8 Tips for Negotiating a House Price

Last Updated on June 1, 2023 by Luke Feldbrugge

When buying a house, your real estate agent will handle a lot of the paperwork and help with things like managing your house search, writing up your purchase agreement and of course negotiating a house price when you enter a purchase agreement. They will negotiate with the seller on your behalf. But, you will ultimately make the final decision on everything in the purchase agreement. That’s why it pays to know what goes into negotiating a house price. Here are eight important tips for your negotiations.

1. Find Out Why the Seller is Moving

Arm yourself with as much information as possible so you can use it when negotiating a house price. For example, if the seller is a couple going through a messy divorce, you might assume that selling the house quickly is more important to them than getting the best price possible. The same goes for a seller who is moving out of state and has to complete the sale before their new job starts. You can use this information to negotiate a sooner closing date, but maybe for slightly less purchase price.

On the other hand, if the seller fixed up the home and is looking to make a profit on their investment, they may be more willing to hold out for a higher price. If the seller raised their children in the home, they might simply want their home to go to someone who will take care of it. If this is the case, you could send the homeowner a personalized letter. This will make your offer stand out and also show the seller their home will be in good hands.

This kind of information can actually give you leverage in negotiations and an advantage over other interested buyers. Learn what you can and use it strategically for your negotiations.

2. Get the Seller to Pay for Closing Costs

Closing costs are all the fees paid at closing, and both buyers and sellers are typically responsible for paying a portion of them. But, it is all part of the negotiations.

The most common reason for a seller to take on some of the buyer’s closing costs is if the home needs significant repairs. As the buyer, when negotiating a house price, you can argue that the seller should pay the closing costs to offset the cost of the repairs. Sometimes buyers will request a closing credit. In this case, part of the cost is “credited” to the buyer. With this arrangement the price of the house doesn’t change (so as not to create financing issues with the bank), but part of the purchase price is immediately returned to the buyer at closing so your out-of-pocket expenses are reduced.

Closing costs generally equal between 2 and 5 percent of the total purchase price. On a $250,000 home, that could be as much as $12,500. So, you can see why it’s in your best interest to try to get the seller to take on all closing costs when negotiating the house price.

3. Ask for a Home Warranty

A home warranty is a type of service contract that goes beyond your insurance policy to pay for any necessary repairs to important appliances or home systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc.). This ask can be beneficial if your inspection turned up any potential issues with things like water heaters or air conditioners. Large, necessary items like these could cost thousands of dollars to repair or replace. When negotiating a house price, you can ask the seller to cover the premium of the warranty for at least the first year. You can also negotiate who would pay the deductible if any repairs are needed, but the important thing is to include a home warranty in the final agreement. This ask can be beneficial if your inspection turned up any potential issues with things like water heaters or air conditioners that could cost thousands of dollars to repair or replace.

4. Include Contingencies

When negotiating a house price and the purchase agreement, you’ll want to include contingencies. These provisions allow you to back out of the deal if certain conditions aren’t met. The most common contingency is to have the home inspected by a certified home inspector before closing. You should also include a contingency that allows you to rescind your offer if the inspector finds significant issues with the foundation or other structural aspects of the home.

If the inspector does find issues, you can either walk away or further negotiate the purchase price down. The seller may not agree with all of the contingencies you want to include, so be prepared to negotiate these points and come ready to justify your position.

5. Make the Closing Date Work for You

Setting a specific closing date is tricky for both buyers and sellers because neither party wants to be paying two mortgages, or a mortgage and rent. Unfortunately, things rarely line up perfectly. But this is where you can work some flexibility into your negotiations. If you don’t want to close until your lease is up, a motivated seller may be willing to adjust the purchase price so you can break your lease early and complete the sale. On the other hand, if the seller needs more time before leaving the property, you can grant them more time in the home in exchange for a lower price. By staying flexible and understanding the seller’s situation, you can come out ahead in your negotiations.

6. Identify Real Property Updates

Your contingencies should address any maintenance issues or repairs that are needed on the home. In addition, you can always negotiate updates to the house. These could be things like refinishing the floors or replacing carpet, replacing old light fixtures, or improving tile in the bathroom. You can request that the seller make these improvements before finalizing the sale. You can also try to lower the purchase price and make these repairs yourself. This way you control the final cost of the repairs and the final aesthetic if changing finishes like carpet or tile. If you finish the repairs for less than outlined in the negotiations, you’ll save money.

7. Include Personal Property

You can also negotiate personal property that you want included in the sale. This can be anything from furniture to appliances, even cars. The seller may be happy to leave these things behind rather than move them to their new home. So, these things may come as a “gift” from the seller, or you can negotiate them into the purchase price. Remember, when buying a house, everything is negotiable.

8. Several Things to Keep in Mind

You and the seller are attempting to get the most you can out of each other without giving up too much. When negotiating a house price with a seller, really try to practice the following:

• Make sure you and your real estate agent have a good understanding of the home’s value
• Know the maximum price you are willing to pay for the house
• When negotiating, do not take things personally
• No is an acceptable answer, but attempt to counter with a compromise
• It is OK to walk away if a seller is not willing to meet your needs (when legally appropriate)

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