Common negotiation mistakes

Negotiating on price is one of the most important stages of buying or selling a home, yet plenty of people underestimate it. Some are afraid to haggle, others let their emotions take over, and others simply don't bother finding out what the market is actually doing. And how you prepare for that conversation can decide not only whether the deal goes through, but also whether thousands of pounds end up in your pocket. In this article we've gathered the most common mistakes buyers and sellers make — and explained how to avoid them, so the negotiation works for both sides.

There's one thing worth understanding from the outset: in the UK market, negotiating isn't an insult or a fight. It's a normal part of any deal, and both sides expect it. A seller will often set the price with a little room built in for negotiation, and a buyer has every right to offer less. The trouble starts when one side or the other turns up unprepared — no figures, no clear limit, and driven purely by feelings. That's exactly when the costliest mistakes get made.

The most common buyer mistakes

For a buyer, the key in any negotiation is not letting emotion drown out the numbers. Here are the mistakes that cost the most:

• Rushing. You fall in love with a home and accept the price without comparing it to anything else. The result — you overpay by thousands. View at least a few properties before putting in an offer.
• Skipping the market research. You take the agent's line of "this is a good price" at face value. Check Rightmove, Zoopla and Land Registry data — look at what homes have actually sold for, not just what they're listed at.
• Ignoring the seller's situation. If a seller is in a hurry to move out, they're often far more willing to negotiate. Politely ask why they're selling and whether they've already found their next home.
• Emotion over numbers. A home you've fallen for can cloud a rational decision. Set your budget limit in advance and stick to it.
• Negotiating too aggressively. A very low offer in the hope of a big discount can simply kill the conversation. Make a realistic offer and back it up with facts — for example, renovation needed or a poor EPC rating.

The most common seller mistakes

For a seller, the most dangerous thing is valuing the home on feelings rather than on the market. These are the mistakes that come up again and again:

• Setting the asking price too high. The price is pushed up in the hope that "maybe someone will buy it anyway." The result — the home sits on the market for months and loses its appeal. Price it on real sale prices, not on hope.
• Emotional value. The home is valued on memories rather than market conditions. Buyers don't see any of that — they're comparing it with other properties. Step back from the emotion and lean on the professionals.
• Turning up unprepared. Without knowing the lowest offer you'd accept, you lose your footing in the negotiation and miss opportunities. Set your walk-away figure in advance.
• A lack of flexibility. Digging your heels in over small amounts can put off a serious buyer. Sometimes it's better to come down a few percent and sell sooner than to lose the deal altogether.

Negotiation isn't a battle, it's a collaboration. Respect and facts deliver better results than pressure or stubbornness.

Practical tips for successful negotiations

Good negotiations begin long before the conversation itself. A lot of people think negotiating is something you improvise on the phone or across the kitchen table. In reality, the winner is whoever is best prepared and knows their numbers. Here's what actually works:

• Have your figures ready. Keep the facts to hand: recent sales of similar homes, the EPC rating, and the specific drawbacks or strengths of the property.
• Listen. Often a seller or agent will let slip whether they're in a hurry to sell — that's valuable information.
• Have an alternative. Even one other option gives you peace of mind and lets you negotiate without fear.
• Be polite. A respectful tone opens more doors than pressure ever will.
• Bring in the professionals. An agent or broker negotiates on your behalf without emotion and often lands a better result.

How to make the negotiation work in your favour

Negotiation is both an art and a science. For a buyer, the priorities are not giving in to emotion, doing the research and sticking to a budget limit. For a seller — being realistic, preparing well and showing a little flexibility. Handled correctly, a negotiation can save or earn you tens of thousands of pounds, while a few simple mistakes can cost you exactly the same sum.

For Lithuanians in the UK, negotiating is often made harder by one more thing — the language and the quirks of the local market. It's easy to lose your bearings when the conversation is in English and the other side leans on terms and conventions you don't fully know. That's why it helps to have an agent who not only speaks Lithuanian but also knows the local market well: they'll see where there's genuine room to negotiate, and where you're simply risking a good deal over a few hundred pounds.

Another common problem is when a buyer tries to knock down an already-agreed price at the last minute (in the UK this is known as "gazundering"). We cover how to protect yourself against it in more detail in our article How to avoid last-minute price reductions →. And if you want to sell smoothly and quickly, our tips for selling your home fast will come in handy too.

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