Sold for $740K! The smart negotiation strategy that made both sides happy!
Ever wonder how to sell your home without the back-and-forth drama? I just closed a deal in Boulder City that proves you can negotiate smart, be upfront, and keep everyone happy—yes, even in this market! I’m walking you through the exact strategy we used to sell this home for $740K, just $10K below asking, with zero drama and no surprises. What’s one thing that would stress you out the most during a negotiation—price, repairs, or the timeline?
This home was Located in historic Boulder City, just outside Vegas this property was an older home but had Great bones but needed updating. However, the home had a terrific location. It had views of Lake Mead and was higher than the house behind it. It was a nice single story with a great floorplan.
We listed the home at $750,000.
Sellers were motivated, but were out of state and didn’t want to get into a situation where they had to complete a lot repairs. They wanted clarity, not chaos. So, I got to work on a plan that would make things smoother—for everyone.
The Sellers were hesitant to do some repair and remodeling items because, Where do you stop? The whole house really needed to be remodeled. Normally I recommend painting and new flooring if needed. This house did have both of those items done. However, the kitchen and bathrooms really needed remodeling. The Sellers didn’t want to deal with a back-and-forth negotiation once under contract
Our purchase agreement in Las Vegas does not address a cap or amount for repairs. It just lists that the Buyer can request repairs and Seller can agree or negotiate. If buyer and seller cannot agree then the buyer can cancel. Negotiation Upfront.
They were worried about accepting an offer and then being hit with a repair request asking for a lot of repairs or a large credit. They wanted to avoid surprises and preferred a clean deal with expectations set early. We discussed listing the home AS IS. The problem with this is that buyers may not look at properties that are sold AS IS. When you advertise properties this way it often attracts investors and low offers.
We received an offer $10,000 under asking price The Sellers decided to accept the price but we actually negotiated upfront to offer the buyer a $1,000 repair credit upfront. This way it was part of the original negotiation that this was all the Seller was willing to do. Clearly communicate that this was a take-it-or-leave-it scenario. We weren’t sure how the buyer would respond.
Buyer loved the property and appreciated not being caught off guard later and accepted our counter offer. The buyer had a home inspection and the agent told me that there were several items that came up on the report. However, the buyer felt confident knowing the seller was proactive and fair in the negotiations upfront. The buyer planned to and took that into account with the original negotiations. Everyone walked away feeling like they won.
Buyers don’t just want a deal—they want honesty, communication, and to feel seen during the process.
WHAT MOST PEOPLE GET WRONG ABOUT NEGOTIATION
Believing it must be aggressive or confrontational – I actually find the pushy aggressive agents cause more problems than help! People don’t want to aggressive agents or negotiations. Real estate is a small world. The top agents we all know each other and we also know what it is like to work with good agents. It makes all of the difference for my clients! Don’t let your ego get way of clear communication. Talk to the agent and keep the ball rolling. I have had numerous times where we get a low offer and my clients do not want to respond or counter. I discuss countering back even if we aren’t willing to negotiate on price or some of the terms. There have been lots of times that we were shocked by the buyer coming up significantly during negotiations and we were able to get the deal together.
A good deal isn’t just about numbers. It’s about clarity, respect, and timing.
LESSONS FOR BUYERS & SELLERS
For Sellers:
Be honest about your home’s condition. We have the Sellers Real Property Disclosure form in Nevada. Sellers must disclose items they are aware of for the home and the disclosure also covers items the Seller should have known. A buyer can seek treble damages meaning 3 times that cost of the repairs from a seller for items that the seller didn’t disclose and should have done so. I always recommend the seller disclose any conditions they are aware of.
You can avoid repair surprises by addressing them upfront. This was unconventional but worked great! If you do get a repair request, be willing to work with the buyer. Once you are aware of repairs needed that come up on a home inspection, now you have a duty to disclose those items. If you don’t work with the buyer to handle the repairs or offer a credit then the buyer may cancel. Now you are starting all over with finding a new buyer and negotiations but you will have to either make those repairs prior to getting back into contact or disclose the repairs and negotiate them with the new buyer. Sometimes it’s better to lose a little in price to gain peace of mind.
For Buyers:
Look for sellers who are clear and fair. Don’t assume all negotiations have to be aggressive. Value transparency as much as the home itself. This deal worked because both sides led with respect, not suspicion. That’s real estate!
The key is really understanding what is currently happening in the market and adjusting your negotiations accordingly. For example, when we had high demand and only a 2-week supply of inventory, we were in a strong sellers’ market. At that point, my sellers were listing higher than previous closings and were not being negotiable. As a buyer, you have to come in strong from beginning at that point and submit a very competitive offer as we were often seeing bidding wars.
Currently, we have more of a balanced market. Homes are sitting a little longer and we have about a 4-month supply of inventory. Buyers can negotiate and many sellers will look at concessions. I am recommending to my Sellers to bBe willing to compromise strategically. Work with the buyer to create a win/win!
Not all negotiations have to be tense—kindness + clarity wins
This deal reminded me why I love what I do—when both sides feel good walking away, that’s a win.
