We’ve all been there. You get an offer, you look it over, and . . . you can’t part with your house for that amount of money. Even here in Modesto, it’s a hard choice, especially when the offers are few and far between. How do you politely tell a buyer that you’re not willing to go that low?
Don’t Make a Fast Decision
Before you get angry, it might help to calm down a bit. After all, you don’t want to scare off potential customers by having a major freak-out over a low price. Plus, it’s one of the cornerstones of negotiation- keep your temper, and make sure that the customer doesn’t know they’re getting to you. You don’t want to end up making a decision you regret later, like dropping a high-price buyer because they were $50,000 short of your goal.
Make A Good Counter Offer
On that thought, a good counter offer will usually be a little higher than the buyer’s idea. Don’t go too high- then you’ll just be back at square one. Make sure that you can negotiate with your buyer. Try to aim for a price in the middle of yours and the buyer’s, without leaning too far in either direction. Don’t beat around the bush, either! Make sure that your buyer clearly understands how much your counteroffer is for.
Know When To Walk Away
It can be hard to walk away from a buyer, and that’s true everywhere- even in Modesto. But sometimes, when the buyer isn’t negotiating and you can’t sell your house that low, it’s necessary. Make sure to negotiate to the best of your ability, and pull in your realtor if you need to- but know when an offer is just too low, and walk away.