Negotiating to a “Win-Win” agreement
Negotiating a purchase agreement can be the trickiest aspect of any real estate transaction. Most home buyers and home sellers aspire to arrive at a win-win agreement. Successful negotiating is more than a matter of luck or natural talent. Marcie Geffner writing for AOL Personal Finance offers these suggestions to turn negotiating into agreement.
Start with a fair price and a fair offer. Asking and offering prices should be based on recent sales prices of comparable homes.
Respect the other side’s priorities. Know what’s important to the person on the other side of the table and this will help you avoid pushing too hard on hot or sensitive issues. A seller, who won’t budge on the sales price, might be willing to pay more of the transaction costs or make more repairs to the home.
Meet in the middle. If you can’t decide who’ll pay the recording fee, or are arguing over cosmetic repairs, split the difference. It’s a time-honored and often successful negotiating strategy.
Leave it aside. If you have a major sticking point that’s not material to the overall contract, such as the purchase of furniture and fixtures, finish the main 
agreement, then resolve the other difficulties in a side agreement or amendment. This allows both sides to move ahead toward a fair compromise on other terms and conditions.
Ask for advice from your real estate professional. I am an experienced negotiator who knows what works and what doesn’t in contract disputes.
If you’re ready to begin your home buying or selling experience, give me a call. My experience in successful negotiating will attain the win-win agreement both buyers and sellers hope to achieve.
Which features add to value of home?
The National Association of Realtors recently completed a study examining various home features and their impact on the value of a home.
Here are a few of their conclusions:
• Central air conditioning adds about 12 percent to the price of a home.
• A basement increases value by
9 percent.
• Fireplaces add about 12 percent.
• Houses with flat roofs sell for about 10 percent less than those with pitched roofs.
• A useable attic adds about 13 percent to the selling price.
• A garage adds about 13 percent to the s elling price.
• Close proximity to a golf course adds about 8 percent to the selling price.
Quote of the Day
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Albert Einstein
Whether your silver was handed down from Great-Grandmother, or purchased at a flea market, it all needs to be cared for in the same way. Better Homes & Gardens magazine offers these tips on caring for your precious silver possessions.
To keep your silver at its shiny best, use a 100-percent-cotton-cloth and a mild liquid polish that contains jeweler’s rouge. Rinse the piece in mild, soapy water; dry immediately; and shine it with a second dry, clean, 100-percent-cotton cloth.
Store silver in original chamois wrappings, roll-up plastic setting sleeves, or soft cotton bags.
Never wrap silver with plastic wrap or newspaper. Place in elastic bags, or tie with elastic bands.
To clean silver flatware, soak in soapy, hot water separate from other metals to remove stuck-on foods. Rinse with hot water and dry until warm with a clean soft dishtowel.
Don’t clean your silver with steel wool, scouring pads, or paper toweling. They will scratch silver.
Frequent use is the best way to reduce tarnish.
Think it takes a big down payment to buy a home? Call to learn about 0-down payment mortgages! ( 985) 674-0915
|
