Selling or buying a home can be a wonderful experience … or a troublesome one. It all depends on the parties involved. Naturally, having it be a wonderful, joyous, exciting time is the preferred outcome and that’s what happens in the majority of sales.
HOW TO BECOME A FRIEND
First of all both parties should rejoice in the fact that they share some things in common – they both like the house and they both want to move to a different home than where they are living now. Having a buyer choose a seller’s home is a complement to the seller. Likewise, having a seller trust the buyer enough to allow them to walk through the home and investigate its innermost corners during an inspection, is a complement to the buyer.
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Follow the GOLDEN RULE!
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Both parties should recognize that the Contract for the purchase of a home MUST be a win-win for both parties or it won’t become a Contract. The negotiation process to settle on the details of the Contract will attempt to find a common ground between the two parties. To some people, the closing/possession date is more important than the purchase price. To others the price may be more critical and they are more flexible on other terms. It’s a give & take to find which terms are acceptable to both parties. Keeping an open mind and looking for workable solutions during negotiations will result in both parties being satisfied.
What it really boils down to is having RESPECT for the other party. People that remember that the others are people as well – with feelings, emotions, and maybe some financial concerns - will usually do much, much better in the negotiation process. Often, when both parties work together and respect each other, good things happen. A seller may decide to leave something for the buyer that the buyer otherwise would have to purchase. The buyer may be willing to overlook some moving dust if events happen to cause the seller to run out of time during the moving process. I’ve even had sellers plan a neighborhood BBQ to introduce the buyers to their new neighbors. That’s wonderful!
HOW TO BECOME A FOE
- Start out with an attitude of it’s MY way or the highway!
- Make DEMANDS rather than suggest SOLUTIONS.
- Treat the other side as if they were an inanimate object – not a real person with feelings.
- If you’re the buyer and the seller gave you a good price for the home, add to the seller’s financial pain by submitting a 2-page list of remedies you demand be fixed.
- If you’re the seller and the buyer paid full or nearly full list price, refuse to do ANY of the requested repairs even though they may be legitimate.
- Threaten to pull out of the Contract every chance you get. That keeps everybody on their toes, keeps stress levels high and makes you feel powerful.
WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE?
If you’re a seller and have friends in the neighborhood, do you really want the buyer telling your friends what an arse you were? Likewise, if you’re a buyer, do you want the seller to alert your new neighbors such they decide it’s best to not get acquainted with you or welcome you? Obviously neither is the desired situation. So go into your home buying or selling process with a positive attitude and you’ll eventually be so glad you did, when everybody has a great time at the closing table.
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