How to Negotiate with a Real Estate Agent (Without Losing Your Mind or Your Wallet)
Ah, property negotiation. That delicate dance between getting what you want… without coming off like Scrooge or a pushover. You’re trying to buy a property, not negotiate a hostage release—but some days it feels like the same thing.
Let’s be real: negotiating with us agents can feel intimidating. We’re polished, persuasive, and doing this every day. You, on the other hand, have watched three seasons of Luxe Listings and think you’re ready to go in guns blazing.
Spoiler alert: you’re not.
So how do you actually hold your own in a negotiation—without losing your cool (or the property)?
1. Ditch the Poker Face
Agents can spot a bluff a mile off. Pretending you’re “not that into the property” while you show up to every open with a tape measure and architect?
Sure, ok...
Honest interest is fine—just don’t come off as obsessed. We see you, circling around with your spreadsheet.
2. Know the Market Like It’s Your Full-Time Job
If you’re buying in Sydney (where smashed avo has its own postcode), you need to know your comparables. If the apartment one floor down sold last week for $3.2M, opening at $2.6M “just to see” isn’t negotiation. It’s fantasy fiction. Study recent sales in the building and surrounding streets on realestate.com.au or domain.com.au and be sure to compare properties equally.
3. Stop Lowballing—Seriously
This isn’t Gumtree. Throwing out a ridiculous offer doesn’t make you clever, it makes you… ignorable.
Want to be taken seriously? Be respectful, informed, and realistic. You can negotiate firmly without sounding like you just came from a seminar titled “Hacks for Buying Property with No Money Down.”
4. Ask the Right Questions
Please don’t ask “What will they take?” and try:
“Are there any other offers on the table?”
“What settlement terms would appeal to the vendor?”
“What’s their ideal timing?”
Negotiation isn’t just price. Flexibility on the terms of sale can often get you across the line faster than an extra $20k. Offer a shorter settlement period (but only if you have your finances 100% approved and ready to go) or a full 10% deposit as opposed to the increasingly popular 5%.
5. Keep Your Cool (and Your Credibility)
Agents aren’t your enemy. We’re the gatekeepers. Be clear, calm, and credible, and we’ll be more than happy to work with you—not against you.
And if the deal doesn’t work out?
Relax. There’s always next weekend’s auction circus. Bring snacks.
Final Thought
Buying real estate is chess—not Hungry Hippos. The best outcomes go to buyers who are prepared, respectful, and just sharp enough to keep everyone on their toes.
Need a Sydney real estate expert to guide you through all this?
Let’s talk. I know the game—and the players. Call me 0410 335 654.