable. These differing perceptions highlight the diverse ways buyers evaluate proximity and accessibility when choosing a property.

And now, my opinion (drum roll)! The most difficult question of them all is the one frequently encountered by Wilberforce from Credo Properties Limited. That question is not only challenging but can also be quite disappointing and annoying, especially when it is asked after the buyer has already toured the property.

The frustration comes from the realization that the buyer may have been wasting valuable time, as their stated preference or budget does not align with what they actually want. At that moment, it becomes clear that despite all the effort invested in arranging and conducting the viewing, the buyer was never truly interested or had unrealistic budget expectations from the start.

And now, your opinion (drum roll)! If you have ever encountered a particularly challenging question from a property buyer that has not been mentioned or addressed in this blog, we would all love to hear about it! Simply click the share & comment button below and post/share your question and its challenges along side this blog into your favorite (real estate) WhatsApp group.

I (or my team) will come across it there, review it, and include it in this blog so as to make it even more comprehensive and valuable for real estate professionals. Your input will help enrich the discussion and provide even better guidance for agents navigating tricky buyer questions.