Negotiating
Agreeing the terms of a sale can be a stressful time. Many people take it personally when a prospective purchaser offers less than an asking price. It is almost always best to allow your agent to handle the negotiations, more so if they are experienced, good at listening and sensitive to the needs of both parties. This said, there are a few basic rules that everyone who is selling a home should bear in mind:
Don’t play mindgames
Behave honourably
At the outset clearly set out the terms of your sale. As well as the price, agree the following:
- Target timescale for exchange and completion.
- Items included (or not included).
- Any special conditions of sale that are personal to you.
Fixtures and fittings
These are usually best discussed at the negotiating of offer stage. It is pointless including carpets when first putting a property onto the market.
Nobody will want to view a property just because it has fitted carpets. This is because sometimes owners include carpets that are threadbare, or that were designed for a market that is now thirty years old. Viewers tend therefore not to be influenced to view a house just because it offers fitted carpets.
On the other hand, if a viewer sees a home that has attractive carpets then they can be a positive asset and can always be used as a useful negotiating lever. If a purchaser makes a reduced offer, then perhaps you could counter by offering to include the carpets at a better price – perhaps at your asking price.
