| For the moment we can mostly forget the days | | | | purchase price. There is an old proverb that |
| when five buyers were all clamoring for our | | | | covers this type of deal: setting a mouse to |
| house and we chose the ones with the cutest | | | | catch a tiger. You throw away a little thing |
| kid. Nowadays, if a buyer presents itself | | | | to entice the big thing. |
| (and its offer!) we are quaking in our boots | | | | |
| wondering if we even dare to counter-offer to | | | | You may have to offer more, but if it will |
| get the deal without rocking the boat! | | | | clinch the deal it may be worth it. For |
| | | | instance, if they want you to get the roof |
| Of course, the realtor will do all this | | | | done before they move in, talk to your |
| nerve-wracking stuff for us, and he will have | | | | realtor about whether this will really |
| more 'inside information' to go one, but we | | | | guarantee a definite sale. |
| are still involved as the buck stops with us! | | | | |
| Several key points are relevant in all | | | | As far as the prospective buyer's financing |
| negotiations. Very briefly these are: state | | | | goes, your real estate agent will have the |
| of the market; extras involved (if any); | | | | entire scoop on that one, it is part of his |
| buyer's financing; negotiating skills; who | | | | job to try and assess the genuine purchasing |
| has the advantage? | | | | power of any prospective buyer. |
| | | | |
| Well, in the first case, we all know the | | | | There is one other way that is gaining more |
| state of the market. It is the type of market | | | | popularity in this market, that of actually |
| where it is better to be buying than selling! | | | | making a 'seller's contribution'. This means |
| Therefore this could be one black mark to you | | | | you will offer to pay for some of the |
| (okay - gray mark). | | | | expenses involved in buying the house. |
| | | | |
| As for the extras involved, this will be | | | | Help the buyer to proceed: it could be |
| entirely up to you. But if there are extras | | | | anything, but you are probably best advised |
| involved, it will swing the balance back to a | | | | in helping with the closing costs, as at |
| more fair level. Buying a house is not all | | | | least you will be nearer to the finalities by |
| about money, as most of us realize. | | | | then. This is a better way of helping than |
| | | | dropping the asking price, which would mean |
| Our emotions are involved; the 'feel' of the | | | | delays while the legal agreement that you had |
| house, the neighborhood and some practical | | | | both signed was changed. |
| aspects are all tantamount to our choice. | | | | |
| However, after that, the bottom line is hard | | | | With regard to expertise, these days you can |
| cash! | | | | find buyer's agent's as well as seller's |
| | | | agents although most home-owners seem to |
| This is where you can pull the balance a | | | | stick to the traditional method of sale. |
| little over to your side by offering some | | | | However, when you choose your real estate |
| unlisted extras. For instance if it is 15 | | | | agent, try to be objective about assessing |
| years since you bought your refrigerator and | | | | his negotiating skills. Is he sincere and |
| they would probably buy the house if you | | | | charismatic, or does something of his manner |
| bought a new one - buy a new one! The cost is | | | | irritate you slightly? Choose carefully, he |
| a very small percentage - very small - of the | | | | will be representing your bank balance! |