5 Negotiating Tactics That Can Kill a Sale

Negotiation is a subtle art in real estate, but skilled negotiators can usually find some common ground that satisfies all parties. On the other hand, using the wrong negotiation tactics can sink a deal pretty quickly. Here are some negotiation tactics buyers (and real estate professionals) should avoid:

Lowball offers: Going far below market value when you make an offer damages your credibility as a buyer and can be insulting to the seller. The seller has a range in mind that they’ll accept, and if you’re not even approaching the low end of that range, they won’t even consider the offer.

Incremental negotiations: Don’t continue to go back to the seller with small increases in your offer ($1,000 or less). The constant back-and-forth can grow tiresome and lead the seller to consider other opportunities.

“Take it or leave it”: Try not to draw a line in the sand with your initial offer. The seller can get defensive and consider other offers if you immediately show that you’re unwilling to budge. Even if it’s true, don’t make a show of it.

Nitpicking after inspection: Obviously if inspection reveals a major issue, it should be factored into the final sale price. But insisting on a lower price for every minor repair can put negotiations in a stalemate.

Asking for more, more, more: Some buyers will request that the sellers throw in add-ons like furniture or appliances that weren’t included in the listing. Try to avoid giving the seller a reason to build up resentment and think that you’re being greedy.

Meet Dunedin's Sister City - Stirling, Scotland

The city of Dunedin, Florida was named by two Scotsman, J.O. Douglas and James Somerville, and the name comes from Dùn Èideann, which is the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh. The city continues to maintain and embrace its Scottish roots with the Dunedin Highland Games, the City of Dunedin Pipe Band, and as sister city to Stirling, Scotland.

Last year, I spent my birthday in Stirling, Scotland. Located about an hour from Edinburgh, Stirling is rich with history, was voted the safest city in the United Kingdom in 2017, and is considered one of the most affordable cities to live in the UK. It's renowned as the Gateway to the Highlands, and a recommended stop along the way.

Major battles during the Wars of Scottish Independence took place at Stirling Bridge, and fans of the 1995 movie, Braveheart, will recall the Battle of Stirling Bridge as the "Hold" scene. Today visitors to Stirling can visit the National Wallace Monument, a tower sitting on the shoulder of Abbey Crag, a hilltop which overlooks Stirling.

Many travelers, like myself, venture to Stirling to tour Stirling Castle, one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland. Sitting atop Castle Hill, it is easily spotted when driving into the city.

Prior to exploring Stirling Castle, we walked a little into Old Town to see a little of the city and for a quick breakfast. A short walk through this area and you are quickly surrounded by centuries of history. It is hard not to wonder about the past story of every building you stroll past.

Once inside Stirling Castle, prepare to spend hours exploring every inch of the castle grounds. Even knowing it was one of the largest castles in the country, I was still amazed by the fact that every turn delivered more and more to explore.

As you walk around, you will find throughout that there are walls and hills you can climb atop to be treated to some breathtaking views of Stirling and the surrounding area... even on a cloudy day. Some of those hills can get a little steep and slippery when wet (and let's face it, it's Scotland so rain is almost a given), so I recommend wearing hiking boots or something similar with great traction. I happened to have my hiking boots on because we were planning to drive the hour to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, and I am so glad I did. One of my favorite experiences at Stirling Castle was standing in the middle of a large hill and being treated to 360 degrees of amazing sights.

Besides climbing hills and staircases to the top of walls, be prepared for descending steps and crawling through some smaller spaces during your exploration of the castle. If you are like me and want to see every corner of a castle, make sure to follow every path and turn, and you are certain to discover some intriguing and often quiet area that others missed. Additionally, there were at least eight sieges of Stirling Castle, and damage from these can still be spotted on walls.

Of course, you will also find yourself in the Royal Apartments, the Chapel Royal, and the Great Hall (make sure to have your royal moment sitting on the throne). Throughout these areas you will spot Scotland's national animal, the unicorn.

It was a memorable visit full of exploration and history to the sister city of my current home. If you ever find yourself in Scotland be sure to include Stirling Castle on your Must See List. You will not be disappointed.

It's Monday - Stay Motivated

We are weeks into quarantines and stay at home orders. The economy in several areas are starting to slowly reopen, and many of us are starting to safely venture out more returning to a new normal. Even as each day seems a bit better, the sun shines a little brighter, some of you may be feeling the same as me - struggling without your usual structure and adapting to changes. In that regards, as I have said before, sometimes a few motivational quotes will help change my mindset and keep me going. Start your Monday off on the right foot, with a few more of my favorite quotes.

Be in the business of being awesome.

Be the Leslie Knope of whatever you do.

Do what is right, not what is easy.

Expectation is the root of all heartache. - William Shakespeare

If someone doesn't want to play with you, it's okay. Go find someone who does and who appreciates what you offer. - Sandra Bullock

If you're not helping to make it right, stop complaining about it being wrong.

