Calm preparation can preserve a home deal
Reading contracts closely and planning for likely problems can help agents respond confidently when negotiations become challenging.
Real estate deals rarely unravel over price alone, Shabana Pathan, a former lawyer in India who now leads a real estate team, wrote in Inman.
More often, trouble starts with an overlooked contract provision, missed deadline or emotional response to an offer.
Pathan recommends reviewing contingency, financing and appraisal language carefully, preparing for likely complications and documenting important positions in writing.
When tensions rise, agents should address the terms rather than a perceived insult and avoid backing the other side into a corner.
Above all, Pathan says, the customer’s priorities should guide the negotiation, including when compromise makes sense and when walking away is the better choice.
Source: Inman (08/26/26) Pathan, Shabana
© Copyright 2026 Smithbucklin