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Reducing Rent
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21-12-2010 2:30am#1
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As Feelingstressed says, if you don't ask then you don't get.
You're not insulting the guy. He wants to let the place at the highest price he can get, but he'll have a number he won't go below. You're looking to find somewhere between these numbers that will make you both happy with the deal.
To get a discount, feel the guy out a bit by chatting to him as he's showing you round. A few easy comments will give you a good idea of whether the landlord is willing to negotiate.
Get him feeling good for the deal by pointing out a few things you like in the place, but give room for asking for a discount by pointing out something that's not so good. There'll always be something you can say no matter what, for example:
1. (Living room is small) "The room is a bit smaller than the last place I looked at."
2. (Living room is big) "The room is a bit big, hard to heat especially with all this terrible weather!"
If you're with your partner, have one of you be positive about things and one a little more negative (good cop/bad cop) so the landlord will smell the chance of a deal. If you're on your own, say you're not sure your girlfriend will like (insert random thing here).
Electric heating is always something you can moan at as a reason for asking for a discount. I'm not sure if it's more expensive than oil/gas, but there's a very common perception it is.
Even positive selling points can be negative for some people.
Landlords will have their own comments like this. Things like "there's been a lot of interest in this one" and "i've an offer that's €50 below what I'm asking.". These are all just to try and get you excited by the place, so you don't need to believe his comments. He's just playing the haggling game too.
Landlords will want to know if you're working. If you are and he hasn't asked you outright, mention that this place would be pretty handy for getting to work (even if it's not, it's just so he knows you do work). Also ask when the place would be available. Then you can mention "that date would just work out perfect for me!". Comments like this make you a more attractive renter to the landlord, but don't cost you anything.
When it comes to the end, you'll give it a "I like it, but it's more than I was hoping to pay" then ask if there's any room on the asking price. If he gives a discount there and then, that's only the new starting asking price and forget the original price - he can't go up from that. Likewise if he asks what were you hoping to pay, whatever you say is a number you can't go down from. As Silja says, 15% is a reasonable thing to ask for. Though you might get the feeling you can ask for 20%. Remember - you're only laying down a marker of starting negotiations. He can sound annoyed and say your offer is terrible, just keep calm and ask what he'd think is fair. If he comes down in price, then he's not actually annoyed with the offer and the haggle is still on! Search on daft and have an idea of what other similar places nearby rent for - the landlord will definitely know this. Keep calm and friendly throughout. If you do get a haggle going, a nice finisher when you've got him down a bit and you're ready to deal is to move to put your hand out for the shake and throw in "I'll shake your hand on the deal if you knock a tenner off the price". When you're talking hundreds of euro per month and he's haggled at all to a point he's happy with he'll very likely just take it, and you have an extra €120 over the year.
Even if the landlord is unhappy at your haggling and won't give a discount, you can always just give him the full amount if you were happy to pay it. Though as Djimi says, landlords will be used to negotiating in this climate or they won't be selling much!
If you've never tried haggling, I'll admit it can be nerve wracking. In Ireland, most people don't even try. If you're looking around at the minute and look at a place you don't like - I'd advise trying some haggling with the landlord even though you've no intention of taking it. Just for practise
Once you get a good deal with a haggle, you'll be like me and try it almost anywhere (recent one was a €80 stand free with a €400 tv i bought). The worst thing that a seller can say to you is "no", even then you've still got the option of paying the full price if you still want it.
Good luck with the search!0 -
As Feelingstressed says, if you don't ask then you don't get.
You're not insulting the guy. He wants to let the place at the highest price he can get, but he'll have a number he won't go below. You're looking to find somewhere between these numbers that will make you both happy with the deal.
To get a discount, feel the guy out a bit by chatting to him as he's showing you round. A few easy comments will give you a good idea of whether the landlord is willing to negotiate.
Get him feeling good for the deal by pointing out a few things you like in the place, but give room for asking for a discount by pointing out something that's not so good. There'll always be something you can say no matter what, for example:
1. (Living room is small) "The room is a bit smaller than the last place I looked at."
2. (Living room is big) "The room is a bit big, hard to heat especially with all this terrible weather!"
If you're with your partner, have one of you be positive about things and one a little more negative (good cop/bad cop) so the landlord will smell the chance of a deal. If you're on your own, say you're not sure your girlfriend will like (insert random thing here).
Electric heating is always something you can moan at as a reason for asking for a discount. I'm not sure if it's more expensive than oil/gas, but there's a very common perception it is.
Even positive selling points can be negative for some people.
Landlords will have their own comments like this. Things like "there's been a lot of interest in this one" and "i've an offer that's €50 below what I'm asking.". These are all just to try and get you excited by the place, so you don't need to believe his comments. He's just playing the haggling game too.
Landlords will want to know if you're working. If you are and he hasn't asked you outright, mention that this place would be pretty handy for getting to work (even if it's not, it's just so he knows you do work). Also ask when the place would be available. Then you can mention "that date would just work out perfect for me!". Comments like this make you a more attractive renter to the landlord, but don't cost you anything.
When it comes to the end, you'll give it a "I like it, but it's more than I was hoping to pay" then ask if there's any room on the asking price. If he gives a discount there and then, that's only the new starting asking price and forget the original price - he can't go up from that. Likewise if he asks what were you hoping to pay, whatever you say is a number you can't go down from. As Silja says, 15% is a reasonable thing to ask for. Though you might get the feeling you can ask for 20%. Remember - you're only laying down a marker of starting negotiations. He can sound annoyed and say your offer is terrible, just keep calm and ask what he'd think is fair. If he comes down in price, then he's not actually annoyed with the offer and the haggle is still on! Search on daft and have an idea of what other similar places nearby rent for - the landlord will definitely know this. Keep calm and friendly throughout. If you do get a haggle going, a nice finisher when you've got him down a bit and you're ready to deal is to move to put your hand out for the shake and throw in "I'll shake your hand on the deal if you knock a tenner off the price". When you're talking hundreds of euro per month and he's haggled at all to a point he's happy with he'll very likely just take it, and you have an extra €120 over the year.
Even if the landlord is unhappy at your haggling and won't give a discount, you can always just give him the full amount if you were happy to pay it. Though as Djimi says, landlords will be used to negotiating in this climate or they won't be selling much!
If you've never tried haggling, I'll admit it can be nerve wracking. In Ireland, most people don't even try. If you're looking around at the minute and look at a place you don't like - I'd advise trying some haggling with the landlord even though you've no intention of taking it. Just for practise Once you get a good deal with a haggle, you'll be like me and try it almost anywhere (recent one was a €80 stand free with a €400 tv i bought). The worst thing that a seller can say to you is "no", even then you've still got the option of paying the full price if you still want it.
Good luck with the search!
Excellent Post.0 -
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