Life's a Negotiation

Everyone has their comfort level. I welcome a good negotiation when it comes to Real Estate. The better the agent I'm up against, the faster my mind starts to work. Plotting to get my client the best possible price and terms while not letting the other agent know his client got the short end of the stick. Of course the best negotiation in R.E. is one in which both sides win, the buyer feels he got a decent deal, the seller a fair price, and the good feelings last through inspections to closing. Handshakes and hugs all around and sometimes everyone actually keeps in touch. $600,000 deals I can handle, purchasing a $30,000 car makes me squeamish. My truck lease was up today and I knew weeks ago I would have to go car shopping. Typical male, I started 2 days ago. I went to my local Toyota dealer to inquire about my lease surrender and to see what model car I might be interested in purchasing. The salesperson was very knowledgeable and did her best to put me at ease. She had me test drive 2 cars, met with someone in a back room, then came out with figures that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I never countered her numbers, complained or even squinted hard at the numbers, I just told her I would have to discuss things with my wife. Thats when my real negotiation began, trying to convince my wife to go to the dealership after work the next day and close the deal. My whining must have gotten to her because she agreed and I felt a ton of weight being lifted off my surgically repaired shoulders. We agreed on the most we wanted to spend a month and then I wished her luck. While hard at work the next day I anxiously awaited her phone call. At 3:30 my cell rang and Kathleen gave me the good news, she got the car at our budgeted amount, and because she cared about my comfort, and my newfound panic disorder, she had managed to move us up to the next more spacious model. I asked her how she did it and she said she just said no, and pointed to our number. Where I couldn't say no to my salespersons initial price, Kathleen went through 2 levels of mgmt and the finance guy to get us a deal. Her reward was my running out at 1Am to pick up her father at Allaire Limosine after a 14 hr workday. Well worth it in my admiring eyes. I'll probably throw in dinner and a movie this weekend. Better go to Deb's blog at JerseyBites.com to get a good restaurant recommendation!