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July 25th, 2013

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Who is your Realtor negotiating for?

Negotiation is used in everything, and in some countries if you can’t barter with merchants for the price you want, you likely won’t be able to afford much of anything. Even today, some people look at negotiation to be based upon the principle of manipulation; learning how to control to get what you want, leaving the other party without a leg to stand on. Unfortunately, manipulation often leads to prolonged negotiations whereby at least one of the sides ends up feeling cheated. In a nutshell, this doesn’t lead to the best reputation for future business or referrals.

When it comes to retail shopping, bartering in Canada is often reserved just for flea markets and garage sales as most businesses operate on a fixed price schedule. In fact, it seems that today, the only industry that really has room for price negotiation is real estate. Fortunately in real estate, many sellers and buyers choose a professional Realtor to represent their best interests; someone who is hopefully also quite skilled at the fine art of negotiation.

Its also worth noting that in today’s competitive market, many sellers will accept an offer to purchase their home, but continue to have that thought at the back of their minds, “Could we have gotten more for the sale of our property?” For buyers, the question is flipped: “Did our Realtor really negotiate the best possible price for our purchase?”

As an experienced G.T.A. Realtor, I have heard that a bad taste can sometimes be left in the client's mouth after the transaction has closed because the client didn't believe their agent advocated for their best interests. And while I’m not usually one to toot my own horn, I have to say that I believe myself to be a VERY strong negotiator; someone who treats every client’s purchase or sale as I would if it were my own property on the line. In an age where a desperate Realtor may push their clients just to make a deal, many are often surprised to hear that I have on more than one occasion advised my clients to walk away from a property. I did this because I either didn’t believe the home was the best option for them, or because the seller’s bottom line just didn’t match what I truly believed the home should be valued at.

Bragging Alert!!! Here's an example. I recently helped some clients find the right house for them. Before we found it, we had put an offer in on a property that I was able to use my negotiation skills on. I negotiated a price that I was very happy with. During the inspection, we found some problems with the home that I was not happy with my clients accepting. The sellers wouldn't agree to fix these problems, so I advised my clients to walk away and I would find them another property. A couple weeks later that same property sold for $17,500 over what I had negotiated. This is rare proof that it really does matter who is doing your negotating for you. In a market where many homes are going for over asking, I would have saved my clients nearly $20,000. 

This is where working with a Realtor who also has experience in construction and home improvements can be a major advantage when it comes to negotiations. The thing with real estate is that you never know what you’re going to be dealing with until you actually get in to view a particular home. In the past I’ve been able to successfully negotiate fantastic below-list purchase prices, even in multiple offer situations, for my buyers on homes that needed repairs… issues that would not have been easily identified by the average sales representative, and that were not initially disclosed on the listing.

It’s no secret that psychology has a lot to do with marketing and negotiating the sale of a home, just as it does in the way co-operating Realtors work together to make a deal. You might think that by bartering thousands of dollars off the price of a home, I’d have a lot of enemies amongst other Realtors, who are also just trying to get their clients the best possible price. For me, this has never been the case. Using my background in psychology (that's right, I have a psych degree!) I thrive in a negotiaton environment, always finding the best win-win for all parties.  I think that a tell-tale sign of a good Realtor is someone who not only represents themselves well to their clients, but to their peers as well. I’m proud to say that I’ve never had issues with fellow Realtors that could not be resolved through strong negotiations, and I’m truly grateful for having the chance to work with those who I’ve crossed paths with over the years!

If you’re looking for fair, honest and dependable representation for your real estate needs, I can confidently say that I’m the Realtor for you! As an added bonus, you might just get to tap into some of my renovation expertise at the same time (if you need it). I’m not one to just fluff over the details, or tell you what you think you want to hear! Whether you’re selling or buying, I’m here to truly put your best interests first, get you through the tough times, negotiate like a professional, and maybe even become your friend along the way… Because I don’t just want to be your real estate agent for THIS deal, I want to be your agent for life! Sound like what you’re looking for? Then please do be in touch!

All the best!

– Trish