your sales goals? Make sure you get a CMA as a starting point for pricing your home. You and your agent need to work together to set the right asking price, and you need to be absolutely confident about it, before entering the negotiation stage.
MISTAKE #4: NOT KEEPING EMOTIONS AT BAY
The key to a strong negotiation is keeping your emotions in check. This cannot be emphasized enough, particularly if you’re downsizing, as you will likely have more emotional attachment to your current home and the life you led there. This can also be a problem if you’re feeling the pressure to sell your home and downsize quickly. But remember, you don’t want to end up settling for a lower price because you let your emotions get the best of you. Remain calm, cool, and collected, as much as you can, and while you should certainly be friendly and professional, don’t appear emotionally invested, anxious, or stressed. Having a real estate agent on your side can really help, as he or she can make sure you’re staying on track and focused, and can speak on your behalf when you’re overwhelmed.
MISTAKE #5: SHARING TOO MUCH
This common seller mistake goes hand in hand with failing to keep emotions in check. There are many reasons you might give away too much information. You could have become too friendly with the buyer, giving away more than you intended to, you might have inadvertently answered a question from a buyer or buyer’s agent skilled in negotiations, or maybe your emotions got the better of you. Downsizing can be an intense, emotional process, but reread Mistake #4 so you can remember that this is a business transaction. A good business transaction requires good
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