Make an offer

Have you ever thought, “I wish I had made an offer for that instead of walking away” as you continued on your way somewhere else?

Me too.

A lot of people have told me they do not like to negotiate. Most of the time negotiating is a waste of effort. I’m not going to walk into the supermarket and start haggling over the price of grapefruit. They’re $1.50 apiece and I buy 2 or 3 each week, so there’s no point.

On the other hand, there are two key times when being prepared to negotiate is important: when you have a strong option to walk away, and when it’s a life-altering decision. Let’s look at why and what to do in each situation.

1) A strong option to walk away.

What I mean by this is your current situation is good enough for you to say ‘no’ to another offer. Here’s a simple example: buying something at a yard sale. If you had a major need for this item you’re eyeing up, odds are you would not be looking for it in front of some random person’s house. You can make an offer, and no matter the outcome your life will not be affected in a big way. Sometimes this rule applies to life-altering decisions as well.

2) Life-altering decisions.

If you’re moving, changing jobs, thinking of having a kid or three, or eating loads of tasty-yet-unhealthy-as-can-be food, you’re looking at a life-altering decision. This is a moment you have to know what you want and what you will not accept. I knew someone who felt it was rude to make a low offer on a house because it might insult the people who owned it. Well, if they haven’t had any offers, a low one is better than nothing in their eyes. Maybe they accept it, or offer to fix a few things for a higher price, or come back with a counteroffer in YOUR range instead of hanging out up around the asking price. You don’t know unless you try.

Always be ready to negotiate if you’re making a life-altering decision. Here are some more examples:

- For a job, know how much you want to be paid, what benefits you expect, what hours you’ll work, and what the work entails.

- For a house, know what you can afford, look in areas which make sense for you to live in, and whether it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market.

- If you’re changing your diet, remember you’re making a permanent change. Too many people think it’s a temporary diet. Temporary diets produce temporary results (at best). Slowly lower how much you eat. Make sure you like eating these new foods, or find some you do like. Negotiate with the process; don’t just change everything unless you know you can do it.

Being willing to negotiate will help you live the kind of life you want to live. You’ll either get what you want, or get close with something resembling it, if you try.