Westport has enjoyed a stellar Real Estate market in 2013.
Sellers are looking forward to a continued uptrend. Competition amongst buyers
is getting fiercer, so be prepared to put your best foot forward to obtain your
dream home. Consider using these 6 methods when negotiating on your potential
purchase.
Meet
before you hit the street – Before you step foot in a single foyer, speak
with a bank or Mortgage Broker to get pre approved or pre qualified. Have your credit pulled and make sure it’s
accurate. It is now more imperative then ever to stay on time with bill paying.
Recent late payments hurt your report more than older ones. Insure there are no mistakes, giving yourself
enough time to correct any uncovered errors. Collect your tax returns and any statements
the bank or Broker may need. It is much
easier to prepare in advance. A seemingly
unending list of requirements is about to be requested and it is time consuming
to collect all the paperwork. If you are
self-employed, give yourself extra time, since many business owners may show
their income more creatively than banks prefer.
Your broker will be helpful in determining what you can be approved for,
afford and potential monthly payments.
Start too
Low and Blow it – There are many tire kickers out there, and homeowners are
more frustrated than ever with them. As agents, we are obliged to present all
offers, and explain “it’s just business, don’t take it personally”. But, how do you not take it personally when
we are talking about someone’s family home of 20 years. It’s a competitive
market, and if you start too low, you may waste precious time and lose the
house. The owner may not trust your negotiations if they feel you are trying to
“steal” their homestead.
3 Put your
money where your mouth is – It is fairly standard to submit 10% of the
purchase price when the contract is executed. A buyer who offers more than 10%
can be pretty appealing to the seller. The buyer proves his commitment and
ability to afford the home.L
Less is
more – Keep your contingencies to a minimum while still protecting your
interests. Sellers worry about all the roadblocks ahead. If the buyer makes a
clean and short list of requirements to meet until the deal is clean, the
seller is more likely to accept the deal.
Take it
personally – Let the seller know how much you love their home. Write them a
heartfelt letter recounting why you want to buy it. Of course, a seller isn’t
going to sell their home for less than someone else is willing to pay just
because you wrote them a note, but when things are equal or close, the personal
touch will usually win out.
Time is
of the essence – Work with the seller’s timetable to close when it’s best
for them. If the seller feels like they are not being rushed out, or that the
closing can be on their planned timetable, they are more likely to work with
you. The ability on the buyer’s part to
move either fast or slow, based on the seller’s needs can make the difference
between winning the house and losing it.
When purchasing a home, the right price is
of course important, but it is not the only determining factor. Confidence,
ease and timing may prove to be just as important to a motivated seller. Work with your agent to get prequalified, and
know real value when you see it. Then, make an offer that a seller can’t
refuse. It doesn’t have to cost you more!
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