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Want to be Successful in Buying a Los Angeles Home? Be Prepared to Negotiate

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Home Jane Realty BRE# 01439865

If you are serious about buying a Los Angeles home then don't listen to the friends who are telling you that there are deals to be made, and you should just make low ball offers until a seller rolls over and says "take my home."

It doesn't happen that way.

If you are serious about buying a Los Angeles home,  don't try and do it alone.  You are going to end up tremendously frustrated, and things will become way too personal.

If you are serious about buying a Los Angeles home,  use a real estate agent who will be your exclusive representative and keep you on the right track towards home ownership.

Above all, be prepared to negotiate.

The whole process of home buying  and, of course, home selling, is about give and take.  It is about reasonable people coming together to make things happen.  A seller wants to sell and a buyer wants to buy.

How do we bring the two sides together?  Each one has their own representative, the real estate agent.  When a couple get divorced they each hire a lawyer who "battle out" the terms.  I don't think there has ever been a case of one attorney representing both sides....

In the case of a real estate transaction each side should be represented by their own agent and each Los Angeles real estate agent will be responsible for getting the best deal for their client.  A perfect reason not to think that you are going to get what you want by using the same agent as the seller.  One agent cannot negotiate for both sides.

Each agent will inform their clients what a reasonable price is.  If the home is reasonably priced then the buyer needs to make a reasonable offer.  If a reasonable offer is presented, then the seller should entertain that offer, either by accepting it or negotiating with a counter.  If a counter is presented the buyer can either accept the terms of the counter or negotiate their own terms with a counter of their own.  Supervised by two go-betweens.

And if all goes well and the offer is accepted, any items of concern that are discovered during the escrow period can also be negotiated.

If you put yourself in your real estate agent's hands and trust their negotiating powers, you will end up buying the Los Angeles home  of your dreams.

Buying or Selling Los Angeles Real Estate

Buying or selling a Los Angeles home can be a daunting process in a city this size, especially if you're new to L.A. Town. You'll need a resident expert to show you around and help you narrow down the areas where you might like to live. I will help you find the perfect home in the right area to fit your lifestyle, budget and needs!

When I list and sell Los Angeles homes for my clients I strive to make the experience a pleasant one. My mission is to provide outstanding service while utilizing the best practices and systems available.

If you are an absentee owner, you'll need someone to handle all the details that you can't handle remotely. That's where I come in - I'm there when you can't be. I also specialize in lease property in Los Angeles.

Westside Los Angeles Real Estate, including, but not limited to:

For more information on how I can best serve your Los Angeles real estate needs, don't hesitate to fill out the contact form or give me a call at 310-473-6919.

Comments(27)

Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

"don't listen to the friends who are telling you that there are deals to be made, and you should just make low ball offers until a seller rolls over and says "take my home."

AMEN!!!  It most certainly does not work that way!!!  Every time I hear one of my borrowers spewing this kind of nonsense, after I stop laughing hysterically, I don't waste anytime educating them on the realities of our market here.

Sep 06, 2011 05:23 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Donne, nothing will tell the truth like facts and the facts are comparable properties not your friends' unsubstantiated advice.

Sep 06, 2011 05:28 PM
Janice Roosevelt
Keller Williams Brandywine Valley - West Chester, PA
OICP ABR, ePRO,Ecobroker

Home buyers need to take this to heart. You are right, well meaning friends (none of whom are real esate professionals who sell homes day in and day out) and the media, have planted half-truths and bits of information in the minds of buyers who ofte h"hear what they want to hear."

Los Angeles buyers need to contact Jane Peters for a well-informed approach to buying a home or investment property.

Sep 07, 2011 12:34 AM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Very true points Jane & I agree that the agent needs to be savvy and one who has experience as you do...many buyers deal with inexperienced real estate agents that do not guide them properly through the negotiating process...great share

Sep 07, 2011 12:52 AM
Surprise Arizona Realtor Jim Braun Sun City Grand Active Adult Communities
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Jim Braun Sun City Grand Az - Surprise, AZ
Surprise AZ real estate Phoenix West Valley

Jane: We can only hope people listen to the advice of an educated well informed agent. Things can sometimes get complicated and we are here to see them through. 

Sep 07, 2011 01:30 AM
Larry Brewer - Benchmark Realty llc
Benchmark Realty LLc - Nashville, TN

Jane - I imagine that negotiating is a lot of fun for you, and the best thing a Los Angeles home buyer can do is to hire you and listen to your advise. If they don't listen, they won't get the best deal.

Sep 07, 2011 01:47 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Your sage advice holds true here, too, Jane.

Sep 07, 2011 02:09 AM
Steve Stenros
Poway,La Jolla,Del Mar,Mira Mesa,Carlsbad,Escondido,Temecula - San Diego, CA
CREIA MCI, ICC, ACI Home Inspector,San Diego

Jane: I can't imagine someone trying to buy or sell property without a Realtor. Los Angeles covers a huge area and you do a great job with it!

Sep 07, 2011 02:36 AM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR

Jane - I'll never understand why buyers listen to their friends and family members as opposed to a professional who sells real estate for a living.

Sep 07, 2011 04:11 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Janice,  you are right.  For some reason we realtors don't know what we are talking about.  Every non expert does.

Ginny,  thank you.  We do our best to make sure that the hard facts are presented and that emotions are kept out of the transaction.  Emotional decisions are never going to get the deal done.

Jim,  exactly right.  That is what they hire us for.

Larry,  there you go :).  Thank you.

Lottie,  it is universally applicable.

Steve,,  thank you very much.

Michelle,  the mind boggles.

 

Sep 07, 2011 04:55 AM
Cherise Selley
Selley Group Real Estate, LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realtor

Jane,

I appreciate your candidness in this post.  You're absolutely right.  The dirty word, "negotiation," is a mandate as part of the real estate process... g

Sep 07, 2011 05:17 AM
Renée Donohue~Home Photography
Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI
Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer

YOU Miss Jane are "THE" real estate buyer's agent for Los Angeles!  Great primer for LA buyers!

Sep 07, 2011 01:50 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Gordon,  let's clean the word up.

Renee,  thank you.  I appreciate that.

Sep 07, 2011 04:23 PM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Jane - More deals would come together if buyers and sellers realize they have a common goal--transfer the property. 

Sep 10, 2011 11:31 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Norma,  you'd think eh!

Sep 10, 2011 11:42 AM
Niema Thomas
Century 21 Beachside - Alta Loma, CA
CDPE, SFR, MBA

Thanks for this information . Negotiation is the key word in any real estate transactions. T

Sep 11, 2011 05:48 PM
James Muhammad
RE/MAX Champions - Upland, CA
RE/MAX Vision

Jane this very, very good information. Even though i'm not in Los Angeles I will apply it to my area in the Inland Empire. Thank!

Sep 11, 2011 06:08 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Niema,  absolutely right.

James,  I think it applies everywhere.

Sep 11, 2011 06:16 PM
Lynn911.com ~ Dallas Real Estate Agent Top Team
Dallas Houses for Rent Dallas Apartment Rentals Lynn911.com - Dallas, TX

Jane here is Dallas we are receiving multi offers on listings at full asking price .. go figure ;p

dallas homes for rent by owner dallas houses for rent by owner lynn911.com

Sep 14, 2011 03:17 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Lynn,  must be good houses coming on the market.

Sep 14, 2011 03:49 PM