I’ve been negotiating for one client for two weeks. I’ve told her multitudinal – catchy word – times that any price below the asking is a win. Based on the comps, it’s priced under where it should be. I suggest we start 20k below that and see where it goes.
Day before yesterday, we get counter offer number three. It’s $2500 more than two. When you’re spending $400,000, $2500 doesn’t seem like much. I guess it depends on whose money you’re spending. Last night, I call and say if they – she has a husband who signs anything I put in front of him – don’t accept this counter offer, I’m going to arm wrestle her. We’re at $11,000 under asking. I’m thinking big win.
So I wait all day today. Clock’s ticking. The counter expires at 6 pm. I leave her a message around 2. I’m thinking she’s not going to sign it. Two weeks wasted. She calls back at 5 and says her husband’s already signed the counter – no surprise – but “I’m not a happy camper.” And I’m thinking I’m the negotiator. I’m cool. I’m bad. Huh? Oh? You’re not happy?
“I know you can’t decide for us, but what’s your opinion?” I go through it again. Priced right. $11,000 under asking. Smaller unit just closed for the same price. It’s nice. It’s what you want. “Okay. Let’s do it.” Sometimes people have to talk it out. They have to think on it overnight – or over days. They have to rationalize. They have to talk. They’ve never owned a home. They’ve been living in the same apartment for 20 years. They’re about to be home owners. They’re freaked out of their minds.
Me, I’m going to listen to the Bee Gees.
As a lifelong resident and local Realtor, Vicki has established herself as a respected member of the San Mateo County real estate community. She’s known for her wit, sarcasm, and her personality that shows through in her posts. You can find her spouting off at Twitter, here at ag, and her personal blog, San Mateo Real Estate Blog.com.
BawldGuy Talking
March 13, 2008 at 12:00 am
Vicki — superb ‘rubber hitting’ the road’ post. Just one thing.
>They have to rationalize. They have to talk. They’ve never owned a home. They’ve been living in the same apartment for 20 years. They’re about to be home owners. They’re freaked out of their minds.
Not ‘they’ — ‘her’. She had to talk talk talk. 🙂
Thanks for giving a harried Wednesday a good ending for me. I try to catch whatever you write.
Benjamin Bach
March 13, 2008 at 2:29 am
Congrats Vicki, sounds like you gave your clients some great advice. That’s what it’s all about 🙂
Warm greetings from Canada
BenjaminBach.com
Benjamin Ficker
March 13, 2008 at 3:09 am
Great post! How many people are like me and tried to look up multitudinal? Well I’ll save you the trouble: better known as multitudinous. Def: consisting of multitudes. (I can’t believe I couldn’t figure that one out!)
Ben
Benjamin Bach
March 13, 2008 at 3:22 am
That definition is a tad tautological for me
Tautological
adjective
Repetition of same sense in different words; “‘a true fact’ and ‘a free gift’ are pleonastic expressions”; “the phrase ‘a beginner who has just started’ is tautological”; “at the risk of being redundant I return to my original proposition”- J.B.Conant [syn:
Ines
March 13, 2008 at 8:21 am
Of course we expect people to think – it sometimes is the biggest decision of their lives, but we’ve been in situations lately where buyers have lost properties because they thought too much for too long.
I’m glad it worked out though, phewwww! now go listen to the Bee Gees.
Matt Scoggins
March 13, 2008 at 10:28 am
With some people, it will just never be enough.
Vicki Moore
March 13, 2008 at 10:50 am
Jeff – You’re right on – SHE. A fan! Awesome! Thanks.
Benjamin – I send YOU WARM greetings.
Ben – Too funny. You know, I thought I made that word up until I actually looked it up on Webster’s. 🙂
Ines – I was totally sweating it. I really thought all the feet dragging was going to make them lose it.
Matt – I agree. If I can filter those people out at the beginning, I’m better off; and so are they.
Tyler
March 13, 2008 at 10:51 am
Great post Vicki. I’ve tried to find your personal blog/website.. I can’t find it.
Can you post a link to it?.. Crazy huh?
Keep on closin’.
Vicki Moore
March 13, 2008 at 10:55 am
Tyler! Oh crap. I need to work on that! https://www.sanmateorealestateblog.com
Lani Anglin-Rosales
March 13, 2008 at 11:44 am
fixed on all sidebars here AND on vicki’s name 🙂
Like Vicki and I have spoken about offline, certain personalities seek affirmation and some (not necessarily in this case) seek it excessively. If that were my personality I would hope to have an agent like Vicki who would indulge me rather than insist that their personality type is superior and they don’t have to appease me.
Vicki Moore
March 13, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Oh Lani – xoxo