Buyer's Resources > Planning > Selecting > Shopping > Negotiating The negotiation for your next home begins when you draft your offer. Your Realtor will walk you through the various phases of the negotiation. (It's not only the PRICE that we negotiate). Understand the condition of the property and know how that affects the fair market value. (Special note regarding pools: If you want a home with a swimming pool, buy a house with swimming pool. If you put in a $ 20,000 pool, you might only gain $10,000 in the value of the house.)    The Offer A good real estate agent gathers all the required information to make a GOOD offer.  While we understand that buyers want to pay the lowest price, low-ball offers usually are counter-productive. You are probably wasting your time because most low-ball offers are rejected, not countered. If the seller does counter your offer, it will likely be at or close to the asking price because the seller is now upset. It can actually cost you more to make a ridiculous offer at the beginning if the house meets your needs and priced correctly.