Taking a Low Offer Personally

No—low offers aren’t personal attacks, they’re just part of the negotiation process, and you’ll probably get at least one. Your first reaction might be “Are they kidding me?” or “I’m not selling to them no matter what!” but stop, breathe, and don’t take it personally. Sometimes buyers are testing waters, other times it’s cultural—some people are taught to always start low when negotiating. If a buyer took time to submit an offer, get pre-approval, and sign paperwork, they’re serious and probably love your home—they’re just hoping to get a deal because that’s what they’ve been told to do. Don’t react emotionally by saying things like “I’d never sell to them now” because that kind of response can cost you a great deal. You can always counter, even just a token amount like $500 or $1,000, to keep conversation going and feel them out. Often, buyers will come way up once they know you’re open to negotiating. Getting that first offer out of a buyer is the hard part—raising it is where real negotiation begins and where experienced agents earn their keep. Remember, it’s not personal, it’s business, and a low offer doesn’t mean a bad buyer, it just means the negotiation game has started.