8 Real Estate Negotiation Tips

When buying a real estate investment property youthe seller better terms. This can often make the seller
need to be aware that negotiation plays a big part onmore receptive and accept your proposition.
your bottom line, or the potential profit you could make.Selling your investment property:
Below are 8 great negotiation strategies that you can1. Be sure that you really want to sell the property
use when buying real estate.Before you tell anyone that your property is on sale,
1. Check if the seller is motivated to sell the propertythink if it is really the case. If you deeply hate the idea
In real estate investing, dealing with someone whoof selling the property, it is generally a good idea to try
does not really want to sell their property is a wasteto keep it. Every real estate deal has pluses and
of time - you should forget about them and move on,minuses. If you sell, you get instant cash profits, but
no matter how promising the deal might look like. Howsacrifice long term capital growth. If you decide to hold,
to check the seller's motivation level? It's relativelythe opposite applies.
simple: try to make an appointment. If he or she puts it2. Be reasonable
off (especially if it happens a few times in a row),When it comes to negotiations, don't be ridiculous. You
there is a 90% chance that the seller is not motivatedcan demand high prices, but make sure that they are
to sell.reasonable (certainly not twice the average). You will
2. Inspect a property before making your first offeronly be left with an overpriced property that will be
Never, ever make an offer before a close inspectiondifficult to sell. Moreover, making such high offers may
of a property. This will put you on the back footcause some real estate investors to back out from
throughout whole negotiation process! Also, don't letthe negotiations. You usually can hope for more than
the seller force you into making your offer RIGHTthe buyer's first offer though, so it is always worth to
AFTER the inspection. You will need at least a fewhaggle a little.
hours to prepare your final offer. It's best to inspect the3. Read through all the clauses and contingencies
property and then make an appointment for thebefore signing anything
following day. Do not make any offers before thatThere's an old saying: "The devil's in the details."
time!Nowhere is it truer than in real estate deals. Before
3. Prepare more than a single offeryou sign anything, read the contract (especially the
Do not enter negotiations with only a single offer. Evensmall print). Such things as being held responsible for
if you don't have any aces in your sleeve, make suremaking all necessary repairs requested by the buyer
that you can make at least three offers - and thator agreeing for waiting six or seven months for the
your final one is still profitable enough to enter the deal!money may spoil even the best-looking deal.
4. Talk to the seller while leaving4. "There's always another buyer around the corner"
If you and the seller can't reach an agreement, try thisIf the purchaser does not seem to be able to meet
simple trick: make your final offer standing at the door.your price expectations or offers you terms you
First off, this way you give a clear sign that the sellercannot really accept, don't waste your time. There is
can't hope for a better deal. Then, this puts the selleralways another purchaser around the corner - and
on notice that you are about to walk away from theeven if there won't be anyone else, you can always
deal - he or she may not like your offer, but there is nocall the buyer later, can't you?
guarantee that the next real estate investor will give