Negotiate house price and win

How to get a $12,000 discount when buying your new home just for asking less

<<>> I get questions all of the time on what improvements can I make to increase my home value. When buying a home, they want to make sure that they are buying value. By this, I mean are the hardwood floors well cared for? What about the counter tops. How’s the landscaping? While many of these items are a good indication of how you may be able to add instant equity to your home, don’t forget to negotiate house price. Ask for a price reduction. This is the easiest way to save $12,000 or more, just for asking. It’s that simple.

When you find a home that you like automatically take a minimum of 6% off of the asking price. On a typical $200,000 home, this will save you $12,000, just like that.

Better yet, make your realtor work and find out what the difference is between the active listings in your market and the sold homes in your market. In some areas that I regularly appraise, the difference may be as high as 16% or more. If you pay a full price offer, you lose and your realtor (that is supposed to be working with you) and the home owner wins.

I’ve had first hand experience of buying agents that are supposed to work with me when I’m buying a home, but sometimes they are more worried about their commission check. I was in a hurry to buy a home. I found a realtor and started working with him. I looked at 12 to 15 homes in a few days. From this group of homes, I selected one that I was going to purchase.

My professional career allows me to determine home values. I told the realtor to make an offer less than the asking price.

When I tell you what he said, you’re going to be shocked. He told me that he wanted to make sure that the seller was happy.

And I thought he was working for me.

As it turns out, he was just worried about making this sale so that he’d get his full commission.

Don’t buy someone else's problem and make sure you and your realtor will negotiate for you. It is the easiest way to save $12,000. Try it, you’ll be surprised.