Home Buyer Negotiations – Tips for Buying a Home in Oakland County

April 28, 2012 Marc Edelstein Oakland County Mortgage Banker, Oakland County Real Estate 0 Comments

homes for sale oakland county miIf you’re on the market to buy one of the many homes for sale in Oakland county, then the best way to get an offer accepted is to appeal to the emotions of the person selling the home.  Why?  Because that’s how sales work.  People not only buy in impulse and emotion but they sell on impulse and emotion as well.

When it comes to real estate in Oakland county, transactions typically come together – and often blow up – over emotional  hotbeds.  Granted, price is a big factor for someone selling a home in Oakland county, but if you can give the seller a reason to care about you and your family then that can put you above other offers.

Putting a Human Face to Real Estate in Oakland County

Sure, we’re dealing in houses when a Michigan mortgage banker gets you approved for a mortgage to buy a home, but you have to remember that this is a people business as well.  Sellers have an unexplained desire to know that the home they have lived in and cared for is going to someone who will also care for it.

Sellers want to know you’re a worthy buyer.  They certainly don’t want the home to end up with someone who won’t take care of it.  Remember that homes are places where joy is shared, where families come together and where memories a made.  When a seller gives up a home, often times they’re giving up a part of themselves with it.

To make the seller more receptive to you, try to establish some kind of connection.  Often times a buyer can showcase their vulnerability and sincerity in finding the perfect home for their family to grow, or wanting to have a place to finally start a family where they feel comfortable.  When you’re putting a letter together to a seller, include some important personal details

  • The names and relationship of the occupants (and expectations of future occupants and family additions)
  • Some history about previous homes and how they relate to your desire to buy a home in Oakland county – specifically that home
  • Your occupation and struggles to get where you are at now
  • List the reasons why you love that home and why you desire to live there
  • Explain why you think you deserve the home and how you plan to take care of it.

Writing a Clean Offer that is Positive

Buyers are often focused on the money involved in a transaction for a home, and if a seller feels like your only intent is to low-ball the bid and negotiate them down then they don’t have a real connection with you.  It can be difficult to write a positive offer that doesn’t focus solely on the dollars.  In some cases, the excitement of putting an offer letter in results in a loss of clarity.  That’s why it’s important to make a clean offer.

A carefully written letter can help you avoid getting passed over.  Sometimes all it takes is a string of typos or grammatical errors, or a confusing sentence or two, to have your bid rejected even if the price was right.  Check these points to make sure you have clean offer letter

  • Verify address and name information
  • Add up the deposits, loan amounts and balance of the down payment to make sure the numbers add up properly
  • Double check the closing date and terms
  • Review the terms of seller and buyer-paid items to make sure they won’t raise any hackles or upset the other side

If you’re uncertain how to approach the offer and you want to make a good impression on the seller, then consult with a buyer’s agent.  Having an agent in your corner to help with negotiations and approach can put you in the best place to ensuring that you get the home in Oakland county you were looking for.

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