How do you negotiate effectively online and over the phone?

Be you an agent or a buyer working by yourself. Here are few things to consider to help your negotiating skills. Get pre approved or have proof of cash at the ready. Seller knows your serious. Do your research. Before you even start negotiating, it's important to know what the home is worth. Work with a real estate agent. A good real estate agent will be familiar with the local market and can help you negotiate a fair price. Be prepared to justify your offer. Be prepared to compromise on some things in order to reach an agreement. 6. Be prepared to walk away. If you're not happy with the seller's counteroffer, be prepared to walk away from the deal.

Often times when we enter negotiations we enter the conversations with the strong desires to be heard. It’s important to enter negotiations with a strategic plan, however take time to actively listen to the other party. Active listening will reveal what they need so you can negotiate your wants with their motives in mind to help seal the deal. Remain level headed, there are different approaches to negotiation that should be considered based on the other parties communication style. Humans are willing to compromise most when they feel heard, seen and treated with empathy. Enter negations with a floor and ceiling. Give your self the reassurance within your target goals! Your bottom is your need, everything up to your ceiling is want.

Make clear your method for communicating, then be consistent and concise in using it. Once the channel is established, a professional should monitor that channel frequently and give prompt responses, even if to say a more detailed response will follow. Also, establish boundaries (e.g., business hours) and set expectations. Bear in mind, of course, that every written communication (text, e-mail, etc.) is discoverable if you end up in court. Clarity, brevity, and truthfulness are essential. Ask yourself: would you send this text if a judge, jury, or licensing board reads this?

My mother was a communications professor who had a poster in her office which said, "You have two ears and one mouth. Use them in that proportion." Even when you disagree with someone, you cannot hope to resolve the issue without understanding their point of view. Be quick to listen and slow to respond.

These are great comments. I would add that you need, above all, to be truthful. When you lie or 'bend' the truth, you sew the seeds for litigation. The cost of litigation, even when you're right, can easily well exceed any commission or profit you might receive. Consider your reputation and how easy it is to destroy after years of building. One of the great challenges and rewards of transactional work is finding the win-win. As this article says, there is no need to be emotional or defensive. Be curious, empathize, spend the intellectual sweat to consider the objections, and be open to the idea that you may need to walk away and have a think. Don't rush to do a bad deal. Some of my best solutions come during yard work.