Home purchase negotiation prep
Not the viewing checklist — the deal itself: price, deposit, timeline and the back-and-forth. What to prepare before talking to the seller so you neither overpay nor lose the place you want.

[ ] Confirm financing before you start negotiating
    Mortgage pre-approval or a confirmed cash amount — without it, an offer isn't taken seriously.
[ ] Research comparable sales in the area
    Actual closed-sale prices, not listing prices, are the strongest leverage in a negotiation.
[ ] Check how long the property has been listed
    A long time on market usually means more room to negotiate than a fresh, high-demand listing.
[ ] Find out the seller's reason for selling, if you can
    An urgent move or an already-purchased new place is a strong reason a seller might budge on price or timeline.
[ ] Set your own price ceiling and don't reveal it
    Decide in advance the number at which you walk away — emotions in the moment tend to push people over budget.
[ ] Include an inspection contingency in the offer
    The right to walk away or renegotiate based on an independent inspection — separate from the checklist itself, but needs to be written into the offer before signing.
[ ] Clarify the deposit or earnest money terms
    Amount, where it's held, and under what conditions it's refundable — learn this before sending money, not after backing out.
[ ] Agree on the closing timeline and move-out date
    A mismatch in dates between the parties is a common reason an almost-done deal falls apart.
[ ] Write down what stays with the property
    Built-in appliances, closets, light fixtures — a verbal agreement from the viewing is easy to forget by signing day.
[ ] Put every offer and counteroffer in writing
    A verbal agreement over the phone carries no weight when it's time to sign paperwork.
[ ] Set a response deadline on your offer
    Otherwise a seller can hold your offer as a backup while shopping for a better one.
[ ] Understand whose interests each agent represents
    The seller's agent doesn't work for you — factor that into what you share and how you negotiate.
[ ] Request the property's document set in advance
    Title, liens and any outstanding debts — so the legal check doesn't stall a deal you've already agreed to.
[ ] Line up a lawyer or notary to handle the paperwork
    Searching for one at the last minute means settling for whoever's free, not whoever's vetted.
[ ] Plan your counteroffer steps in advance
    How much you're willing to move and what you'd trade for it (timeline, condition, included furniture) — decided calmly, not under pressure mid-negotiation.
[ ] Decide the signal that means walking away
    A concrete condition, not a vague feeling — makes it easier to resist getting caught up in the back-and-forth.
[ ] Keep all deal correspondence in one place
    Emails and messages with dates of offers and responses — useful if the terms later drift from what was said verbally.
[ ] Schedule a final walkthrough before signing
    Confirm the property's condition hasn't changed and everything agreed is still there — a day or two before closing, not earlier.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/home-purchase-negotiation