Making the Offer Attractive to the Seller or How Not to Blow It
April 4th, 2008 categories: Buying Real Estate, Selling Real Estate
Oh my gosh, you have found your house. HALLELUJAH! Now comes the offer. Do you low ball the Seller, offer full price or something in between? You have your list of items you want addressed. Yeah, I know you want a flooring allowance, closing costs, painting allowance, home owners warranty, all the appliances to convey, window coverings, that really nice dining table and chairs, on and on ad nausium. Come on, let’s be resonable here. If this were your house, would you even consider a low ball offer with all these conditions? Not only no BUT HELL NO. So what are you doing? Once you alienate the Seller, the deal is in the toilet. When making an offer, find some middle ground where you can negotiate. The Seller will be more willing to give on important issues. Who knows, the Seller may even be willing to let go of Great Aunt Bessie’s dining table and chairs. Being reasonable is a good thing. Try it. You’ll like it.
I always wonder how agents convince a buyer (and sometimes seller) to be “reasonable”. Maybe we should all remember that old story about “walking in another’s shoes” before we ask for the moon.
I think that a buyer who has an agent that also lists that buyer has an advantage. Her agent is versed in viewing a transaction from both sides. Definitely “putting yourself in anothers shoes” is a healthy approach. I also like to think that “treating others as you would like to be treated” is a good idea, always.