The Art of Compromise

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

Half of something is better than nothing at all. Isn't it frustrating when you deal with people who don't get it?

As Real Estate professionals the art of compromise is a huge part of our job, especially when writing an offer and then negotiating the offer. This is when Agents, Buyers and Sellers truly show our wisdom.

When I think of wisdom in negotiating I think of the wisest man ever to live, King Solomon.

Of course a half a baby is not "better than nothing" but I believe that King Solomon knew that the real mother would relinquish her half so that the baby would live all along. If you are not familiar with this child custody  story the wise King gave the baby to the real mother and no harm came to the child.

Tying this to Real Estate. I can not count the times a Buyer has asked for some petty thing in a $500,000 transaction. It might be over a lawn mower, a window dressing, or even a lawn decoration. Like the baby in the Bible story above most things can not physically be split but a financial compromise should be obtainable without emotions taking over the transaction.

I have also found that the problem is not always caused by a Buyer asking for a specific item... sometimes it's the Buyers agent trying to impress their Buyer of their negotiating skills. If you are a Buyers agent don't be this stupid!

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Comments (18)

Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Negotiating is a HUGE part of being successful in real estate. That's why so many FSBOs, who are trying to save that commission, end up losing more in the end than they "saved".

Jun 28, 2023 07:34 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

So true Carol Williams . Almost every FSBO lister I have meet felt they knew just as much as any Real Estate agent. Yea, and they probably also do their own brain surgery too.

Jun 28, 2023 07:44 AM
Bill Salvatore - East Valley
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

We do have a master at negotiating.  We do it all the time, Great information. Thanks for sharing, enjoy your Wednesday, and sell a house.

Bill Salvatore Arizona Elite Properties.

Jun 28, 2023 08:46 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Bob and half of something is better then nothing.  I so agree with this one and sometime I need to give a little to get something.

 

Jun 28, 2023 09:05 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Yes we are always negotiating Bill Salvatore - East Valley and I often found it as a fun part of our duties.

Jun 28, 2023 09:15 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I enjoyed it in our profession Will Hamm but I also like "haggling" when I'm purchasing something (especially at rummage sales).

Jun 28, 2023 09:16 AM
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street Topsfield, MA - Georgetown, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Good Morning Bob "RealMan" Timm 

A very good post. I think we can all remember how something little had cause great problems

Jun 28, 2023 09:45 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Los Angeles Pasadena 818.516.4393

Hello Bob - sometimes it seems the simplest of things are those that become the most complicated.  Oh, it may make one wonder about the foundation of the building blocks of life.  

Jun 28, 2023 09:47 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

The fly in the ointment Doug Dawes . It seems we get those thing ironed out but we could all skip that stress.

Jun 28, 2023 01:03 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Well said Michael Jacobs and it all started out with a bite into an apple.

Jun 28, 2023 01:04 PM
Fred Sweezer Sr. CMI, LLC.
Hud Certified 203K Consultant - Long Beach, CA
HUD 203k Consultant

Very good point you are bring out in your post thank you.

Jun 28, 2023 09:09 PM
Kat Palmiotti
406-270-3667, kat@thehousekat.com, Broker/REALTOR® - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Yes, this is true. Buyers or buyers agents can haggle over little things that don't matter - and they can lose the house because of it.

Jun 29, 2023 05:00 AM
Tim Maitski
Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage - Atlanta, GA
Truth, Excellence and a Good Deal

Except when it comes to our commissions.  That's when you have to stand firm and not compromise.

Jun 29, 2023 07:12 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Amen Tim Maitski . That was one of the hardest thing I had to teach agents that worked for me. I made sure they understood that if they cut THEIR commission I had no intention cutting the brokerages.

Jun 29, 2023 07:58 AM
Ed (Edward) Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

The wise person in a negotiation knows where the value may be and makes the deal so as to not lose the deal. Nobody wins when one party decides to be stubborn.

Jun 29, 2023 08:31 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

That is right Ed Silva . I have been a stubborn person in many aspects of my life but when it came to closing a Real Estate deal I was open minded.

Jun 29, 2023 08:45 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

I am currently working through a transaction that the buyer's agent is trying to make herself better than everyone else and even her buyer has now taken a stand and said he wants to move forward.  It's a good thing too, because my seller had already determined that if we did not work this out, we would be writing up a Cancellation & Mutual Release.  We were really close to losing this deal!  The buyer's agent still had to get the last word in though.  I believe her reputation has stifled a number of people in this transaction.   Sad.

Jul 05, 2023 02:19 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I have known a few agents who were much like the one you describe Diana Dahlberg . They get a reputation quickly in our industry and it's not good.

Jul 06, 2023 06:22 AM