Just Checking In... Any Updates?

If I had a dollar for every time I received that email or phone call, I'd probably be the one buying businesses instead of selling them.

"Just checking in... any updates?"

It's one of the most common questions any business broker or real estate agent hears. And the truth is, it's usually asked because the seller is anxious—not impatient.

Selling something you've built is deeply personal. Whether it's a business, a commercial property or the family home, there comes a point where life feels like it's sitting in limbo. Plans are waiting on a sale. Decisions are on hold. Every notification on your phone has the potential to change your future.

So naturally, you want an update.

Here's the difficult part.

Sometimes the update is simply... there isn't one.

Not because your agent has disappeared.

Not because buyers aren't looking.

Not because your asset isn't worth buying.

But because buyers are behaving differently.

Over the past couple of years, we've seen a significant shift in buyer psychology. Interest rates, lending conditions, economic uncertainty and the constant stream of negative headlines have made buyers far more cautious than they once were.

Years ago, buyers worried about missing out.

Today, they worry about making the wrong decision.

That subtle change has added weeks—sometimes months—to buying decisions.

Today's buyers ask more questions. They seek more advice. They complete more due diligence. They compare more opportunities. They revisit the numbers several times before committing. Many don't just need confidence in the asset—they need confidence in the economy, in themselves and in tomorrow.

From a seller's perspective, that silence can feel unsettling.

But silence doesn't necessarily mean inactivity.

In fact, some of the most important work happens behind the scenes.

Conversations with buyers. Follow-up calls. Financial information being reviewed. Finance applications progressing. Accountants asking questions. Lawyers reviewing documents. Family discussions around the dinner table.

Very little of that is visible to the seller.

It's a bit like watching an iceberg drift across the ocean. You only see a small fraction above the surface, while the bulk of what's happening sits underneath.

As agents, it's our job to keep those conversations moving, remove obstacles and continue introducing new buyers while existing ones work through their process.

Could we provide an update every day?

Absolutely.

But if the update is simply, "We're still following up buyers," it probably doesn't change your position—it just interrupts the work required to create the next meaningful update.

That doesn't mean communication isn't important. It is.

Sellers deserve transparency, honesty and timely feedback. They deserve to know when something changes, when buyer sentiment shifts or when pricing or strategy should be revisited.

But they also deserve reassurance that progress isn't always loud.

Sometimes, progress looks like patience.

The market hasn't stopped.

Deals are still being done.

Businesses are still changing hands.

Properties are still selling.

The journey simply takes longer than it once did.

So, if you're a seller waiting for that phone call, know this: asking for an update is completely understandable.

And if you're an agent receiving that call for the fifth time this week, remember something too.

Behind every "Any updates?" is usually someone who isn't asking about the sale.

They're asking whether their future is still moving forward.

Sometimes the most valuable update we can give isn't new information.

It's reassurance.