Responding and negotiating
Accept, refuse or counter-offer, and keep control of the negotiation.
Accept
With no conditions, the house is sold. With conditions, the sale depends on their being met.
Refuse
You are never obliged to accept an offer.
Counter-offer
You change the price, date or inclusions. Your counter-offer replaces the offer.
Never accept verbally: everything is done in writing, with the appropriate forms.
Negotiating smartly
- Set your floor price before reading the first offer, while you're calm.
- Negotiate more than the price: the occupancy date, inclusions or certain costs are sometimes worth as much.
- A low offer isn't an insult: reply with a counter-offer, because a buyer who makes an offer is often serious.
- Several offers? Compare their total value: lower but unconditional and quick, an offer can be worth more.