Blog Post Top 10 Mistakes
Top 10 Mistakes Mineral Owners Make When Selling Their Mineral Rights (and How to Avoid Them)
Selling mineral rights can be one of the biggest financial decisions a mineral owner ever makes — yet most owners receive little information beyond what a buyer or operator tells them. This leads to mistakes that can cost tens of thousands of dollars (or more).
At MyMineralOptions.com, we help mineral owners avoid these pitfalls by providing transparent valuations, offer comparisons, geological insights, and negotiation support.
If you’ve received an offer and want a free review, send it to:
📧 Offers@MyMineralOptions.com
📧 Valuations@MyMineralOptions.com
🟥 THE TOP 10 MISTAKES MINERAL OWNERS MAKE
1. Taking the First Offer Without Comparing Others
Most first offers are low-ball fishing efforts.
Mineral buyers count on owners being uninformed or in a hurry.
A mineral’s true market value can be 30–300% higher than the first offer.
Avoid this mistake:
📧 Compare offers → Acquisitions@MyMineralOptions.com
2. Not Knowing What They Actually Own
Many owners don’t know whether they own:
Minerals
Royalty
NPRI
ORRI
Executive rights
Depth rights
Buyers know this — and take advantage of it.
Avoid this mistake:
📧 Ownership verification → Land@MyMineralOptions.com
3. Not Requesting a Proper Valuation
A real mineral valuation requires analyzing:
Geology
PDP income
PUD locations
Decline curves
Unit structure
Operator behavior
Buyers do this. Most owners don’t.
Avoid this mistake:
📧 Free valuation → Valuations@MyMineralOptions.com
4. Believing All Buyers Are the Same
Buyers fall into categories:
Wholesalers
Flippers
Institutional funds
1031 exchange buyers
Royalty portfolios
Operators
Each pays differently.
Avoid this mistake:
📧 Offer analysis → Offers@MyMineralOptions.com
5. Not Negotiating the PSA (Purchase & Sale Agreement)
Many owners assume the PSA is “standard.”
It isn’t — and it usually favors the buyer.
Critical PSA terms include:
Effective date
Title defects
Warranty of title
Curative obligations
Payment timeline
Depth severance
ORRI retention
Avoid this mistake:
📧 PSA review → Legal@MyMineralOptions.com
6. Forgetting to Keep ORRI or NPRI
Many mineral owners don’t realize they can:
Sell all minerals
BUT keep a royalty stream via ORRI or NPRI
This mistake alone can cost a family decades of income.
Avoid this mistake:
📧 ORRI/NPRI structuring → Legal@MyMineralOptions.com
7. Not Understanding the Value of Future Wells
Buyers often value minerals based on:
Future drilling inventory
Multi-well potential
Formation stacking
Offset well performance
Owners who sell without knowing PUD value often leave huge upside behind.
Avoid this mistake:
📧 Geologic/PUD review → Geology_Formations@MyMineralOptions.com
8. Not Reviewing Lease Terms That Affect Value
Lease clauses that impact your sale price:
Royalty rate
Deduction language
Shut-in clauses
Pooling restrictions
Depth severance
Pugh clauses
Avoid this mistake:
📧 Lease review → Leasing@MyMineralOptions.com
9. Allowing the Buyer to Control the Entire Process
Buyers hope you:
Don’t compare offers
Don’t negotiate
Don’t ask questions
Don’t hire experts
This gives them full control over valuation and terms.
Avoid this mistake:
📧 Offer negotiation → Acquisitions@MyMineralOptions.com
10. Selling Minerals That Are About to Increase in Value
Owners often sell right before:
A permit is approved
A rig moves in
A new unit is formed
An offset well comes online
A new operator takes over
Louisiana servitude-prescription issues are cured
Knowing the timing can be worth a fortune.
Avoid this mistake:
📧 Activity review → Geology_Formations@MyMineralOptions.com
🟩 BONUS MISTAKE — Not Understanding Louisiana Prescription Rules
Louisiana mineral servitudes expire after 10 years of nonuse.
Many owners accidentally lose their minerals because:
No well was drilled
No unit existed
No acknowledgment was signed
This dramatically affects value.
Avoid this mistake:
📧 Louisiana legal review → Legal@MyMineralOptions.com
🟦 SECTION — HOW TO AVOID ALL 10 MISTAKES
✔ Get a free mineral valuation
✔ Compare offers from multiple buyers
✔ Review PSA language
✔ Understand your geology & unit
✔ Review lease terms
✔ Structure ORRI/NPRI when beneficial
✔ Protect yourself with experts
We can do all of this for you at no cost.
🟥 CALL TO ACTION
Considering an offer to sell your minerals? Let us analyze it for free.
Send us your:
Offers
LOIs
Check stubs
Leases
Unit information
PSA drafts
We’ll explain the value, risks, and options available to you.
📧 Send Your Offers: Offers@MyMineralOptions.com
📧 Request a Free Valuation: Valuations@MyMineralOptions.com
📧 General Questions: Info@MyMineralOptions.com
