Making the Offer
Everyone worries about paying too much or
buying a house with "hidden" defects. You can avoid problems like these
and prepare yourself for each step. To buy a home, you always have to do
some negotiating. Even if the seller doesn't haggle over the offering
price, you still need to negotiate whether to include appliances and
other household items in the sale, and what contingencies to include in
the sales agreement.
Should I start low and
negotiate?
Every potential transaction will be different.
Sometimes a seller will overprice a property assuming that a buyer will
want to start with a low offer. Often when a seller chooses an
experienced agent to list their home, the asking price will already be
right on target. In either case, maintain some emotional distance so you
can negotiate well, and refer to your comparative market analysis (CMA)
often so you don't pay more than "fair market value."
Time is of the essence?
You may
have to act more quickly in a hot (seller's) market, but consider your
decision carefully, weigh the asking price against the home's true
market value. Prioritize your tasks so you don't get overwhelmed. You
have to meet certain deadlines imposed by the sales contract, but many
other things - like planning a remodel - can be put off until after you
move in.
Be prepared for unexpected
problems
Every transaction hits a few snags, but most of them are
solvable problems. Think through some common problems, and how you can
resolve them.