Negotiating Tips

Mortgage
Negotiating Tips

During the homebuying process, there's plenty of room for negotiating the final sales price. Use these tips to create a strategy to receive your ideal price.

Negotiating is a major aspect of buying a home: the buyer wants to buy the house for the lowest price possible, while the seller is hoping to get the most. Ultimately, through the process of negotiating, both parties will have to come to a compromise. Work with your realtor to negotiate the price.

MAKE SURE YOUR REALTOR HAS APPROPRIATE NEGOTIATION SKILLS

Realtors are not required to take negotiating classes, so it is up to you to find out if your Realtor has taken the proper steps to prepare for negotiating. This is vital due to the realtor being the primary voice between you and the selling party. You can find out if the realtor has negotiation skills by asking him about the number of negotiations that he has conducted in his career and his negotiation process.

FIND OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE SELLING PARTY

The negotiating process is very similar to the game of poker. The more you know about the opponent’s hand; the more successful you will be. By working with your realtor, you can find the answers to the following questions, which will give you an edge when negotiating the price of your home.

  • How long has the home been on the market?
  • Why is the home being sold?
  • Have there been past offers on the home? Why weren’t they accepted?
  • Have there been any price reductions? When did the last occur?
  • What is the seller’s ideal moving date?

SEND A LETTER TO THE SELLER EXPLAINING THE BENEFITS YOU BRING TO THE TABLE

By writing a letter to the seller, you can communicate reasons why they should accept your offer. When writing the letter, include the terms that you both agree on. Also, share with the seller that you have pre-qualified for the loan – this shows them that you are qualified to purchase the home.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

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Information presented in the Financial Advice website is provided for educational purposes only and is not related to Ameris Bank's actual products or services. Ameris Bank makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness or specific suitability of any information presented. Information provided should not be relied on or interpreted as accounting, financial planning, investment, legal or tax advice. Ameris Bank recommends you consult a professional for any specific guidance you are seeking.