Lepplady called it right. We got the farm we wanted. Haven’t closed yet, but we have a contract on it, signed by both parties. These darn things are 13 pages long, now, with several of them taking up quite a few inspection contingencies. There used to just be a “do you want to have a home inspection, or elect to waive it?” line item.
Several things were in my favor for getting from point A (initial offer) to point B (contract). There’s no reason to go into detail. Suffice it to say this isn’t my first rodeo, and I know how to bargain with another party so that we all feel we’ve come to a fair price. The basics are lowball the initial offer, especially in a buyer’s market, but not enough to be so insulting that they reject it outright. Ask for some inclusions you want that aren’t listed, and wait to see what happens. Have a game plan for the back and forth bargaining, and be prepared to walk away if the sellers don’t come down to the maximum you are willing to offer. There is no bidding war in this real estate market. The back and forth bargaining in this case went really quickly, and exactly the way I predicted it would.
Soooo, it’s going to be ours, barring something unforeseen between now and the closing date. I frickin’ love this place. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have bothered making an offer on it.
YESSSSS! This is worth celebrating with a “pint of lager,” as it’s called around here (it means Yuengling on tap). This makes me so happy.
We’ll worry about selling this place later.
At the risk of sounding like some crazy teenager … SQUEE!!!!11!Eleventy
Congratulations! I’m excited for you!
Thanks, MontiLee!
My realtor is really happy, too. It’s probably her biggest sale so far this year. She’s being paid her cut by the sellers, but I do intend to use her as my listing agent to sell this joint when the time comes. If I ask, she might shave 1% off the usual 6% seller’s fee. I got that discount last time I sold, using the same agent I used to buy the place. As always, if you ask, and you might not get, but if you don’t ask, and you will not get.
It sounds like it’s party time!
Funny you should say that, because the place has three bars: one in the main house, another in the annex, and a third by the pool. The one in the addition’s basement is a full-fledged bartender’s thing. That’s not why I’m buying the place, though. I just love it. I’m sooooo over being a party animal, but it’s still a nice place to live, and have family over, without pointing them to local motels.
Nice one!
Yay! I’m so glad you got it.
We, on the other hand, are having a rough week. We had a house fire that pretty much gutted our happy little home. No people were hurt, but we lost three pets. Two cats and a bird. We’re insured, and we’ll rebuild just fine, if not better than before, but we’ll forever mourn our sad losses.
There’s a loose wing-nut out there claiming first that I’m lying and we didn’t get burned out, and second that they’re responsible for it thanks to their super-powers of witchcraft, angel vengeance and voodoo. *insert eye roll*
No matter how rough our week is, I’d forever grateful that I’ve got my life and not theirs.
OMG, Leppy! That’s awful. I’m so glad you’re safe.
That’s awful, I feel for you, it’s about the worst that can happen, to lose your pets – and three at once…!!!
Hope you get it all sorted soon…
Sounds great!