Purchasing a home that you don’t love or that you can’t a ff ord will be a majo r fin ancial burden for you to carry for years to come. If you’ve followed the above negotiation tips and techniques, and you’ve found the right home for the right price, then there’s one fin al negotiation “do” you need to know. Sign all documents carefully and cautiously! Be sure to acknowledge all terms and conditions, and understand all potential liabilities, before signing any o ffi cial documents. Once you sign the contract, you will be unable to make any amendments without renegotiating a completely new deal with the seller and signing a new contract. HOW TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE: Naturally, there is lot to consider when you fin ally get to the negotiations part of the home-buying process. Yes, it’s considered the most important, as well as the most challenging, component of buying a home, but that doesn’t mean you need to be afraid or overwhelmed. In fact, armed with research and information, as well as the negotiation do’s and don’ts outlined above, you can gain the advantage. So how can you make sure you have the upper hand — the power — in the negotiation process? If you come away with anything that you read in this chapter on negotiating the price of a home you wish to purchase, it’s that you need to hire a good real estate agent. Th is point cannot be emphasized enough. However, not just any agent will do; you need someone who is qua lifi ed, experienced, an expert negotiator, and is on your side — someone willing to fig ht on your behalf and isn’t just in it for themselves. If you don’t bring your own real estate agent to the table when it comes time for negotiations, you will come o ff as vulnerable (even if you have some skills in the negotiating department), and 120
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