home, ask them if their home is under contract, as well.
Once you find the right house for you, when are you planning on moving in? Don’t be surprised if they cannot give you a straight answer right away. However, if they blow this question off completely, you may want to look at other buyers. If this particular buyer says “Within the next couple of months,” or “Within a year at the very least,” they are motivated to purchase a new home. If they simply say, “I’m/we’re not sure,” then you’re better off looking at a different buyer. The same applies if they say, “Maybe seven months or so,” or something along those lines—that would be a long time to keep your house on the market while they make up their minds, and isn’t worth the hassle.
STARTING THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS
During negotiations, you will have a lot to do. You will need to have certain things prepared beforehand, there will be a lot of numbers to go over, and a whole pile of other issues to deal with. Let’s run through the basics:
The Initial Preparation
The first step during the negotiation process is one of the most important ones: get your home as clean as possible. Make sure everything is in absolute first-class condition. If you have to hire professional cleaners because you do not have the time or the energy to do it yourself, the result could be even better. This also includes making any repairs that need to be completed, just so the buyer cannot raise any significant objections in the closing process. Remember: the warranty of the home will go a long way when it comes to overcoming any objections. 83
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