Life has a funny way of working out just when you start to believe it never will.

I believe that when you find love, you hold on to it and cherish it because there is nothing finer, and it may never come again. - Mr. Feeny, Boy Meets World

Take it all one day at a time and enjoy the journey. - Kristi Bartlett

You cannot life your life to please others. The choice must be yours. - Alice in Wonderland

Priority To Do List for Moving Day

Moving into a new home is an exciting time, and you’re probably daydreaming about decor and paint schemes and new furniture. But before you get into the fun stuff, there are some basics you should cover first.

Change the locks

Even if you’re promised that new locks have been installed in your home, you can never be too careful. It’s worth the money to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that no one else has the keys to your home. Changing the locks can be a DIY project, or you can call in a locksmith for a little extra money.

Steam clean the carpets

It’s good to get a fresh start with your floors before you start decorating. The previous owners may have had pets, young children, or just some plain old clumsiness. Take the time to steam clean the carpets so that your floors are free of stains and allergens. It’s pretty easy and affordable to rent a steam cleaner—your local grocery store or hardware store may have them available.

Call an exterminator

Prior to move-in, you probably haven’t spent enough time in the house to get a view of any pests that may be lurking. Call an exterminator to take care of any mice, insects, and other critters that may be hiding in your home.

Clean out the kitchen

If the previous occupants wanted to skip on some of their cleaning duties when they moved out, the kitchen is where they probably cut corners. Wipe down the inside of cabinets, clean out the refrigerator, clean the oven, and clean in the nooks and crannies underneath the appliances.

Dunedin Spotlight: Lane's Lemonade

Did you know citrus has been a part of Dunedin, Florida's history since the 1880s? This is Florida after all! In addition to its rich Scottish history, Dunedin is known for its history of oranges, orange groves, and citrus packing. In 1888, the Orange Belt Railway became the first railroad through Dunedin, and although there were passenger trains, its primary source of income was citrus shipments.

Today the former railway depot is now the Dunedin History Museum, and what was once railroad tracks is the popular Pinellas Trail. On the trail, next to the museum, is an eye-catching red boxcar, and fittingly, the boxcar is home to Lane's Lemonade.

This perfectly placed, not to be missed, juice business offers freshly squeezed lemonade, orangeade, and limeade as well as sandwiches, ice cream, and milkshakes. When walking or riding along the Pinellas Trail, Lane's Lemonade is the perfect place to stop for a break and a refreshment. My personal favorite is the vanilla-orange swirl ice cream. As you can imagine, it tastes like a Dreamsicle, and I would say it's the best tasting Dreamsicle I've ever had.

When you're in Dunedin, Florida, pay tribute to the town's citrus history and be sure to make a stop at Lane's Lemonade for a refreshing lemonade and delectable ice cream treat.

Ideas for Accent Walls

An accent wall can totally transform a room, taking it from boring and drab to bold and exciting. Accent walls create a new focal point for your space, add liveliness and contrast, and are typically a very inexpensive DIY project.

The starter accent wall

You can easily add an accent wall to your room in one afternoon by applying a new paint color. Deep blues and bright oranges are common choices for accent walls, but choose a color that will complement your existing decor and overall design aesthetic.

Interesting textures

Bright, contrasting paint is a good starting point, but there are other options for accent walls that are even more eye-catching and distinct. Floor-to-ceiling wood planks can make your home seem both rustic and modern all at once and provide a natural, outdoors-inspired feel. It’s more work than simply painting a wall, but it’s still relatively inexpensive. You can source the wood from pallets on Craigslist and stain it yourself before attaching it to your wall. It takes a little extra elbow grease, but it’s worth the effort.

Patterns, murals, and more

Paint and wood are bold enough on their own to transform a room, but they’re still pretty subtle compared to other accent wall options. A chalk paint accent wall is a creative idea for any room and makes for some fun moments when you’re entertaining. There are also endless options for wallpaper and stenciling if you want some patterns or you can get really bold with a mural or oversized art print.

Some Good News

Right now, as we are all at home following Safe at Home orders and practicing social distancing, one thing we all need is something to keep us smiling. When things don't seem to be going your way and you're surrounded by negativity, sometimes the best thing you can do is just laugh and keep swimming because this too shall pass.

Thankfully, mixed among all the negative news out there you can still find an abundance of good news to provide a needed dose of optimism. Sometimes you may need to look a little harder to find that happy news, but thankfully, some are making it easy to find it all in one place. For the last few years, one of my favorite sources for good news is Good News Network.

More recently, another favorite source for positivity comes from one of my favorite actors, John Krasinski, and his weekly Some Good News "broadcasts" on YouTube. He posts every Sunday evening and delivers about 15 minutes of uplifting news. If you haven't watched any of these yet, you can check out the first three episodes below. 

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay magical. Just keep smiling.

Episode 1: 

Episode 2:

Episode 3: