How not to negotiate!

This week we did a great piece of business for a client in negotiating £20K off the Home Report price for a property. Not convinced that the Home Report was a true reflection on the value of the property though. Surveyors may have been standing on their tip toes with this one. None the less fairly certain that the client has a good deal on this one.

What dissappointed me though was the way that the negotiation went. It is fair to say that you expect to have a bit of a fight when you are negotiating and common wisdom says that a fair negotiation is where both sides get a little bit of the action and walk away thinking that they have got a good deal. Not on this one though. Property just on the market. We went in low ball expecting some push back but got nothing? Nada, zip, zilch! Just a straight acceptance. The immediate thought was - did we go into high?

It amazes me when an estate agent accepts the first offer. It's almost as if they want shot of the property as quickly as possible. There are even some instances where I come off the phone from a negotiation with the distinct view that the agent is acting more for me than the seller. I appreciate that it is a numbers game for estate agents and that through put of property is essential but come on - at least let's have a proper negotiation!

Rant over.