The Sellers guide to great property negotiation

Even this is easy if you stand back and look at it !

It’s natural for a buyer to want to pay as little as possible for your property. But that’s not the end of the world because once you recognise it’s not all about the money, you are back in the driving seat.

Buyer’s Motivating Factors

Remember people move for a million reasons. Work, moving kids into a school catchment, wanting to be near family, a splitup, a new marriage, a growing family, an investment, a holiday home, a home to rent out.

Recognise what factors made them look at your property in the first place and what needs they have.

Tip 1

Don’t allow an emotional response to an offer derail you. Keep it professional and don’t get offended if you think it’s a silly offer. Keep control by understanding whats happening in the background

Create breathing space if face to face or on the phone

When you’ve got an offer on the table – you can say, ‘OK, that is less than we have been looking for and less than we think our property is worth. Let us have a think about it and we’ll let you know in the morning’

‘Before that, can we just go through this little check list to make sure we are all on the same page?’

Use this basic checklist on the phone or in person……..

YOUR SOLICITOR/CONVEYANCER will verify all the information below for you if you decide to sell to them, but to avoid timewasters and false starts, get this basic information up front to help you make your decision

If they have a property to sell, has the person making an offer sold yet?

How long ago?

Does that person have a property to sell too, or are they the bottom of the chain?

How many in the chain if there is one?

What can they tell you about the chain?

When do they want to move in?

Tip 2

Push it to email if you are more comfortable with that …..

Ask them to put their offer in an email ‘for my solicitor to look at’ and send them this template!!!

Easy! This allows some breathing space and

Offer amount

Buyer’s full name/s, address and email

Phone number

Buyer’s Solicitor’s name, address and email

Phone number

Does the buyer require a mortgage Y/N

If yes, please confirm if you have an agreement in principle

Property to sell Y/N

If yes, please supply details as below of your chain

How long ago did you agree your sale?

Has your buyer had a survey and mortgage offer, if so please advise date of mortgage offer.

Does your buyer have a property to sell Y/N

If yes, please supply details of the chain .

Tip 3

Never split the difference !

Put the ball back in their court and see what happens. After all, at this point you are just having a chat.

Phrases like ‘ I want to thank you again for your offer yesterday,