even seasoned buyers entering retirement, make the mistake of “falling in love” with a home and letting it show. To avoid this, use your agent to speak on your behalf and serve as the “middleman” or “buffer” between you and the seller during the negotiations. Your agent can also provide helpful information regarding the seller’s intentions, which the other party won’t disclose to you.
DO Ask Questions.
A good negotiation strategy is to ask questions and be curious. Make sure your questions to the seller/seller’s agent are specific and targeted, though. Don’t be vague. Ask about the home, the condition, the seller, the seller’s situation, etc., which can provide valuable and useful information, such as why they’re selling, which you can use as leverage at the bargaining table. Try to be subtle, though. Expressing interest is great, but you don’t want to go too far. You’ll find that most real estate agents and experts agree that when sellers can tell how badly buyers want a home, they won’t accept the first offer, because they know they now have leverage.
DON’T Act Indifferent.
Tying directly into what I just explained, don’t assume that being curious means being nosy or invasive. Yes, you do want to be subtle in your questions, but not so subtle that you appear uninterested in purchasing the home. It’s really all about balance, and a real estate agent can help you achieve this balance. Basically, it boils down to wanting the seller to know you’re definitely interested, but you’re not desperate for it, and are even considering other options (even if that’s not true).
DO Be Willing to Compromise.
As I’ve mentioned before, you might need to make concessions during negotiations. Being prepared for
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