Negotiate The Best Price

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Buyers want to purchase for the lowest amount, and sellers want to sell for the highest amount. Everyone wants to keep their money! Discussing negotiation issues with a real estate professional is the best way to position yourself for a powerful negotiation. Contact me to discuss these suggestions and other concerns with your real estate agent
 

• A Swift Sale - A powerful way to negotiate the best price is to find out if the Seller needs a quick sale. If they have signed a contract to purchase another home, or have already made the purchase, they will be anxious to make a quick deal, in order to honor the one they have already made. Also, find out how long the home has been on the market. Sellers may also be anxious to make a quick sale on a home that has been on the market for a long period of time. When the Seller is looking to quickly sell their home, they will be less apt to excessively haggle over price, which will be to your benefit.
  
   
• Don’t Make a Low Offer - While it is smart to make an offer at the low end of the value for the neighborhood, it is not wise to make an extraordinarily low offer for the home. The Seller will know that you are not a serious candidate for the home, and may not even want to negotiate. Another danger involved in making a low offer is that the Seller may receive a second and more reasonable offer and decide not to sell to you, causing you to lose the home you truly wanted. Making a reasonable offer on a home demonstrates that you are a serious candidate and are sincerely interested in the home.
  
   
• Maximum Price - Know the maximum price you are willing to pay for the home. Once you know exactly how high you are willing to go, you can place yourself in a stronger negotiating position. However, as firm as these prices are, it is okay to be a little flexible. There is no sense in letting your purchase fall apart over a couple hundred dollars. Also, find out if the price you are working with involves appliances, certain amenities or decorations. You may go a little over your price, but it may still be cheaper than having to purchase all new appliances for the home.
  
   
• Don’t Limit Your Options - Competition is your strongest point. There is nothing like a little competition to spark the interest of the Seller. If they know you are interested in another property, they will worry about not selling their house to you, especially if they need a quick sale. Casually mention that you are viewing other homes, so Sellers know that theirs is not the only home you are considering.
  
   
• A Final Walk Through - Buyers should make sure to walk through the home 24 hours before the closing. By doing a final walk through, you have one last opportunity to inspect and evaluate the home. Should you find elements of the home that are not as in good of shape as you thought, make sure to address these concerns before you close on the home. If you have discovered problems with the house, you may have the seller pay for the correction, or lower the price you will pay for the home so that you can make the correction. This is not a time to renegotiate, just a final opportunity to insure that everything you bargained for is as it should be.
  
   
• Fast, Firm and Low - Always bring your offer in fast, firm and low. By setting down your counteroffer fast, you make the statement that you are serious about the transaction. A good rule of thumb is to try and place a counteroffer within 24 hours, if not directly at the table. Firmly stating your offer will show that you are steadfast about your price, and it will be hard to negotiate much further. Offering a reasonably low price will save you money, while still purchasing the home of your dreams.
  
   
• Avoid Contingent On Sale of Current Home - Avoid placing an offer contingent on the sale of your current home. Let’s look at an example of how this can cost you thousands. Pretend that your current home is worth $150,000 and you want to purchase a home for $300,000. However, you want to place an offer that is contingent on the sale of the home you currently own. The seller, whose $300,000 home is actually only worth $250,000, will charge you full price for his/her home because they agree to take their home off of the market, without actually knowing if your home will sell, in order to complete the transaction. So, by placing the offer contingent on the sale of your home, you have already lost $25,000 by paying full price for the new home. Now, when you go to sell your home, you will be looking for a quick sale so that you may close the deal on your new home. Because you are looking for a quick sale, you sell your current home for $125,000, rather than $150,000. So, now you have lost $25,000 on the sale of your current home. Total, you have missed out on $50,000 because of the contingency. This example illustrates how placing a contingent on the sale of your current home can cost you thousands of dollars. In order to save the most money, it is usually better to have your current home sold before negotiating to purchase your new home.

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