CHAPTER 14 Bargaining Chips
Selling is the name of the game. In the previous negotiation chapters, we learned that counteroffers by potential buyers sometimes include certain personal property, like appliances and window treatments, because these items are must-haves that are expensive to purchase new. As a seller, you can use extras as bargaining chips as well. You may make counteroffers that include appliances and other incentives for the buyer to agree to a higher price. This is a particularly useful strategy when the demand for homes in your neighborhood is weak and prices are low. Here are some items to consider using as leverage: • Major appliances: washer, dryer, fridge, stove, dishwasher • Draperies, curtains, blinds, and shutters • Custom-built furniture: bookcases or shelves that fit a particular spot in the house • Barbeque or fire pit • Patio furniture: planters, garden benches, and ornaments • Garden shed • Lawnmower, power washer, leaf vacuum, or other maintenance equipment • Recreational equipment, such as ping-pong and pool tables, above-ground pools, trampolines, climbers, swing sets, and hot tubs • Prepaid taxes or closing costs • A year of landscaping, pool cleaning, or maid service
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